Chris Chopped Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing Recipe
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star
4.6 from 24 reviews
Chris Chopped Salad is a vibrant and flavorful salad packed with fresh greens, crisp vegetables, savory bacon, and creamy blue cheese, all tossed in a zesty lemon-basil dressing. This chopped salad offers a delightful combination of textures and tastes, making it a perfect nutritious lunch or light dinner option.
Total Time:35 minutes
Yield:4 servings
Ingredients
Salad:
4 cups iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
1 cup baby spinach, chopped
1 cup radicchio, chopped
1/2 cup diced red onions
1/2 cup diced celery
1/2 cup green olives, sliced
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta for a lighter taste)
4 strips crispy bacon, crumbled
2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
Lemon-Basil Dressing:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon honey
2 tablespoons fresh basil, finely chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Garnish (Optional):
Fresh basil leaves
Extra crumbled blue cheese
Instructions
Prepare the Vegetables: Finely chop the iceberg lettuce, baby spinach, and radicchio. Dice the red onions and celery. Slice the green olives, chop the mushrooms, and halve the cherry tomatoes. Combine all these prepared vegetables in a large salad bowl.
Cook the Bacon: Cook the bacon strips in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels, then crumble into small pieces.
Prepare the Eggs: Hard boil the eggs by placing them in boiling water for about 10-12 minutes. Cool them under cold water, peel, and chop into small pieces.
Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, finely chopped basil, salt, and black pepper until well combined.
Assemble the Salad: Add the crumbled blue cheese, crispy bacon, and chopped hard-boiled eggs to the bowl with the mixed vegetables. Pour the lemon-basil dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly to coat all ingredients evenly.
Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh basil leaves and extra crumbled blue cheese if desired. Serve immediately for best freshness and flavor.
Notes
For a lighter version, you can substitute blue cheese with feta cheese or omit the cheese altogether.
To save time, use pre-cooked bacon or bake bacon strips in the oven until crispy.
The salad is best served fresh, but you can prepare the dressing and chop vegetables ahead to reduce assembly time.
Adjust salt and pepper in the dressing to your taste, especially if your olives or cheese are already salty.
