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Chris Chopped Salad with Lemon-Basil Dressing Recipe

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4.9 from 38 reviews

Chris Chopped Salad is a vibrant and flavorful salad featuring a mix of crunchy iceberg lettuce, baby spinach, radicchio, and an array of fresh vegetables, complemented by crispy bacon, hard-boiled eggs, and creamy blue cheese. Tossed in a zesty lemon-basil dressing, it makes a refreshing and hearty dish perfect for lunch or dinner.

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

  • 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

  1. Prepare the salad base. In a large bowl, combine the finely chopped iceberg lettuce, baby spinach, and radicchio. Mix well to create an even base for the salad.
  2. Add the vegetables. Incorporate the diced red onions, diced celery, sliced green olives, chopped mushrooms, and halved cherry tomatoes into the bowl with greens, tossing gently to distribute them evenly.
  3. Add proteins and cheese. Fold in the crumbled blue cheese, crispy bacon pieces, and chopped hard-boiled eggs, ensuring they are well mixed with the vegetables and greens.
  4. Make the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, chopped fresh basil, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and well combined.
  5. Dress the salad. Pour the lemon-basil dressing over the salad ingredients and toss gently but thoroughly to coat everything evenly with the dressing.
  6. Garnish and serve. Optionally, garnish the salad with fresh basil leaves and additional crumbled blue cheese before serving to add extra aroma and flavor.

Notes

  • For a lighter cheese flavor, substitute blue cheese with feta cheese.
  • Crispy bacon adds crunch and saltiness; for a vegetarian version, omit or replace with roasted nuts.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the best dressing taste instead of bottled lemon juice.
  • Hard-boiled eggs can be prepared in advance and refrigerated to save time.
  • This salad is best served immediately to maintain the crispness of the greens and bacon.

Find it online: https://lovelycooks.com/chris-chopped-salad-with-lemon-basil-dressing-recipe/