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Viral Italian Grinder Salad: Low Carb Chopped Sub Salad

A close-up, vibrant image of a fresh grinder salad featuring romaine lettuce, salami, red onion, yellow peppers, and grated cheese.
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Make the popular Italian Grinder Salad, a low carb, chopped version of the classic Italian sub sandwich. This recipe is quick, flavorful, and perfect for healthy meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
  • 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup sliced banana peppers or pepperoncini
  • 1/2 cup shredded provolone cheese
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 4 ounces sliced salami or pepperoni
  • 4 ounces sliced ham
  • 4 ounces sliced mortadella or capicola
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • For the Creamy Italian Dressing:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Creamy Italian Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the salad base: In a large bowl, combine the chopped iceberg lettuce and shredded romaine lettuce.
  3. Add the meats and cheese: Add the sliced salami, ham, mortadella (or capicola), provolone cheese, and mozzarella cheese to the lettuce.
  4. Add vegetables: Toss in the sliced red onion and banana peppers.
  5. Dress the salad: Pour about half of the prepared Creamy Italian Dressing over the salad mixture. Toss gently until all ingredients are lightly coated. Add more dressing as needed for your preference.
  6. Serve immediately: Divide the grinder salad among bowls. Sprinkle the top with grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

  • For meal prep, keep the dressing separate and combine just before eating to maintain the crunch of the lettuce.
  • You can substitute the deli meats with grilled chicken breast for a different protein option.
  • This recipe is naturally low carb, making it a great choice when you want sandwich flavor without the bread.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://completelyyummy.com/grinder-salad-recipe-quick-italian-sub-salad/