Italian Picnic Salad

Brighten up your outdoor gatherings with this vibrant and satisfying Italian Picnic Salad. Brimming with bold Mediterranean flavors, this no-cook recipe combines crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and sweet red bell pepper with savory staples like Kalamata olives, bite-sized salami strips, cubes of provolone cheese, and marinated artichoke hearts. Fresh basil adds an aromatic touch, while a tangy homemade dressing of extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and garlic ties everything together beautifully. Ready in just 20 minutes, this refreshing salad is the perfect make-ahead dish for picnics, potlucks, or quick weeknight dinners. Bursting with color, texture, and taste, it’s a crowd-pleasing delight that captures the essence of Italian cuisine.

Nutriscore Rating: 77/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:0 mins

Total Time:20 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 heads Romaine lettuce
• 2 cups Cherry tomatoes
• 1 large Cucumber
• 1 Red bell pepper
• 0.5 Red onion
• 0.5 cup Kalamata olives
• 4 ounces Salami
• 4 ounces Provolone cheese
• 1 cup Artichoke hearts (marinated, drained)
• 0.5 cup Fresh basil
• 0.25 cup Extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons Red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 clove Garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 0.5 teaspoon Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Wash and dry the romaine lettuce. Chop it into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.

Step 2

Halve the cherry tomatoes and slice the cucumber into thin rounds. Add to the bowl.

Step 3

Dice the red bell pepper and thinly slice the red onion. Add them to the salad.

Step 4

Slice the Kalamata olives in half, the salami into bite-sized strips, and the provolone into cubes. Add to the bowl.

Step 5

Roughly chop the marinated artichoke hearts and fresh basil. Add both to the salad mixture.

Step 6

In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper to make the dressing.

Step 7

Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything gently to combine and coat the ingredients evenly.

Step 8

Serve immediately or transfer to a portable container for a picnic. Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2781.3 grams (2781.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2118

Total Fat 163.50g	210%
Saturated Fat 45.70g	229%
Polyunsaturated Fat 6.70g
Cholesterol 204mg	68%
Sodium 8152mg	354%
Total Carbohydrate 101.60g	37%
Dietary Fiber 38.90g	139%
Total Sugars 33.80g
Protein 80.90g	162%

Vitamin D 41IU	204%
Calcium 1627mg	125%
Iron 20mg	112%
Potassium 5024mg	107%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 66.8%

Protein: 14.7%

Carbs: 18.5%