Name: Italian Chicken Salad
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Makes 4 main-course servings
Ingredients: 4 cups (1/2-inch) cubes Italian bread (from a 1/2-lb crusty round loaf); 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar; 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard; 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot; 1 teaspoon sugar; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon black pepper; 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil; 2 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (1/2 lb; from a rotisserie chicken); 1 cup bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls; 6 oz); 2 hearts of romaine (3/4 lb total), torn into bite-size pieces; 1 (8-oz) jar roasted red peppers, rinsed, drained, and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips; 1 cup assorted marinated brine-cured olives (5 oz)

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Italian Chicken SaladRomulo Yanes

High-quality ingredients transform this salad into an extremely satisfying weeknight dinner.

Recipe information

Total Time
35 min
Yield
Makes 4 main-course servings

Ingredients

For croutons

4 cups (1/2-inch) cubes Italian bread (from a 1/2-lb crusty round loaf)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon salt

For vinaigrette

1/4 cup red-wine vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

For salad

2 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (1/2 lb; from a rotisserie chicken)

1 cup bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls; 6 oz)

2 hearts of romaine (3/4 lb total), torn into bite-size pieces

1 (8-oz) jar roasted red peppers, rinsed, drained, and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips

1 cup assorted marinated brine-cured olives (5 oz)

Preparation

Make croutons:
Step 1
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
Step 2
Toss bread cubes with oil and salt in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Bake, turning over once, until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack.
Make vinaigrette and begin preparing salad while croutons bake:
Step 3
Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients except oil in a small bowl until combined. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.
Step 4
Toss chicken and bocconcini together with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in a bowl and let stand 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
Make salad:
Step 5
Toss together romaine, red peppers, olives, chicken and bocconcini mixture, croutons, and remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl until combined.

TagsSalad American Chicken Poultry Mozzarella Cheese Dairy Romaine Lettuce Leafy Greens Vegetable Olive Main Dinner Nut Free Easy Oven Bake Gourmet

Recipe information

Ingredients

For croutons

For vinaigrette

For salad

Preparation

Make croutons:

Step 1

Step 2

Make vinaigrette and begin preparing salad while croutons bake:

Step 3

Step 4

Make salad:

Step 5

Recipe notes