Italian Grinder Salad

To be frank, the ultimate Italian salad is essentially a hoagie transformed into a salad. This unique version mirrors a fully-loaded sub sandwich, boasting salami, ham, Fontina, cute pearl mozzarella, and a tangy oregano and red wine vinegar dressing with a deli-inspired kick. Iceberg lettuce is a must for that desired crispness and juiciness, even if left to sit for a bit.

In this Italian grinder salad recipe, we’ve replaced the typical pepperoncini peppers with the sweet Peppadews for a different twist. What truly sets our salad apart, though, are the croutons. These are soaked in olive oil and baked until crispy, absorbing the bold flavors of the Italian dressing ingredients, which are simply drizzled over the salad without the need for prior mixing.

There’s flexibility in making substitutions – from using different meats (pepperoni, prosciutto, roast beef, etc.) and cheeses (like provolone, Pecorino, or Parmesan) to adding grape tomatoes, cucumbers, or banana peppers. You could also chop everything on a board for a chopped salad feel. For a make-ahead option, store the croutons and dressing separately, then combine with the other ingredients in a jar or airtight container for a convenient desk lunch.

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