Last updated on March 7th, 2019 at 10:01 am
* This is a sponsored post for Parma Ham *
This Italian Chopped Salad is basically all of your favourite fresh Italian flavours, topped with delicious Parma Ham. A base of crunchy greens topped with roasted potatoes, sweet and sour orange and grapefruit, crunchy pine nuts and all brought together with a sweet balsamic dressing.
Italian Chopped Salad
This Italian Chopped Salad really does have it all! I love the combination of the sweet and salty, as well as how much texture and crunch there is. Sometimes I have a big bowl of it as a main meal, and other times it is a side dish.
It is filling enough as a main meal if you have a big enough portion, because you have the roasted potatoes to bulk it out and the delicious Parma Ham on top. Make a big batch of this on a Sunday and you have an easy salad for the rest of the week.
It’s so easy to adapt this recipe and use up what ever you have in your fridge. We have made it with some celery in before, used a different selection of greens and even crumbled some goats cheese on top. But one thng that is always consistent is finishing it off with some Parma Ham.
What Makes Parma Ham So Special?
Parma Ham is an all natural product made from just 4 ingredients: pork, salt, air and time. There is nothing else added – no additives, preservatives or spices. It’s 100% natural. No chemicals are used in the cleaning process either, just salt and water.
I recently spent the day in the Parma Ham production factory and what really came across is just how much a labour of love making Parma Ham is. It takes a dedicated team, who are passionate about their region and producing the best quality product.
Parma Ham is known for the delicious saltiness of the product. When it comes to the salting process, there is no “one size fits all” approach and the ‘Salt Master’ must decide just how much salt is required and it is always natural sea salt that is used.
A minimum quantity of sea salt is needed to preserve and begin the drying process. This respects the tradition of ‘dolce’, which balances between salty and sweet. The same uniqueness is applied to the airing process as well.
Parma Ham is air conditioned with fresh air coming out of the unit and then the Ham Master decides when to open the windows and let more air in. Fresh air blows across the countryside originating from the nearby coast.
The Parma region has a special microclimate, ideal for the drying of ham. Fresh air blows across the countryside originating from the nearby coast. The air crosses the Apennines where it loses its saltiness and dries. It takes on the perfumes of the vegetation it passes through, before it reaches the production area in the hills south of Parma. This is what gives the ham its unparalleled sweetness.
It isn’t a quick process, with the ham spending three months hanging during the ‘riposo’, or resting phase. The meat gradually becoming darker and harder. Around seven months after the salting process the ham is smeared with a mixture of rice flour, salt, and pork fat called ‘sugna’ to stop it drying too quickly for the remainder of its maturation.
By law, Parma Ham must be cured for at least one year before it is given the Ducal Crown rebrand, and some can be cured for up to three years.
After air drying the ham it is moved to the cellar to start the maturation process. It is checked after twelve months with a long horse bone needle to assess its quality and maturity.
Once approved, it receives the authentic ve-point Ducal Crown rebrand. If it doesn’t pass the quality test, then it can’t be branded as Parma Ham. So, when you buy Parma Ham you know you are getting the best quality.
Italian Salad Dressing
Let’s talk about this Italian Salad Dressing – you are going to want to drink it straight from the mixing bowl. It’s sweet, it’s salty, it’s creamy, and it clings to this chopped salad.
A mixture of the best quality olive oil and balsamic vinegar, a little lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, fresh basil and dried oregano really bring this salad together.
Chopped Salad
I was lucky enough to discover this salad in a double Michelin star restaurant just outside Parma a few weeks ago. As soon as it was brought to the table, my eyes were pulled to this bright and vibrant dish. There was so much going on with this, but instead of all the ingredients battling each other, they just complimented each other beautifully.
Ingredients needed to make a Italian Chopped Salad with Parma Ham (serves 4)
- 6 new potatoes, quartered
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 50g lettuce lettuce
- 75g spinach, finely chopped
- Half a head of romaine, finely chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 10 cherry tomatoes, halved
- Half an orange, diced
- Half a grapefruit, diced
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- 4 tbsp sultanas
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- A pinch of sea salt and black pepper
- Half a bunch of fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 15g parmesan, grated
- 6 slices of Parma Ham
How To Make Italian Chopped Salad with Parma Ham – Step by Step:
One: Put the potatoes in a pan of boiling water and par-boil for 5-6 minutes. Drain and then put in a baking tray with a teaspoon of oil and put in a preheated oven at 200°C for 35 minutes.
Two: In a large bowl, add the rocket, spinach, romaine, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, orange, grapefruit.
Three: In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, basil and oregano.
Four: Pour the dressing over the chopped salad in the bowl and add the pine nuts and sultanas.
Five: Mix the salad well.
Six: Serve in a bowl and top with the parmesan and Parma Ham.
Other Salad Recipes To Try:
Greek Pasta Salad
Kale and Watermelon Salad
Roasted Autumn Vegetable Salad
Nicoise Salad
Broccoli Slaw
Roasted Vegetable Winter Salad
Some extra tips for this Italian Chopped Salad with Parma Ham:
- Add a little extra saltiness by topping this Italian Chopped Salad with some olives.
- Make a big batch of this and keep it in your fridge for easy side dishes or work lunches throughout the week.
- Finish the dish with some shaved parmesan or crumbled goats cheese.
- Try chopped the Parma Ham up and frying it to add some crispiness to the salad.
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DON’T FORGET TO RATE THE RECIPE ↓
Italian Chopped Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 50 g Rocket (arugula) lettuce
- ½ head Romaine lettuce, finely chopped
- 75 g Spinach, finely chopped
- 6 New potatoes, quartered
- 1 Orange bell pepper, diced
- 10 Cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ Orange, diced
- ½ Grapefruit, diced
- 2 tbsp Pine nuts
- 4 tbsp Sultanas
- 15 g Parmesan, grated
- 6 slices Parma Ham
- 1 tsp Olive oil
Dressing:
- 3 tbsp Olive oil
- 3 tbsp Balsamic vinegar
- 1 Lemon (juice only)
- 2 Garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 pinch Sea salt and black pepper
- ½ bunch Fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Dried oregano
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a pan of boiling water and par-boil for 5-6 minutes. Drain and then put in a baking tray with a tsp of oil and put in a preheated oven at 200°C for 35 minutes.
- In a large bowl, add the rocket, spinach, romaine, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, orange, grapefruit.
- In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic, basil and oregano.
- Pour the dressing over the chopped salad in the bowl and add the pine nuts and sultanas.
- Mix the salad well.
- Serve in a bowl and top with the parmesan and Parma Ham.
Video
Notes
- Add a little extra saltiness by topping this Italian Chopped Salad with some olives.
- Make a big batch of this and keep it in your fridge for easy side dishes or work lunches throughout the week.
- Finish the dish with some shaved parmesan or crumbled goats cheese.
- Try chopped the Parma Ham up and frying it to add some crispiness to the salad.
The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
Danielle Wolter says
i am a huge, huge fan of parma ham. loving the additional of the grapefruit and orange, perfect for the season. This is a salad i need to add to my menu!
Kate says
What a flavourful looking salad with so many amazing elements to it. I bet the parma ham really makes it special.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
Now this looks like my kind of salad – it looks so colourful and delicious!
Ellen says
I have been making a lot of salads lately! This looks delicious and going on the menu soon!
Jemma says
Such a lovely salad full of some of my favourite ingredients. I just love Italy too.
Jacqueline Debono says
I love all the ingredients in this salad, especially Parma ham. Living in Italy means I can but it everywhere so it’s always present in my fridge!