Recipe Provocateur: Maria's Italian Kitchen Chopped Salad

Each week,  Patch will reveal the top secret, most sought-after recipes for your favorite dine-out dishes. 

There are many salads out there, but few with such contrasting ingredients that marry together so perfectly as the Italian chopped salad at Maria's Italian Kitchen.

Although its house Italian dressing is a family secret, Patch has done its best to give you the tools to make this delicious salad in your kitchen at home.

Maria's Italian Kitchen Chopped Italian Salad

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Serving Size: One-two people

Salad Ingredients:

3 cups chopped mixed lettuce

1/2 cup garbanzo beans

1 medium tomato, diced

1/2 cup carrots, shredded

1/3 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced

1/3 cup black olives, sliced

1/3 cup diced zucchini 

1/2 cup finely shredded mozzorella cheese

1/4 - 1/2 cup homemade Italian dressing (recipe below)

Instructions:

1.  In a large mixing bowl, toss all salad ingredients, reserving cheese

2. In a small bowl, whisk together Italian dressing ingredients

3. Toss dressing with salad ingredients and top with cheese

4.  Serve immediately

Italian Dressing:

Whisk together, 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons cider vinegar and a pinch of each of the following: paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.