Famous La Scala Chopped Salad – The Iconic Beverly Hills Recipe
Famous La Scala Chopped Salad – the legendary chopped salad from the iconic Beverly Hills restaurant! This copycat recipe features crisp iceberg and romaine lettuce, chickpeas, Italian salami, mozzarella cheese, and a tangy Pecorino Romano dressing. It’s crunchy, savory, and absolutely irresistible!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings
- Category: Salad, Side Dish, Main Dish
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
- Dressing:
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 Tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 teaspoons Dijon mustard (or 1 teaspoon dry mustard)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt and pepper
- ⅓ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese (or grated parmesan cheese)
- Salad:
- 1 head shredded iceberg lettuce (5-6 cups)
- 1 head shredded romaine lettuce (4-5 cups)
- 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- ¼ lb (4 ounces) Italian salami, thinly sliced
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Add all of the salad dressing ingredients to a small bowl or small jar. Whisk everything together or close the lid and shake to combine.
- To a large bowl, add the shredded lettuce, chickpeas, Italian salami, and mozzarella cheese. Pour the prepared dressing on top and toss to coat.
- Enjoy this la scala salad recipe right away. Store leftovers in the fridge for 1-2 days. Store the dressing separately to prep in advance.
Notes
- For authentic La Scala flavor, shred the lettuce very finely – almost chiffonade style.
- Use a food processor with a shredding disc to quickly shred both lettuces.
- For best results, dress the salad right before serving to maintain crispness.
- Substitute turkey or vegetarian salami for a lighter version.
- Add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, or bell peppers for extra crunch and color.
- Make it a meal by adding grilled chicken or chickpeas (already included).
- The dressing can be made up to 5 days ahead and refrigerated.
- This salad does not keep well once dressed – serve immediately for the best texture.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the salami or substitute with sun-dried tomatoes.