Maggiano's Little Italy Chop Salad

Cooks4_6's Note:

I tried this last night at Maggiano's and loved it. I prepared this and to my delight found that it is a pretty good imitation of the original. This is a modification of a recipe I found on Recipe Goldmine. I would suggest making "Crispy Crumbled Prosciutto" instead of pan frying prosciutto, but either works.

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

Salad

• 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, in 1/2-inch dice
• 1 head romaine lettuce, in 1/2-inch dice
• 2 plum tomatoes, in 1/2-inch dice
• 1/2 cup danish blue cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup prosciutto, pan fried until crispy and chopped
• Italian dressing (recipe follows)

Garnish

• 1 avocado, small dice
• 1 teaspoon prosciutto, pan fried

Dressing

• 1 1/2 teaspoons Coleman's dry mustard (or S&B Oriental Hot Mustard powder)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (or Splenda)
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, finely minced
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• salt, to taste
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (omit if using hot mustard)
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorn, fresh ground
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh oregano (or 3/4 t. dried oregano)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Directions:

1. Combine mustard, sugar, water, garlic, red and white vinegar and salt in food processor. Mix until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the oils, continue to blend. Add remaining ingredients and blend until well mixed. Recipe can be doubled with remaining stored in sealed container in refrigerator for up to a week.
2. Place lettuce in large mixing bowl Add all the ingredients except garnish and mix well. Add dressing and mix well.
3. Serve, topping each portion with garnish.

Reviews

[rljones]

I've always been a fan of the chopped salad at Maggiano's so I've wanted to try to make it myself for some time now. I'm not much of a cook so I was a bit intimated when it called for a food processor. Well... I used my "magic bullet" for the dressing and it turned out great. My husband (who doesn't really like salad), couldn't get enough of this one. Thanks!!!

[Morris409]

I made this last night for my monthly canasta game, and it was wonderful. It tastes just like the salad at Maggiano's.

[My Sweetie's Sweetheart]

We love this salad at Maggiano's and it is just like it. We had it with a recipe on the internet for the Maggiano's fried zucchini. Thanks for the recipe.