Chopped Salad Recipe

Chopped Salad Recipe

This Chopped Salad is not your standard lettuce, cucumber and carrot salad! There are a lot of random ingredients (beans, chow mein noodles, 2 cheeses, tortellini, etc.), but they come together really nicely. One thing I like about this salad is that you can easily add grilled chicken or shrimp and turn it into a meal. Plus, the beans and tortellini make it pretty filling.

Ingredients

• romaine lettuce, roughly chopped
• ½ cup grape tomatoes, cut in half
• ½ cup medium mozzarella balls, cut in half (we used bocconcini)
• ¼ cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• ½ cup Kalamata olives
• ¼ cup dry chow mein noodles
• ½ cup cannelini beans, drained and rinsed
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• salad dressing (we used Greek vinaigrette)
• 1 cup cheese tortellini, fresh

For frying the tortellini:

• 1 egg, plus 1 tablespoon water
• 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
• vegetable oil, enough to fry the tortellini

Directions

• Start by frying the tortellini, make sure you use fresh. Heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan.
• While the oil heats, prepare the egg wash. In a small bowl, whisk 1 egg together with 1 tablespoon of water.
• In another small bowl, pour 1 cup of Italian bread crumbs.
• Dip the tortellini in the egg wash first, then dredge them in the bread crumbs.
• Fry the tortellini, a few at a time, in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

• In a large bowl, toss together the rest of the salad ingredients.
• Add the fried tortellini and chow mein noodles last so that they don’t get soggy.
• Top with Greek vinaigrette, or salad dressing of your choice.

Source: livelovepasta.com