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Italian Grinder Salad (Chopped Sub Salad)

This salad transforms the popular TikTok grinder sandwich into a low-carb dish, combining Italian meats, cheeses, and fresh vegetables with a tangy dressing.
A woman in an apron is preparing a meal in a sunny kitchen filled with fresh vegetables and herbs.
Updated on Fri, 03 Jan 2025 01:26:30 GMT
A close-up of a fresh salad featuring mixed greens, diced tomatoes, sliced salami, chicken, and bell peppers in a wooden bowl.
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A close-up of a fresh salad featuring mixed greens, diced tomatoes, sliced salami, chicken, and bell peppers in a wooden bowl. Save it
A close-up of a fresh salad featuring mixed greens, diced tomatoes, sliced salami, chicken, and bell peppers in a wooden bowl. | myhomemaderecipe.com

Okay, let me tell you about my latest obsession! I finally tried making that viral Italian Grinder Salad everyone's been raving about, and now I'm totally hooked. It's all the amazing flavors of my favorite Italian sub, minus the bread, and honestly? I don't even miss it! My lunch game has completely changed since discovering this gem, and my kids actually ask for salad now that's a win in my book!

What Makes This Salad Special

This isn't your boring desk lunch salad! It's loaded with all those amazing Italian deli flavors, and that dressing? Pure magic! I love how I can throw it together in minutes, and it actually keeps me full through the afternoon. Plus, it's totally customizable I make it a little different every time depending on what's in my fridge.

Let's Talk Ingredients

  • The Meat Squad: I load up on pepperoni, salami, and turkey my local deli knows my order by heart now!
  • Cheese Please: Provolone and parmesan are must-haves for that authentic Italian flavor.
  • Fresh Stuff: Crispy iceberg lettuce is perfect here it really holds up to the dressing.
  • The Little Extras: Those sweet little tomatoes, tangy banana peppers, and red onion make everything pop.
  • Dressing Stars: Mayo, red wine vinegar, and that genius splash of banana pepper juice trust me on this one!
  • Seasonings: Just the classics oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to make everything sing.

Let's Make It!

Prep Your Goodies
First, I chop everything up into bite-sized pieces nobody wants to wrestle with huge chunks of lettuce! I like to get all my ingredients ready before I start it makes the assembly so much easier.
The Famous Dressing
This is where the magic happens! Mix up your mayo with all those yummy seasonings. That banana pepper juice is the secret weapon here don't skip it!
Bring It Together
Toss everything in your biggest bowl and drizzle that amazing dressing over top. Give it a good mix, and you're ready to dig in!

Make It Your Own

Sometimes I throw in whatever deli meat I have leftover from the week's sandwiches. Last time I added some spicy capicola and wow! My husband loves it with extra provolone, and I've even tried it with some chickpeas for extra protein. You really can't go wrong here!

My Best Tips

After making this salad on repeat, I've learned a few tricks! Cut everything about the same size it makes each bite perfect. And here's a game-changer: if you're not into super strong onions, give them a quick soak in cold water. Takes the bite right out but keeps all the flavor!

Keeping It Fresh

Want to meal prep this for the week? Keep your ingredients separate and pack the dressing in little containers. I prep everything on Sunday and have fresh salads ready to go all week. Just toss it together when you're ready to eat perfect for busy days!

Perfect Partners

We love this alongside a warm bowl of soup for dinner. It's also amazing for picnics or potlucks I brought it to our last neighborhood gathering and came home with an empty bowl and three recipe requests! And if you're feeling fancy, some garlic bread on the side takes it right back to its sandwich roots.

Why You Need This Recipe

This salad is everything you love about a loaded Italian sub, but in a fresh, crunchy format that won't put you in a carb coma after lunch. It's got that perfect balance of flavors, it's super satisfying, and it actually gets better as it sits for a few minutes. Plus, it's just fun to eat who doesn't love a good sandwich-turned-salad situation?

A colorful salad in a brown bowl featuring lettuce, sliced pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, and a creamy dressing. Save it
A colorful salad in a brown bowl featuring lettuce, sliced pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, and a creamy dressing. | myhomemaderecipe.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why use banana pepper juice in the dressing?
The banana pepper juice adds tangy flavor and helps thin the dressing while maintaining the signature grinder taste. You can adjust the amount to control the tanginess level.
→ Can I make this salad ahead of time?
You can prep ingredients ahead but combine just before serving to maintain crunch. The dressing can be made up to 3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
→ What substitutions can I make for the meats?
You can use any combination of Italian deli meats like ham, capicola, mortadella, or prosciutto. Just maintain the same total amount of meat for proper meat-to-vegetable ratio.
→ Why finely chop the lettuce?
Fine chopping helps mimic the texture of a grinder sandwich and allows the dressing to coat everything evenly. It also makes the salad easier to eat and helps blend all flavors.
→ How long will leftovers keep?
Once dressed, the salad is best consumed within 24 hours as the lettuce will start to wilt. Undressed components can be stored separately for 3-4 days.

Grinder Salad

A low-carb twist on the viral grinder sandwich featuring chopped lettuce, deli meats, cheese, and creamy Italian dressing. Perfect for lunch or dinner.

Prep Time
30 Minutes
Cook Time
~
Total Time
30 Minutes
By: Zaho

Category: Salads

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: Italian-American

Yield: 5 Servings (5 servings)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 Iceberg lettuce, finely chopped (1 head).
02 Red onion, thinly sliced (1/2).
03 Banana peppers, chopped (1/3 cup).
04 Grape tomatoes, chopped (1 cup).
05 Salami, chopped (1/4 lb).
06 Pepperoni, chopped (1/4 lb).
07 Turkey, chopped (1/4 lb).
08 Provolone cheese, chopped (1/4 lb).
09 Parmesan cheese, grated (1/4 cup).
10 Mayonnaise (1/2 cup).
11 Red wine vinegar (2 tablespoons).
12 Banana pepper juice (1 teaspoon).
13 Garlic powder (1 teaspoon).
14 Dried oregano (1 teaspoon).
15 Salt (1/2 teaspoon).
16 Black pepper to taste.

Instructions

Step 01

Add lettuce, onion, banana peppers, tomatoes, meats, and cheeses to large mixing bowl.

Step 02

Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, pepper juice, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper until smooth.

Step 03

Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to combine. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. Best served immediately after dressing.
  2. Can prep components ahead but dress just before serving.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large mixing bowl.
  • Small bowl for dressing.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Dairy.
  • Eggs (in mayonnaise).

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 35 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
  • Protein: 25 g