LA SCALA’S FAMOUS CHOPPED SALAD
on Sep 12, 2022, Updated Jul 22, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A salad deemed worthy by the most famous celebs, this chopped salad has all the same tastes as a classic Italian cold-cut sandwich in bowl form.
La Scala is a long-standing Italian restaurant in Beverly Hills, California — a destination of sorts for the well-known crowd or those who want to be associated with this crowd!
Their most coveted menu item is this chopped salad, which tastes like a proper Italian cold-cut sandwich in a bowl.
Now, the original recipe calls for parmesan and mozzarella so I wanted to make a dairy-free version for my fellow dairy-sensitive friends.
By sprinkling nutritional yeast over the top, you get that same cheesy flavor without adding any cheese.
So no matter if you can make it to La Scala or not, give this deliciously simple chopped salad a try.
You will NOT be disappointed! Enjoy!
Get the Protein-Empowered digital cookbook!
Ingredients for La Scala’s Famous Chopped Salad
You only need seven(!) ingredients to make this legendary salad at home. Check your pantry and grab whatever else you may need to make this for next week’s lunches!
- Olive Oil: Using good, high-quality olive oil for dressings will make your salads that much better! Extra virgin olive oil is robust and fruity in taste and boasts a ton of nutritional benefits!
- Red Wine Vinegar: Slightly tangy and acidic, red wine vinegar is a classic component of many salad dressings including my dressing in my High Protein Greek Chicken Salad.
- Dijon Mustard: This condiment acts as an emulsifier, helping the olive oil and red wine vinegar mix together. Without it, oil and vinegar won’t mix!
Pin this recipe for later!
Pin It- Iceberg Lettuce: Crunchy and refreshing, iceberg lettuce is the base of this famous salad. Chop it finely to get an irresistible bite.
- Salami: This peppery cured meat varies in terms of taste. Choose Genoa salami if you’re looking for a more mild flavor.
- Chickpeas: A pantry staple! Chickpeas or garbanzo beans are high in fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
- Nutritional Yeast: This is a common ingredient in many plant-based or dairy-free recipes. Nutritional yeast is full of B-complex vitamins and gives the salad a cheesy flavor without the use of dairy.
Substitution Suggestions
For plant-based: omit the salami.
If you aren’t sensitive to dairy: add parmesan cheese to the dressing and mozzarella to the salad for a more authentic at-home La Scala salad.
How to Make Famous Chopped Salad
First, make the dressing. To a jar, add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Seal and shake the jar until well combined.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas and add to a bowl with 1/4 cup of dressing.
Stir and allow to marinate for 1 hour. If you’re in a hurry, you can skip this step. It just makes the beans more flavorful.
Add the sliced iceberg lettuce, salami, marinated chickpeas (plus dressing), and nutritional yeast to a large bowl and toss with the remainder of the dressing. Serve and ENJOY!
Other Viral Salad Recipes:
- Jennifer Aniston’s Herby Salad
- Southwestern Micro-Chopped Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
- Citrusy Black Bean and Shrimp Salad
LA SCALA’S FAMOUS CHOPPED SALAD
Ingredients
For the Dressing:
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
For the Salad:
- 1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
- ¼ pound salami, thinly sliced
- 1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
Instructions
- Combine the dressing ingredients (olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper) in a jar and shake until well combined.
- Drain and rinse the chickpeas and add to a bowl with ¼ cup of dressing. Stir and allow to marinate for 1 hour. Note, you can skip this step if you’re in a hurry. It just makes the beans more flavorful.
- Add the sliced iceberg lettuce, salami, marinated chickpeas (plus dressing), and nutritional yeast to a large bowl and toss with the remainder of the dressing.
- Serve and ENJOY!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
