Classic Chef Salad (Printable)

Protein-packed salad with ham, turkey, cheese, eggs and crisp vegetables in homemade vinaigrette.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 3.5 ounces cooked ham, sliced into strips
02 - 3.5 ounces cooked turkey breast, sliced into strips
03 - 4 large eggs, hard-boiled and quartered

→ Cheese

04 - 3.5 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced into strips
05 - 3.5 ounces cheddar cheese, sliced into strips

→ Vegetables

06 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped
08 - 2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges
09 - 1 cucumber, sliced
10 - 1 carrot, julienned
11 - ½ red onion, thinly sliced

→ Dressing

12 - 3 tablespoons olive oil
13 - 1½ tablespoons red wine vinegar
14 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
15 - ½ teaspoon salt
16 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper

→ Garnish

17 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Directions:

01 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
02 - Spread the chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce evenly across a large serving platter or divide among individual plates.
03 - Arrange ham strips, turkey strips, Swiss cheese, and cheddar cheese in sections over the lettuce bed.
04 - Place tomato wedges, cucumber slices, julienned carrot, red onion, and hard-boiled egg quarters artistically on top of the proteins and cheese.
05 - Drizzle with the prepared vinaigrette immediately before serving or offer dressing on the side. Sprinkle with fresh chives and parsley if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can transform leftover deli meats and random vegetables into something that feels restaurant special
  • The homemade vinaigrette takes literally two minutes and makes everything taste better than store bought
  • Its endlessly customizable based on what you have in your fridge
02 -
  • The vinaigrette can be made up to a week ahead and stored in a sealed container in your refrigerator
  • Pat your proteins and vegetables dry with paper towels before arranging, or excess water will dilute your dressing
  • Assembly matters here, I like to group similar ingredients together rather than mixing everything randomly
03 -
  • If serving this at a party, arrange everything except the dressing and cover it with a damp paper towel
  • The combination of lettuces matters, romaine gives you structure while iceberg brings that classic crispness
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