An Italian salad is a great addition to any buffet and a popular dish to bring to barbecues. Italian pasta salads—such as tortellini salad or spaghetti salad—are especially popular. Bread and salad are the classics at barbecues. An Italian bread salad combines both and tastes especially fresh in the summer. If you’re still looking for the perfect Italian salad for your next buffet or barbecue, let our selection inspire you.
Arugula is the spicy, pungent base for many Italian salads
In traditional Italian cuisine, arugula is a popular ingredient in salads. The term “arugula” refers to various plant species that belong to the cruciferous family. Arugula contains mustard oils, giving it a spicy, pungent flavor with a slightly nutty note. Paired with cherry tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, and toasted pine nuts, arugula tastes simply delizioso.
Caprese Salad
Insalata Caprese is probably the best-known and, at the same time, the simplest Italian salad. By the way, the name “Caprese” means “from Capri.”
Tomatoes are indispensable in authentic Italian cuisine. The sweet-and-sour flavor of tomatoes is the perfect counterpart to many Italian ingredients, such as Italian cheese or pasta.
Insalata Caprese requires very few ingredients: mozzarella and beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil for seasoning, salt and pepper, and a drizzle of cold-pressed olive oil. For an authentic Insalata Caprese, use buffalo mozzarella, but you can also use mozzarella made from cow’s milk.
A dark balsamic vinegar mixed with a little olive oil works well as a dressing for Insalata Caprese.
Since there are many different ways to prepare Insalata Caprese, we’ll show you three different variations here on how to enhance this delicious tomato salad.
Panzanella
Panzanella—which literally means “slices of bread with oil, salt, vinegar, tomatoes, and herbs” (bread salad)—is also very popular in Italy. Juicy tomatoes pair perfectly with the crispy fried bread cubes. This summery bread salad is often topped with cucumbers to give the Italian salad even more freshness.
In this recipe—Panzanella—we’ll show you how to make an Italian bread salad.
Chicken Salad
Poultry, such as chicken, is also a popular ingredient in Italian salads. For a perfect Insalata di Pollo, simply use arugula, tomatoes, a little corn, chicken breast, Parmigiano, olives, olive oil, and season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar. If you use young chicken from the butcher for your Insalata di Pollo, the chicken will taste especially tender.
Dressings for authentic Italian salads tend to be quite simple
In authentic Italian cuisine, dressings are kept very simple. In Italian restaurants, salads are often served without dressing. Balsamic vinegar and olive oil are usually available on the table, so you can season your salad to your own taste and preference.
Green pesto—pesto verde—is also a popular Italian salad dressing. This green, uncooked sauce is made from chopped basil, high-quality olive oil, and other green herbs, such as parsley or arugula. Adding pine nuts or cashews gives the pesto verde a nutty flavor. Pesto verde is the perfect accompaniment to green Italian salads.
Italian herb oils enhance homemade Italian salads. Herbs such as rosemary, basil, thyme, sage, and oregano are excellent for making Italian herb oil. Whether for Italian tortellini salads or other Italian pasta salads, Italian herb oils give these hearty salads a particularly flavorful touch.
When Italians think of "salad," they don't think of lettuce or salad greens. In Italy, salad is a popular dish served as an appetizer or as part of the main course. If you'd like to learn more about Italian dining culture, this article on the typical Italian meal sequence can help you "prepare" for your next restaurant visit.
