My husband says the best way to toss a salad is with your hands. Yep, dressing and all. You, of course, are welcome to use whatever “tool” suits you best when tossing together this man-friendly blend of fresh romaine lettuce, traditional pizza toppings and zesty tomato dressing.
With no heat required, this is a perfect summer meal. Not only is it family-friendly, it packs and totes beautifully. I’ve kept the basic recipe simple on purpose, but encourage you to toss in a handful of one or more of your own favorite pizza toppers; sliced green or red bell pepper and mushrooms, thinly sliced red onion, and black olives all come to mind.
I’ve already included croutons for a bit of crusty crunch, but find slice of warm focaccia or other flat-bread adds even more pizza-style satisfaction!
Enjoy!
Serves 2
Dressing:
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon each, garlic powder, dried oregano, and sugar
1/8 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
Salad:
4 generous cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 ounce (16 slices) turkey pepperoni (like Hormel)
1/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup halved cherry (or fresh chopped) tomatoes
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil (optional)
¼ cup croutons (cheese and garlic flavored work well)
2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan
1. In a small bowl whisk the tomato paste with 2 tablespoons water until smooth. Whisk in the vinegar and oil, and then the spices, sugar, salt and pepper. Whisk well adding 1 teaspoon more water. Set aside.
2. Place the chopped romaine in a large bowl. Cut 10 of the pepperoni slices in half and add to the bowl. Sprinkle in the mozzarella, tomatoes, and fresh basil, if desired. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss lightly until coated. Place ½ of salad mixture onto each of two plates. Divide croutons among salads and garnish with remaining pepperoni (3 slices each). Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Parmesan on top of each salad and serve.
Nutrition Information Per Serving: Calories 250 | Fat 14 grams (4 saturated) | Carbohydrate 14 grams | Fiber 3 grams | Protein 16 grams | Sodium 730 milligrams | Diabetic exchange = 2 Lean Meat, 2 1/2 Vegetable, 2 Fat | Carbohydrate choices = 1 | WW plus point comparison = 6 points | Smart Points : 6
