Description
Portillo’s Chopped Salad is a beloved dish from the Chicago-based restaurant chain, Portillo’s. This hearty salad combines crisp lettuce, tender pasta, savory bacon, juicy tomatoes, and tangy Gorgonzola cheese, all tossed in a flavorful vinaigrette. Here’s how you can recreate this classic at home:
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- For the Salad:
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 2 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup finely chopped red cabbage
- 2 cups cooked ditalini pasta
- 2 cups cooked and diced chicken breast
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- 2 medium tomatoes, seeds removed and diced
- 1/2 cup chopped green onions
- 1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
- For the Dressing:
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Dressing:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, sugar, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Set aside.
- Assemble the Salad:
- In a large salad bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce, iceberg lettuce, red cabbage, cooked ditalini pasta, diced chicken breast, crumbled bacon, diced tomatoes, green onions, and Gorgonzola cheese.
- Dress the Salad:
- Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients. Toss gently to ensure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve:
- Serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade Portillo’s Chopped Salad!
Notes
- For added convenience, you can use store-bought rotisserie chicken.
- If white balsamic vinegar is unavailable, apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar can be used as substitutes.
- To prevent the salad from becoming soggy, add the dressing just before serving.