Name: La Scala’s Famous Chopped Salad Made Skinny
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 10 cups romaine lettuce, (chopped); 1½ cups tomatoes, (chopped); 1½ cups (6 oz) turkey breast, (diced); ¾ cup (3 oz) reduced-fat Italian dry salami, (cut into thin strips, see shopping tips); 1¼ cups canned garbanzo beans, (drained, rinsed and chopped); ½ cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese; 8 Kalamata olives or black olives, (pitted and chopped); ½ cup Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette (or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing, see shopping tips); 1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, (to taste)

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Jean Leon opened La Scala in Beverly Hills in 1956. The restaurant is revered for its Original Chopped Salad. Considered by many to be L.A’s definitive chopped. Their salad is wonderful in its simplicity-iceberg and romaine, mozzarella, Genoa salami, garbanzos, all finely chopped, tossed in vinaigrette, and topped with one Kalamata olive. It’s available with many different customizations such as adding turkey, tuna, or chicken. I’m adding turkey to my recipe and making it skinnier by using only romaine lettuce, including chopped tomatoes, reduced-fat salami, light cheese, and dressing. Each main course salad has 298 calories and 13 grams of fat.

Why You'll Love Skinny Kitchen's La Scala’s Famous Chopped Salad

Step into the world of gourmet salads without the guilt! You'll absolutely fall in love with the La Scala's Famous Chopped Salad Made Skinny recipe because it masterfully recreates the iconic, intensely flavorful experience of the beloved Beverly Hills classic, but with a brilliant "skinny" twist. Imagine every forkful bursting with crisp lettuce, savory reduced-fat salami, tender turkey breast, hearty garbanzo beans, juicy tomatoes, and a subtle tang from Kalamata olives, all tossed in a light yet incredibly zesty dressing. This isn't just a salad; it's a satisfying, nutrient-rich meal that allows you to indulge in a restaurant-quality dish while staying mindful of your health goals. It's truly a salad you could eat almost every day, proving that eating lighter doesn't mean sacrificing an ounce of amazing taste or satisfying texture.

Ingredients For La Scala's Famous Chopped Salad Made Skinny

Romaine Lettuce, Chopped (10 cups): This forms the crisp, refreshing, and incredibly abundant base of our salad. We're talking about a generous 10 cups, ensuring a truly substantial and satisfying meal. Chopped romaine lettuce is specifically chosen for its sturdy, crisp texture, which holds up exceptionally well to the various toppings and the dressing without wilting quickly. Its slightly bitter, fresh flavor provides a perfect, vibrant counterpoint to the richer, savory elements of the salad. It's the healthy canvas upon which all the other fantastic flavors are built.

Tomatoes, Chopped (1½ cups): Fresh, juicy, and vibrant, chopped tomatoes bring a burst of bright acidity and a touch of natural sweetness to the salad. Their soft, yielding texture offers a delightful contrast to the crisp lettuce and the firmer meats and beans. Incorporating 1½ cups ensures a generous distribution of these essential fresh components, adding a vital fresh element and a beautiful splash of color that makes the salad visually appealing and enhances its overall garden-fresh appeal.

Turkey Breast, Diced (1½ cups / 6 oz): This lean protein is a critical component that provides a hearty, satisfying chew and a mild, savory flavor that anchors the salad. Diced turkey breast offers an excellent, healthier alternative to more calorie-dense meats like traditional salami alone, fitting perfectly within the "skinny" philosophy of the recipe. Its tender texture readily absorbs the dressing's flavors, making it an excellent addition that contributes significantly to the salad's substantial and fulfilling nature, ensuring you feel truly satisfied after enjoying it.

Reduced-Fat Italian Dry Salami, Cut into Thin Strips (¾ cup / 3 oz): This ingredient is absolutely crucial for authentically replicating the signature La Scala flavor profile, bringing a rich, savory, and subtly spicy punch that truly defines the salad. By specifically opting for reduced-fat Italian dry salami, we manage to capture that irresistible cured meat essence and umami depth without introducing excessive saturated fat content often found in traditional versions. Cutting it into thin strips, rather than larger chunks, ensures its robust, complex flavor is distributed more evenly throughout the entire salad without overwhelming other ingredients, and it provides a delightful, chewy texture that adds a crucial layer of complexity to every mouthful. Look for it in the deli or pre-packaged meats section.

Canned Garbanzo Beans (1¼ cups, Drained, Rinsed, and Chopped): Garbanzo beans (also widely known as chickpeas) are a fantastic, wholesome addition for their creamy texture, mild, nutty flavor, and significant boost of plant-based protein and dietary fiber. Thoroughly draining and rinsing them is essential to remove excess sodium and any canning liquid, which can sometimes affect flavor. Chopping them ensures they integrate seamlessly into the "chopped" nature of the salad, offering a pleasant, slightly firm bite and making the salad even more substantial and satisfying, contributing significantly to a feeling of fullness and sustained energy.

Reduced-Fat Mozzarella Cheese (½ cup): This cheese adds a mild, milky creaminess and a subtle savory note to the salad, contributing to its indulgent feel. Using reduced-fat mozzarella allows for the inclusion of that beloved cheesy flavor and a desirable soft texture without adding a large amount of saturated fat, keeping the recipe aligned with its "skinny" goal. Whether shredded or finely diced, its form disperses well throughout the salad, providing a gentle cheesy touch that complements the other ingredients beautifully without overpowering the distinct flavors of the meats and olives.

Kalamata Olives or Black Olives (8, Pitted and Chopped): Olives are indispensable for their distinctive briny, salty, and slightly fruity flavor that adds a sophisticated Mediterranean twist. Kalamata olives offer a more intense, robust, and often a subtly sweet-and-sour profile, while black olives provide a milder, fruitier taste – choose based on your preference for intensity. Pitting and chopping them ensures that their intense flavor is evenly distributed and that every forkful gets a crucial touch of that salty, briny zest, providing a vital counterpoint to the richer and fresher components of the salad.

Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing (½ cup): These light dressings are absolutely pivotal for delivering the bright, tangy, and flavorful coating that brings all the diverse ingredients of the salad together into a cohesive, delicious experience. Crucially, choosing a "light" vinaigrette significantly reduces calories and fat compared to traditional creamy or full-fat options. Cardini's Light Caesar Vinaigrette offers a classic garlicky, savory, and slightly cheesy note, reminiscent of a traditional Caesar, while Girard's Light Champagne Dressing provides a delicate, sophisticated, slightly sweet, and tangy champagne vinegar base. Both options offer a refreshing and well-balanced flavor that complements the wide array of ingredients in the chopped salad beautifully, adhering perfectly to the "skinny" concept without compromising on taste.

Balsamic Vinegar (1-2 tablespoons, to taste): This final flourish is essential for personalizing the salad's tanginess and depth of flavor. Balsamic vinegar adds a sweet, complex acidity and a rich, slightly syrupy note that brightens all the flavors and adds a layer of sophistication. Its robust flavor can enhance the savory notes of the meats and cheese while cutting through the richness of the dressing. Adding it "to taste" provides crucial flexibility, allowing you to adjust the dressing's zing to your personal preference, ensuring the perfect balance in every delicious bite and adding that extra layer of gourmet appeal.

Crafting La Scala's Famous Chopped Salad Made Skinny

Step 1: Prepare Your Salad Base and Combine Ingredients (Ahead of Time)

Start by taking your romaine lettuce and ensuring it's thoroughly chopped. Once chopped, add all 10 cups of it to a large salad bowl. This big bowl will be the home for all your delicious salad components!

Next, add the rest of your ingredients to the bowl, reserving only the salad dressing (Cardini's Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard's Light Champagne Dressing) and the balsamic vinegar for later. Into the bowl with your lettuce, add:

Your chopped tomatoes for a burst of freshness.
The diced turkey breast, adding lean protein and tenderness.
The reduced-fat Italian dry salami, cut into thin strips, for that authentic savory kick.
The drained, rinsed, and chopped garbanzo beans, providing hearty texture and fiber.
The reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, for a touch of creamy, mild flavor.
And finally, the pitted and chopped Kalamata or black olives, for their signature briny depth.

Once all these vibrant ingredients are in the bowl, give them a gentle mix to distribute them evenly. This ensures every spoonful of your salad will be packed with a variety of flavors and textures. Now, cover the bowl and store it in the refrigerator. This makes it an ideal make-ahead meal, allowing the flavors to slightly meld while keeping everything fresh until you're ready to serve.

Step 2: Dressing and Serving Just Before Enjoying

This is the final, crucial step to ensure your La Scala Chopped Salad is at its absolute best – crisp, fresh, and perfectly dressed!

Just before you're ready to serve and enjoy your salad, uncover the bowl from the refrigerator. Now, it's time to add the finishing touches:

Pour ½ cup of your chosen light dressing (Cardini's Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard's Light Champagne Dressing) over the salad ingredients.
Drizzle in 1 to 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Remember, this is to taste, so start with 1 tablespoon and add more if you prefer a greater depth of sweet acidity.

Once the dressing and balsamic vinegar are added, toss everything together well. Ensure all the lettuce, meats, vegetables, and beans are thoroughly coated with the delicious light dressing. This ensures every single bite is flavorful and moist.

After tossing, take a small taste. If you feel it needs a bit more moisture or a stronger flavor, add a little more dressing, if desired, and toss again.

Serve your La Scala's Famous Chopped Salad Made Skinny immediately to enjoy its peak freshness and vibrant flavors. This salad is so satisfying, it truly makes a complete meal!

Helpful Tips About this Recipe

Makes 4 main-courses salads or 8 first-course salads

Food Facts
La Scala has been popular for years with the locals and entertainment industry. It has comfortable red booths and drawings of Hollywood figures lining the walls. Traditional Italian fare is offered, as well as an exceptional wine list supplied by Owner Jean Leon’s personal vineyard, Chateau Leon, in Spain. La Scala has two locations, Beverly Hills and Brentwood.

Shopping Tips
My two favorite store-bought dressings for this salad are Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing. They are both delicious reduced-fat dressings. Either are sold in most large supermarket chains in the salad dressing aisle. I found them at Von’s/Safeway. Or use your favorite Caesar or Italian dressing.

I used Columbus Lite Italian Dry Salami. I also found it at Von’s/Safeway in the deli section of the supermarket. There are other brands available in the luncheon meat section of the market.

Prep Tips
To cut the sodium way down when using canned beans, rinse and drain first before adding to a recipe.

WW Freestyle SmartPoints 5-Blue
WW SmartPoints 7-Green

SKINNY FACTS: for 1 main-course salad
298 calories, 13g fat, 3g sat. fat, 45mg chol, 20g protein, 20g carbs, 5g fiber, 1334mg sodium, 3g sugar

FACTS: for SmartPoints
150 calories, 3g sat. fat, 1g sugar, 8g protein