La Scala Chopped Salad: A healthier twist on the famous Beverly Hills salad — lower in carbs, reduced saturated fat, and made with a zero-sugar vinaigrette.
Yields: 4 servings
Prep time: 20 minutes
Table of Contents
🥬 Ingredients (La Scala Chopped Salad)
For the Salad
- 1 small head iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
- 1 head romaine lettuce, finely chopped
- 1 cup chickpeas only (NOT the whole can — chickpeas are great but high-carb, so use a smaller amount)
- 3 oz turkey salami or chicken salami (lower fat & lower sodium than regular salami)
- 1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese (reduced-fat)
- Optional low-carb additions:
- ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes (no oil)
- ½ cup marinated artichoke hearts, drained
🥣 La Scala Chopped Salad For the Diabetic-Friendly Vinaigrette
(No sugar or honey — completely sugar-free)
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp powdered sweetener (Truvia / Stevia / Monk Fruit — optional)
- 2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the Sugar-Free Vinaigrette
Whisk together: olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, sweetener (optional), salt, and pepper.
Stir in grated Parmesan.
Set aside.
2. Marinate the Chickpeas (Smaller Quantity)
Toss 1 cup chickpeas with 2 tbsp dressing.
Let them soak while you prep the salad.
3. Assemble the Salad
In a large bowl, combine:
- chopped iceberg
- chopped romaine
- turkey/chicken salami strips
- part-skim mozzarella
- optional sun-dried tomatoes + artichokes
4. Dress the Salad
Pour remaining vinaigrette over the bowl and toss well.
5. Serve La Scala Style (Optional)
Spread marinated chickpeas in a thin layer on the bottom of a smaller bowl.
Press salad mixture on top.
Flip onto a plate for the signature presentation.
Or simply scatter chickpeas on top and serve immediately.
💚 Why This Version Is Diabetic-Friendly
- No sugar or honey → prevents blood sugar spikes
- Reduced chickpeas → lowers carbs
- Turkey/chicken salami instead of regular salami → lower saturated fat & sodium
- Part-skim cheese → lowers calories and fat
- High fiber from lettuce + chickpeas → helps slow glucose absorption
- Healthy fats from olive oil → stabilizes blood sugar
