La Scala Salad

If you’ve spent any time scrolling through social media lately, chances are you’ve seen the famous La Scala Chopped Salad. This iconic salad from La Scala in Beverly Hills has been a favorite for generations, and it’s easy to see why it has become such a viral sensation.
La Scala has been serving its signature Original Chop Salad since 1956, and the restaurant describes the classic as lettuce, salami, mozzarella cheese, marinated garbanzo beans, and its signature dressing.
There’s nothing complicated about this salad—and that’s part of its appeal. Crisp lettuce, savory salami, creamy mozzarella and chickpeas come together with a tangy, flavorful Italian-style dressing to create a salad that is incredibly satisfying.

Why Everyone Loves the La Scala Salad
The secret to this salad is how finely everything is chopped. Rather than large pieces of lettuce and toppings, all of the ingredients are cut small enough that you get a little bit of everything in every bite.
The chickpeas add creaminess and substance, the salami brings a salty, savory bite, and the mozzarella balances everything with its mild, creamy flavor. A zesty red wine vinaigrette ties it all together.
And because the ingredients are so simple, this is one of those salads that can easily become part of your regular lunch or dinner rotation.

THE INGREDIENTS ARE SIMPLE & FRESH

The Secret to the Perfect La Scala Salad
Don't skip the fine chop! This is what makes the salad different from an ordinary Italian chopped salad. You want the lettuce, salami and cheese cut into small pieces so every forkful has the perfect combination of ingredients.
Another important tip is to dress the salad right before serving. The crisp lettuce is one of the best parts of this recipe, and adding the dressing too early can cause it to lose its crunch.
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Can I Make La Scala Salad Ahead of Time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the dressing, chop the lettuce and prepare the other ingredients several hours ahead of time. Keep everything refrigerated separately and toss just before serving.
For meal prep, store the dressing separately and add it when you're ready to eat.

Easy Variations
One of the reasons this salad has become so popular is how easy it is to customize.

​Try adding:

• Pepperoncini
• Avocado
• Black olives
• Fresh herbs like Basil

Why This Salad Is Worth the Hype
There are plenty of viral recipes that come and go, but the La Scala Chopped Salad has something that many trendy recipes don't: decades of history behind it.
The original Beverly Hills restaurant continues to feature its famous chopped salad on the menu, and in 2026 La Scala is celebrating 70 years.
Once you try this combination of crunchy lettuce, creamy chickpeas, salty salami, mozzarella and tangy dressing, you'll understand why this simple salad has remained a classic—and why it continues to trend today.
Make it once, and don't be surprised if it becomes your new favorite salad!

La Scala Salad

Ingredients
For the Salad

• 1 head iceberg lettuce, finely chopped
• 1 head romaine lettuce, finely chopped
• 1 large chicken breast (roasted, cooled and chopped) (optional) **
• 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
• 4 ounces Italian salami, thinly sliced and cut into strips
• 1 1/2 cups chopped mozzarella cheese
• 2-3 scallions, sliced thinly on the diagonal
• Freshly grated or shaved Parmesan cheese, optional

For the Dressing

• 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon grainy mustard or Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. Make the dressing.
Add the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper to a small jar. Cover and shake vigorously until the dressing is well combined and slightly emulsified.

2. Chop the lettuce.
Finely chop both the iceberg and romaine lettuce. The small, uniform pieces are what give this salad its signature texture.

3. Prepare the remaining ingredients.
Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Slice the salami into thin strips and chop the mozzarella into small pieces.

4. Combine everything.
Add the lettuce, chickpeas, salami, mozzarella and scallion to a large bowl as well as the chopped chicken if using.

5. Dress the salad.
Pour about two-thirds of the dressing over the salad and toss really well. Add more dressing as needed until everything is lightly coated.

6. Finish and serve.
Sprinkle with a little freshly grated Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper before serving.

** I used Chosen Foods brand Lemon Garlic Marinade to marinate the chicken breast before cooking 12 minutes in the air fryer.  It gave it such a great flavor for a shortcut ingredient.