Mediterranean Chopped Salad with Zesty Lemon Vinaigrette

1.Prepare the Zesty Lemon Vinaigrette: In a small bowl, whisk together the fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, kosher salt, and black pepper.

2.Slowly drizzle in the extra virgin olive oil while continuously whisking until the vinaigrette is fully emulsified and slightly thickened. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

3.Prepare the salad vegetables: Wash and chop the Romaine lettuce. Finely dice the celery and carrots, dice the cucumber, halve the cherry tomatoes, and halve the pitted Kalamata olives.

4.In a very large mixing bowl, combine the chopped Romaine lettuce, diced celery, shredded carrots, diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, halved olives, and sliced red onion.

5.Just before serving, pour about three-quarters of the prepared vinaigrette over the salad mixture. Gently toss the salad until all ingredients are evenly coated.

6.Add the crumbled feta cheese and toss once more lightly. If the salad seems dry, add the remaining vinaigrette.

7.Transfer the salad to serving bowls or a large platter. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.