I’ve been following the keto way of eating for a while now. It started as a way to get my joints to feel a little better after beginning a six day a week training program for a 39 mile walk, I had planned to do for Avon39 back in 2017. It gave me the nutrients needed to get through those long training walks while still helping me shed the pounds.
Over the years I have found myself on and off keto at various times. One of the reasons that I have come off keto is because I became super bored with the foods I was eating. I’m the type of person that has favorite foods that I hardly stray from. But I need more variety.
This time around I decided I wanted to incorporate more keto friendly vegetables into my diet as a way to keep it interesting and help motivate me to continue on. I have committed to eat more salads as a way to get more fiber and nutrients into my diet. Plus, I have set a very large weight loss and health goal for myself—even larger than the before.
So, I’m back in the kitchen concocting new recipes. One thing that I have noticed with following the keto diet is that I am always finding ways to hack recipes and turn them into keto-friendly meals. I’ve actually gotten very, very good at doing this. One of my latest favorites is a St. Louis-Style Italian House Salad.
Being a St. Louis girl (born and bred), I grew up on these hearty salads. They’ve got it all—high-fat, reasonably low-carb, a lot of minerals and vitamins, and a modest amount of protein. This recipe can be used as a main course or as an appetizer and still please even the non-keto folks among us. Let me know what you think about this Italian House Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette Dressing. Leave a comment below.
Italian House Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette Dressing
Notes
Make dressing at least 2 hours prior to serving. Keto-friendly recipe.
Ingredients
- SALAD
- 3 heads of Romaine lettuce, washed and chopped
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 1 can black olives, drained
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1/2 package of pepperoni, halved
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- DRESSING
- 1/3 cup real mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup Apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons anchovy paste
- 1 tablespoon grated onion (with juice)
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons erythritol
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Salad: Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.
- Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayo, oil, vinegar, lemon juice, anchovy paste, onion, cheese, erythritol, garlic salt, table salt, and oregano. Use an immersion blender (or continue whisking by hand) to combine all the ingredients. Refrigerate in a glass jar for at least 2 hours before serving. Good for 5 days in an airtight glass jar.
Delicious salad. I am always ready to have salads and will surely try this. It’s my old habit of talking about watercress salads whenever I look for salads Because they are my favorite among all. Have you ever tried watercress with strawberries and feta cheese? I am sure you’re gonna love it.