PORTILLO CHOPPED SALAD

PORTILLO CHOPPED SALAD image

Yield 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 16

4 cups cooked Ditalini pasta
1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
2-1/2 cups chopped red cabbage
2 fresh tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 cup sliced green onions
4 oz. crumbled gorgonzola cheese (about 1 cup)
(optional) 2 cups cooked and diced chicken
Dressing:
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. salt
1/4 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

Steps:

Cook Ditalini pasta according to package instructions. Make sure you salt the pasta water while cooking to give it some flavor. Drain and cool. Set aside. Cook bacon in a skillet until done. Let bacon cool, then crumble it. Combine romaine, iceberg, red cabbage, tomatoes and green onions in a large salad bowl. Add cooled pasta, bacon and gorgonzola cheese to salad. Add chicken if desired. Add dressing to taste right before serving so that it doesn't get soggy. For the Dressing: Place vinegar, garlic, sugar, oregano, salt and pepper in a blender. ; While the machine is running, slowly drizzle olive oil through the blender top to feed tube until dressing is combined and emulsified. Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to two weeks.