Mediterranean Chopped Salad

by Charlie McCarthy, Sr.

Ingredients

• 1 handful olives
• 1/2 red onion
• red chile
• 3 tomatoes
• lettuce leaves
• 1 bunch basil
• 6 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• salt
• pepper

Recipe

1. Press down on the olives with the palm of your hand to squeeze the pits out, then discard the pits.
2. Start chopping the harder, crunchier veggies first. Peel and slice your red onion, halve, seed, and finely chop your red chile.
3. Chop the olives and tomatoes.
4. Bring it all into the center of the board and continue chopping and mixing together. Add the lettuce leaves and basil and chop them up too.
5. When everything is well chopped, you'll have a big mound of salad on the board. Make a well in the middle and dizzle in 6 tbsp of olive oil, 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar, and a good pinch of salt and pepper. Mix up so everything gets dressed.
6. Serve straight from the board or in a bowl.

Enjoy!