Jean Leon opened La Scala in Beverly Hills in 1956. The restaurant is revered for its Original Chopped Salad. Considered by many to be L.A’s definitive chopped. Their salad is wonderful in its simplicity-iceberg and romaine, mozzarella, Genoa salami, garbanzos, all finely chopped, tossed in vinaigrette, and topped with one Kalamata olive. It’s available with many different customizations such as adding turkey, tuna, or chicken. I’m adding turkey to my recipe and making it skinnier by using only romaine lettuce, including chopped tomatoes, reduced-fat salami, light cheese, and dressing. Each main course salad has 298 calories and 13 grams of fat.
Ingredients
- 10 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1½ cups tomatoes, chopped
- 1½ cups (6 oz) turkey breast, diced
- ¾ cup (3 oz) reduced-fat Italian dry salami, cut into thin strips, see shopping tips
- 1¼ cups canned garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed and chopped
- ½ cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
- 8 Kalamata olives or black olives, pitted and chopped
- ½ cup Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing, see shopping tips
- 1-2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, to taste
Instructions
- Chop romaine lettuce and add to a large salad bowl. Add remaining ingredients except the dressing and balsamic vinegar. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Just before serving, toss in dressing and balsamic vinegar. Add a little more dressing, if desired.
Notes
Makes 4 main-courses salads or 8 first-course salads
Food Facts
La Scala has been popular for years with the locals and entertainment industry. It has comfortable red booths and drawings of Hollywood figures lining the walls. Traditional Italian fare is offered, as well as an exceptional wine list supplied by Owner Jean Leon’s personal vineyard, Chateau Leon, in Spain. La Scala has two locations, Beverly Hills and Brentwood.
Shopping Tips
My two favorite store-bought dressings for this salad are Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing. They are both delicious reduced-fat dressings. Either are sold in most large supermarket chains in the salad dressing aisle. I found them at Von’s/Safeway. Or use your favorite Caesar or Italian dressing. I used Columbus Lite Italian Dry Salami. I also found it at Von’s/Safeway in the deli section of the supermarket. There are other brands available in the luncheon meat section of the market.
Prep Tips
To cut the sodium way down when using canned beans, rinse and drain first before adding to a recipe.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 5-Blue
WW SmartPoints 7-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 7
Food Facts
La Scala has been popular for years with the locals and entertainment industry. It has comfortable red booths and drawings of Hollywood figures lining the walls. Traditional Italian fare is offered, as well as an exceptional wine list supplied by Owner Jean Leon’s personal vineyard, Chateau Leon, in Spain. La Scala has two locations, Beverly Hills and Brentwood.
Shopping Tips
My two favorite store-bought dressings for this salad are Cardini’s Light Caesar Vinaigrette or Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing. They are both delicious reduced-fat dressings. Either are sold in most large supermarket chains in the salad dressing aisle. I found them at Von’s/Safeway. Or use your favorite Caesar or Italian dressing. I used Columbus Lite Italian Dry Salami. I also found it at Von’s/Safeway in the deli section of the supermarket. There are other brands available in the luncheon meat section of the market.
Prep Tips
To cut the sodium way down when using canned beans, rinse and drain first before adding to a recipe.
WW Freestyle SmartPoints 5-Blue
WW SmartPoints 7-Green
WW POINTS PLUS 7
| SKINNY FACTS: for 1 main-course salad 298 calories, 13g fat, 3g sat. fat, 45mg chol, 20g protein, 20g carbs, 5g fiber, 1334mg sodium, 3g sugar |
| FACTS: for SmartPoints 150 calories, 3g sat. fat, 1g sugar, 8g protein |
Skinny Facts
Serving: 1saladCalories: 298kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 20gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 1334mgFiber: 5gSugar: 3gBlue Smart Points: 5Green Smart Points: 7Plus Points: 7
Girard’s discontinued their Light Champagne dressing and I can’t find Cardini’s light anywhere either. Any suggestions of a substitute?
Megan,
Good news…Girard’s did not discontinue their Light Champagne dressing. They actually changed the name and label. It’s now called Girard’s Champagne 60 Calorie Vinaigrette.
Here’s a link to their website where you can see what the bottle looks like now-
I’m sure you’ll still be able to easily find it.
Best of luck,
Nancy
I thought the same with the Gerards light champange dressing but just the label changed. It’s still the light dressing. Check it out!
You are so right. Thanks Katie!
My best,
Nancy