Italian Chicken Salad

yield: Makes 4 main-course servings

active time: 35 min

total time: 35 min

High-quality ingredients transform this salad into an extremely satisfying weeknight dinner.

ingredients:

For croutons

• 4 cups (1/2-inch) cubes Italian bread (from a 1/2-lb crusty round loaf)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

For vinaigrette

• 1/4 cup red-wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

For salad

• 2 cups coarsely shredded cooked chicken (1/2 lb; from a rotisserie chicken)
• 1 cup bocconcini (small fresh mozzarella balls; 6 oz)
• 2 hearts of romaine (3/4 lb total), torn into bite-size pieces
• 1 (8-oz) jar roasted red peppers, rinsed, drained, and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide strips
• 1 cup assorted marinated brine-cured olives (5 oz)

preparations:

Make croutons:

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.

Toss bread cubes with oil and salt in a large shallow baking pan and spread in 1 layer. Bake, turning over once, until golden and crisp, about 8 minutes. Cool in pan on a rack.

Make vinaigrette and begin preparing salad while croutons bake:
Whisk together all vinaigrette ingredients except oil in a small bowl until combined. Add oil in a slow stream, whisking until emulsified.

Toss chicken and bocconcini together with 1/4 cup vinaigrette in a bowl and let stand 10 minutes to allow flavors to develop.

Make salad:
Toss together romaine, red peppers, olives, chicken and bocconcini mixture, croutons, and remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl until combined.