Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta
Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta is a favorite salad I’ve made over and over for family parties. If you like spicy Greek Peperoncini and creamy Feta Cheese, you’re going to swoon over this salad that’s great any time of year!
PIN Peperoncini Salad to try it later!
Do you have any favorite salad recipes you make over and over? I’ve been crazy over this Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta for quite a few years now, and I have a few family members who always smile when they see I’ve made it for a party!
What makes the flavors really rock in this salad (besides the slices of Peperoncini) is the addition of some Peperoncini brine added to the dressing. If you like Peperoncini when you get some in a restaurant salad, you’ll definitely like this salad. I also love that the salad uses slices of sweet mini-peppers for a festive look.
And this is a salad I make any time of year and I never get tired of it, so I’m featuring it for my Friday Favorites pick this week. If you like spicy Peperoncini peppers and some of the other somewhat assertive ingredients like Feta cheese and sweet mini peppers, I hope you enjoy trying it!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Dried Oregano (affiliate link), preferably Greek Oregano (affiliate link)if you have it)
- Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
- White Wine Vinegar (affiliate link)
- Peperoncini brine (from the jar of Sliced Peperoncini Peppers (affiliate link))
- extra-virgin Olive Oil (affiliate link)
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper
- romaine lettuce
- Sliced Peperoncini Peppers (affiliate link)
- sweet mini peppers
- crumbled Feta cheese (or more)
What was the inspiration for this salad recipe?
The recipe was inspired a Greek Italian Chopped Salad that I saw in The Bon Appetit Cookbook: Fast Easy Fresh (affiliate link) a huge book that’s loaded with good recipe ideas. The original recipe didn’t have Peperoncini, but when I read the ingredients I immediately thought it would be a nice addition. Besides romaine, red bell pepper, and feta, the original salad had garbanzos, sliced fennel, sliced red onion, and salami, so you could add any of those to my version if they appeal to you.
Is it Pepperoncini or Peperoncini?
The word for the spicy peppers used in this salad is sometimes spelled Pepperoncini, but on the jars I have bought for years it’s spelled Peperoncini, so that’s how I usually spell it!
Where to buy Spicy Peperoncini Peppers:
You can get Peperoncini Pepper (affiliate link) or Sliced Peperoncini Peppers (affiliate link) at Amazon if you don’t find them at your store, but most grocery stores will have these briny slightly spicy peppers sold near the olives and pickles.
Want more Salads with Peperoncini Peppers or Feta?
The Peperoncini Peppers and the Feta Cheese used in this recipe are without a doubt two of my favorite salad ingredients. If you’re also a fan of those ingredients you might like to see my round-ups for Favorite Salads with Peperoncini Peppers or Low-Carb and Keto Salads with Feta Cheese.
How to Make Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta:
(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)
- Make the dressing first so the flavors have a chance to blend together while you prep the other ingredients.
- To prep the Peperoncini, cut off the stem end and discard, then squeeze out the seeds and cut into slices about 1/2 inch thick. (You might need to drain them in a colander if they’re extra juicy.) You can use more or less sliced Peperoncini to taste; I used about 1 cup.
- Sometimes I buy sliced Peperoncini peppers (affiliate link) to make it even easier!
- Follow that same process with the sweet mini-peppers, or just chop up a red bell pepper into thin strips if you prefer.
- Crumble the Feta Cheese so it’s ready. I always buy Feta Cheese that comes in a block for best flavor.
- Chop or tear the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces, then spin dry in the salad spinner (affiliate link), or dry with paper towels.
- Toss the salad with desired amount of dressings. Then toss in the crumbled Feta and toss again.
- Then season the salad with a generous amount of black pepper (which you can barely see in that last photo) and serve!
More Amazing Salads with Feta Cheese
- Green Bean Salad with Greek Olives and Feta
- Spinach Salad with Bacon and Feta
- Broccoli Salad with Feta and Almonds
Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta
Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta is a favorite salad with my huge extended family, and I've made this many times for parties.
Ingredients
Dressing Ingredients:
- 1 tsp. dried oregano (use Greek oregano if you have it)
- 1/2 tsp minced garlic
- 3 T white wine vinegar
- 1 T Peperoncini brine (from the jar of Peperoncini)
- 6 T extra-virgin olive oil
- salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste (I didn't use much of either in the dressing)
Salad Ingredients:
- 6 cups chopped or torn romaine lettuce, washed and spun dry in salad spinner, or dry with paper towels
- 1 cup sliced Peperoncini (or more, see notes)
- 1 cups sliced sweet mini peppers (or use thin slices of red red bell pepper if you prefer; use more pepper if you prefer)
- 1/2 cup crumbled Feta cheese (or more)
- fresh-ground black pepper to taste (I didn’t use salt because the Feta is salty)
Instructions
- Put dried oregano and minced garlic in a small bowl and mash together with a fork or use a mortar and pestle (affiliate link). Add the white wine vinegar (affiliate link), Peperoncini juice, and salt and pepper to taste and stir together. Whisk in olive oil about 2 tablespoons at a time until dressing is well emulsified and add a little salt and fresh-ground black pepper if desired. Let dressing sit so flavors can blend while you prep other ingredients.
- Cut or tear romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces and wash and dry with salad spinner (affiliate link) or wash lettuce in a colander and dry with paper towels.
- Cut stem end from each Peperoncini, squeeze out the seeds and discard, and slice Peperoncini into slices about 1/2 inch thick. (If they seem extra juicy, drain Peperoncini in a colander as you cut the stems off.
- Cut stems off the sweet mini-peppers and cut out the seeds with a paring knife; then cut peppers into thick rings. (Or just chop up a red bell pepper into thin strips if you prefer.
- Crumble enough Feta cheese to measure 1/2 cup, or as much as you prefer.
- Put the lettuce into a large salad bowl and toss with desired amount of dressing. Add Peperoncini strips, red bell pepper strips, and crumbled Feta cheese and toss again.
- Season salad to taste with salt and fresh ground black pepper and serve immediately. (I didn’t add any salt at the end but did season with a generous amount of fresh-ground black pepper.)
- Every single time I've made this salad, it was all devoured immediately, so I don’t know how well it would keep overnight in the fridge, but I’d guess it’s best freshly made.
Notes
If you're lucky your store might sell sliced Peperoncini peppers (affiliate link), which makes this salad even easier to make!
This recipe inspired by Greek Italian Chopped Salad from The Bon Appetit Cookbook: Fast Easy Fresh, with lots of adaptations by Kalyn.
Nutrition Information
Yield
8Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 135Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 9gCholesterol 8mgSodium 378mgCarbohydrates 5gFiber 2gSugar 2gProtein 2g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
This Peperoncini Salad is a perfect salad for low-carb and low-glycemic diet plans, including Keto. It’s also good for any phase of the original South Beach Diet. One reason I was inspired to buy two big jars of Peperoncini is because they are such a wonderfully low-carb ingredient.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Salad Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Salad:
The Peperoncini Salad with some of my favorite ingredients was first posted in 2010, and it’s been a hit with my family ever since then. The salad was last updated with more information in 2023.
39 Comments on “Peperoncini Salad with Romaine, Peppers, and Feta”
I've looked up these peppers on Wiki. If they are Italian they have a bit of heat. If they're Greek
they're sweet. Which one is better for this salad?
Barb, I don't use the seeds, but even without them the peperoncini I buy are a little spicy.
Love peperoncinis! This looks great!
Yum yum yum! I'm one week in and 7 pounds down on South Beach (woo hoo), and I've gotten almost all of my recipes from your website. So glad I saw this before I grocery shop for the week :). BTW, I'm a Denny too, and have never met another one (except DENNEY)nbesides known family. Funny! Does everyone ask you if you own the restaurant?
Kendra, way to go and fun hearing from a Denny! And yes, occasionally people ask me if my family owns the restaurant.
I LOVE pepperonici – this is calling my name!
Deborah, my nieces and nephews ask for it pretty much for every family party!
Debby, glad you like it.
CJ, there are so many great variations for this salad. I use tomatoes a lot in the summer when I have them in my garden.
I've been away too long. I'm a sucker for anything with pepperocinis or feta.
Kalyn- I bet you already have 100 riffs on this salad. 😉
It sounds so delicious.
Laura, so glad you liked it and I think your tweaks sound delicious!
I tweeked it a bit, but this was one of the best salads I have ever had! Thanks!
(My tweeks…. parmesan instead of feta, and added green onions and pepperoni.) Feta would probably have been even better, but it was a cost thing.
MR, thanks! Definitely a hit in my family.
I love this simple salad packed with flavor. Healthy too!
Three Haute Mamas, I do think this would be great in pita. Glad you like it.
I love a good greek salad smooshed between a pita, and this sounds like the perfect one! Thanks so much for sharing!!
bwalice, I bet tomato would be great in this. Unfortunately, no Trader Joe's in Utah, sigh.
Yum – I think this is a new favorite salad in our house! We subbed some sliced roma tomato for the red pepper because that's what was in the veggie bin. Love the dressing! I could see it making an awesome marinade for chicken too! Delish. BTW, I get low-fat feta at Trader Joe's – in case anyone it looking for it. They have FF feta too, but the low-fat tastes better to me (less rubbery!) ~Alice
Oh good! I love hearing that.
Loved it!
PJ, I always get them on salad bars too! I think they'll keep forever in the fridge so I'm looking forward to experimenting with them more.
Sarah, thanks.
Joanne, it was really good with the feta!
Dara, no idea how I thought of it, but that touch of brine in the dressing was key to the success of this recipe.
Marisa, I've had pappadew and I think the flavor would be quite similar. Hope you will try it like that!
I've never had Pepperoncini (don't think we get it over here…) but it sure sounds amazing. In fact, sounds very similar to a local product we have – Peppadew. I'm quite keen to try it like that!
I love chopped salads. I usually don't have pepperoni on hand but will sometimes buy a couple of thin slices of salami and chop that. Black olive slices would be great in this too.
Love the pepperocini in the salad AND the dressing. Gives it that extra zip!
I love the idea of adding the brine to the dressing! For some reason, it never occurs to me to buy peperoncini, but every time I eat it at a restaurant, I thoroughly enjoy the flavor.
I love pepperoncini…so salty and delicious. Especially with the feta. Definitely a winner.
That sounds delicious!
oh wow, looks delicious! i love pepperoncini in salads I assemble at salad bars at work but don't know why, I never thought of adding it at home. thanks for the wonderful idea.
Year on the Grill, actually I had it for lunch and dinner on Easter and again for dinner on Monday. Good stuff!
Pam, I love the combo of Feta and peperoncini!
Kath, I bet he's going to like it then!
Sandie, I eat them right out of the jar too. Lucky you to have rising temperatures! Still have snow here.
Rookie Cookie, yes Costco is a dangerous place, but I like to live dangerously. The juice was so great in this dressing.
Tasteofbeiruit, thanks. I have no idea what made me think of it, but it was great in the dressing!
Merle, I think verjus would be quite a bit less sour than the white wine vinegar, but it would probably taste okay. Try it and see what you think.
Could Verjus Blanc be substitued for the White Wine Vinegar in this recipe? I bought a bottle of it and don't find many recipes that use it. If it can be, that would open up some uses.
I used to eat pepperoncini by the gallons! I am going to try this for my next salad; adding a bit of their juice to the dressing is clever~
They jumped into your cart? That sounds like everything at Costco. Everything is begging to get out of the store and before you know it, you have a full cart. It's a terrible place.
Brilliant idea with the brine in the dressing. Such a great way to use up the whole product. Nice work.
1) I LOVE pepperoncini and often eat them straight from the jar for an anytime snack.
2) I just left a comment on Lydia's blog telling her we're on a salad kick again due to the rising temps (her Miso dressing recipe). This recipe will come in perfect as well!
Thanks so much for sharing (it has all our favorite ingredients)!
I've never thought of putting peperoncini in salads. My husband loves them, so I'll definitely give this a try. Thanks for the great idea!
Looks delicious and I will have to try it with the peperoncini! Never thought about that and love the feta!
WOW… so you have had this every day since easter… a great recommendation
love the use of the brine
Sounds like I'm not the only Peperoncini lover out there! I love the idea of eating this in a pita with hummus. The variations are endless.
Yum! I just love Pepperoncini, it is my favorite thing about going to Quiznos! I bet this salad would be amazing stuffed into a pita with hummus.
This is such a great idea – the use of pepperoncini and the brine. I have the bell pepper too. Perhaps I'll do a chopped salad instead with some radishes and carrots… Hmmm…
Lookin' good!