Our Crispiest Chopped Salad with French Vinaigrette

Loaded with fiber, flavor and color, this easy salad requires no cooking and makes a wonderful accompaniment to a piece of grilled chicken or steak. Be sure to use the freshest veggies you can find -- it makes all the difference in the result. This recipe makes 4 servings.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes
COOK TIME: 0 minutes

Ingredients
For the vinaigrette:
4-6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 small shallot, minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the salad:
6 ounces romaine lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite-sized pieces
2 small vine-ripe tomatoes, sliced
1 red or yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded and sliced
1 small red, white or sweet onion, thinly sliced
1 cup garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained well
6-8 brown mushrooms, brushed clean and chopped (optional)

Directions
Make the vinaigrette: Combine all dressing ingredients in a lidded glass jar, cover and shake vigorously to combine. Set aside until ready to use.

To assemble the salad, arrange lettuce, tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, beans and mushrooms in a serving bowl. Drizzle with vinaigrette and serve immediately.