This New Mexican Chopped Salad with Hatch Green Chile Vinaigrette makes the perfect weeknight meal when combined with gluten free green chile pepperoni pizza!
This post is sponsored by Freschetta. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the companies that support Flippin’ Delicious ™.
Now that school is in full swing, I am always on the hunt for easy weeknight meals. In the afternoons I am always short on time (and patience) and I have hungry kids asking for snacks.
"No! No snacks right now! Dinner will be ready soon..."
When soon is, no one knows.
Except when I have a few Freschetta Gluten Free Pizzas in my freezer!
Once the oven is preheated it only takes 12-15 minutes to cook.
If it is still grilling season where you reside, you can read my 5 secrets for the best grilled gluten free pizza and then you don't even have to heat up your kitchen!
Living in New Mexico (not Mexico. I live in the USA still) hatch green chile is a big deal. I have loved seeing its growing popularity nationwide over the past few years. Real roasted green chile is the best and we love to put it on everything. A classic pizza topping here in the "Land of Enchantment" is green chile. And green chile pepperoni is one of my go-to faves!
With Freschetta's Gluten Free Pepperoni Pizza it was super easy to make a gluten free "green chile pep" pizza in my own safe oven. I still enjoyed a crisp pizza crust, perfectly melted cheese, and the spice and heat of green chile and pepperoni, but without the worries of cross contamination. All I did was add 2-3 tablespoons of diced roasted hatch green chile to my pepperoni pizza before baking it.
To turn my Freschetta Gluten Free Pizza into a meal I made a chopped salad, inspired by the same hatch green chile.
There is a local restaurant, Fork and Fig, that makes an amazing chopped salad. They spread each of the ingredients out in a row on a sheet pan (including the lettuce, it gets it's own little row) and drizzle dressing over the top. I love my salads with more "stuff" than lettuce so I fell in love with their chopped salad (as a note, their chopped salad is not GF unless you make some substitutions, which I did.)
So that is what I did in this chopped salad recipe. I coarsely chopped some arugula because I love it's peppery bite. It can really stand up to the vibrant flavors of the diced tomato, avocado, grilled corn, and pumpkin seeds that I lined up on top.
Side note: If you love grilled corn I think you'll flip for this grilled corn avocado tomato salad recipe that my friend Cindy (aka Vegetarian Mamma) created.
My favorite part of this salad is the hatch green chile vinaigrette dressing. It comes together in just a few minutes. Lime juice, green chile, honey, and cumin all go in a blender and then you slowly add the oil while blending at low speed. The result is a light and spicy dressing!
You'll notice the green chile in the dressing is a range (2-4 tablespoons) instead of an exact measurement. That is because green chile's heat can vary greatly. Even if it is labeled medium, it could be very mild or very hot. So add just enough green chile so that there is just enough heat for you, so that the flavors can come through.
With Freschetta Gluten Free Frozen Pizza and this chopped salad with hatch green chile dressing recipe, my family enjoyed a satisfying meal on a busy weeknight. My sister's family came over to eat with us and not a slice of pizza or bite of salad was left.
One of my mom's favorite salad toppings is pickled beets. Next time we have a pizza and salad night I want to make these pickled beets from Healthy Seasonal Recipes. My mom will love them!
What are your favorite sides to go with pizza? Let me know how you'll turn your pizza into a meal.
📖 Recipe
Chopped Salad with Hatch Green Chile Vinaigrette
This New Mexican Chopped Salad with Hatch Green Chile Vinaigrette makes the perfect weeknight meal when combined with gluten free green chile pepperoni pizza!
Ingredients
- arugula (I used about half of a 5oz package)
- 1-2 ears sweet corn
- 4 roma tomatoes
- 2 avocados
- ½ cup pumpkin seeds or pepitas
For the Hatch Green Chile Vinaigrette Dressing
- 5 tablespoons lime juice (approx 2 limes)
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
- 2-4 tablespoons roasted hatch green chile* see note
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ cup oil (I used a light flavored vegetable oil, but olive oil would be great too)
Instructions
- Wash the arugula, if necessary (my package was already washed) and let dry. Coarsely chop it and spread it on your serving dish.
- Shuck and remove the corn silk from the corn. Grill or broil it for 3-5 minutes or until is is slightly charred. Alternatively steam it for 3-5 minutes. Cool and then cut the kernels away from the cob.
- Cut the roma tomatoes in half, remove the seeds, and then dice.
- Remove the pit and peel from the avocados and dice.
- Top the Arugula with the corn, tomatoes, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.
For the Hatch Green Chile Dressing
- In a blender, pulse the lime juice, 2-3 tablespoons honey (depending on how sweet you like it), 2 tablespoons of hatch green chile, oregano, and cumin until smooth.
- While blending on low speed, pour the oil in a steady stream. Continue to blend until smooth and emulsified.
- Taste the dressing with a piece of arugula, and add more green chile as desired, pulsing until smooth.
Notes
Roasted hatch green chile is available in small cans, bigger bottles near the salsa, and in some areas frozen. In the fall some green chile is available fresh in the fall. Use whatever is available in your area. If you are using fresh roast the chile until the skin is blackened and then seal it in an airtight container for a minimum of 10 minutes (I usually do an hour!) WEAR GLOVES to remove the skin and then dice. IF YOU DON'T WEAR GLOVES YOU WILL REGRET IT. Green chile will burn your hands in a sensation similar to a sunburn. Also don't touch your eyes. If you wear contacts, take them out before you peel your chile.
Nutrition Information
Yield 6 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 521Total Fat 44gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 36gCholesterol 0mgSodium 16mgCarbohydrates 29gFiber 8gSugar 12gProtein 10g
All nutrition info is a guestimate and will vary depending on the ingredients you use.
Freschetta Gluten-Free Pizza
Andrea Troutman
I like salad with my pizza but my family likes mozzarella sticks.
flippindelicious
Mozzarella sticks are so good!
Sharon @ What The Fork
This looks like an amazing salad Brianna! Freschetta gf pizza is such a weeknight time saver, it's a staple for us too 👍🏼
flippindelicious
Thanks Sharon! It is so handy to have a safe GF pizza in the freezer as a back up.
mami2jcn
I like side salad with pizza.
flippindelicious
I like salad too. It is all about balance!
Tara Pittman
I love spinach salad with my pizzaa
flippindelicious
Spinach is almost always in my salads. Except when I have arugula on hand. 😉
Melissa
I love having Greek salad with Kalamata olives and feta on the side of my pizza!
flippindelicious
I LOVE Greek salad too!
Elle
I like garlic bread and a fresh salad.
flippindelicious
That sounds like the perfect balance between indulgence and fresh veggies.
Geoff
I like Caprese salad alongside my pizza. Can't have too much mozzarella in one meal!
flippindelicious
So true!
Elle @ Only Taste Matters
Beautiful!
flippindelicious
Thanks Elle!
Tina W
I like a simple salad with vinaigrette on the side.
flippindelicious
Always a great side!
GB
My favorite side is garlic bread sticks.
flippindelicious
Garlic bread is always a winner!
Kristen Chidsey
That dressing--swoon! I am in love!
flippindelicious
Thanks Kristen!
Ellie Wright
Cheesy garlic breadsticks!
flippindelicious
You are making me hungry!
Debbie F
I like cold pasta salad as a side with my pizza.
Kind of redundant but still!
and of course brownies for dessert!
flippindelicious
I don't think that is redundant at all. It sounds delicious!
And brownies for sure. 🙂
Stephanie Phelps
I love to have a nice caesar salad and I love to have corn on the cob with it!
flippindelicious
I never thought of corn on the cob. That is a great side!
Donna Marie Cantrell
I like a greek salad or corn with my pizza.
flippindelicious
I never thought to have corn with my pizza before. Sounds yummy!
Jeffrey
My favorite side to accompany pizza is a rootbeer float, I know its not a side but when I make pizza there is no need for fillers! My mom always brings over a salad and usually takes most of it back home. It kind of a compliment when guests skip the sides and even meals before arriving so they can eat more of my pies!
flippindelicious
I fell the same way about my pizza. I'd rather eat an extra slice or 2 than fill up on sides. However, I would definitely save some room for a root beer float!
Julie Wood
I love salad or chicken with my pizza!
flippindelicious
Sounds perfect to me!
Karen Glatt
I love garlic sticks for salad with my pizza.
flippindelicious
Garlic sticks, salad, and pizza sound like the perfect meal!
Betsy Barnes
I enjoy a veggie pasta salad on the side with my pizza. 🙂
flippindelicious
I think a veggie pasta salad is the perfect balance, Betsy. Sounds delicious!
Jeanna
I like to have a salad as my side when I have pizza!
flippindelicious
Salad helps to balance things out, doesn't it?
Tammy Shelton
We like cheese bread sticks with our pizza.
flippindelicious
Cheese bread is a classic for sure.
Dorothy Harris
Your salad sounds delicious, I will definitely try it next time we have pizza. Thanks Brianna!
flippindelicious
Thanks Dorothy! I hope that you enjoy it. 🙂
Natalie
My favorite side to have with pizza is fruit salad!
flippindelicious
My mouth waters just thinking about it!
Steve Weber
My favorite side would be breadsticks and dipping sauce
flippindelicious
Good buttery breadsticks and then it is all about the sauce. LOVE it!
Will G
My favorite side is garlic bread.
flippindelicious
Garlic bread will never go out of style!
Rachel
I like to have salad as a side.
flippindelicious
Salad is a great way to keep things in balance. So refreshing too!
Heather Hayes Panjon
My Favorite Side With Pizza Is Avocado Tomato Salad!
flippindelicious
Avocado Tomato salad sounds delish!
Johnna
Oh, does this dressing ever sound good! I would eat Hatch chiles every single day if I could get them.
flippindelicious
Thanks Johnna! Are you coming to FABlogCon this year? I can help you get your hands on some good chile.
shelly peterson
I like to have hot wings with my pizza.
flippindelicious
oh YES! I love hot wings but have never actually had them with pizza.
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
This looks so fresh and delicious!
flippindelicious
Thanks Megan!
Tee Anderson
I love a nice cold salad.
Valerie Schlicht-Conway
I love salad with my Pizza!!!
Lee Mckeon
Salad is a great addition to the meal!
Lula Ruger
I like salad
Alex W
My wife makes an amazing kale salad with feta cheese and an orange zest dressing to go with our pizza! 🙂
flippindelicious
That sounds delicious!
Kim O
favorite sides is a salad and wings
Jessica To
I like breadsticks with my pizza.
Lauren
I like a chopped salad with my pizza.
Joe Kelly
A coke and some chicken wings
Daniel M
usually just a salad
Miranda Bashwinger
I like getting a side of fried zucchini sticks with my pizza.
MICHAEL CHEVILLOT
SALAD
Matt R.
Usually for my side it's just a nice Blue Cheese salad with some sliced avocado. Hmm.. that's sounds good, I think I'll go make that right now.
Kristen Joiner
I've always been a fan of salad with pizza but if I'm in the mood for something sweet I actually like a bowl of fruit with my pizza. It's nice going back and forth between the savory-ness of the pizza and the sweet and light taste of fruit.
Devin Johns
Looks like some really good pizza! We're trying to experiment with gluten-free recipes since my wife has a sensitive system and we're trying to narrow down what's making her sick. Thanks for the recipe!
flippindelicious
Thanks Devin. I hope it helps! Let me know if you have any questions about going gluten-free. If she suspects celiac it is important to get tested BEFORE going gluten free because you can only get a positive diagnosis if you are eating gluten every day.
Dana Rodriguez
I love bread sticks and I always dip my pizza in ranch dressing.
Cheryl B
My favorite side dish is a salad with my pizza!
Christine Labelle
We enjoy pizza on the side of pizza. If we have to chose a side though we usually have jalapeño poppers.
elizabeth
I like my salads with only avocado.
carol clark
o my fave side with pizza is a salad really
Nickie
Wings are my favorite
jseed1987
Brownies.
Lisa Brown
I like to have salad and/or marinated olives and artichokes.
Kay Moser
I like a salad with my pizza and this chopped salad recipe sounds delicious.
molli vandehey
some fries or a light salad
Dawn Monroe
My husband and I like garlic cheese bread, salad and cold beer with our pizza.
Kelly D
I like a caesar salad along with my pizza.
Ashley Kolpak
I like to have a salad with my pizza
Elena
I like baby carrots on the side
Hannah
i know what i'm making for dinner tonight now
Sarah Hayes
my favorite side is more pizza! or maybe a salad 😉
Ryan L
I like to have two big bowls of rice pudding with my pizza, or one punch bowl full if it's available.
Susan Christy
I like a salad with my pizza.
Erin M
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Keri Justice
I love a good garden salad with Italian dressing and a fluffy breadstick with marinara.
laura bernard
I love guacamole with my pizza!
laura bernard
I love guacamole with my pizza and a salad!
Billy Lilley
My favorite side to accompany pizza is cheesy bread sticks with dipping sauce.
Shawn Stover
salad
Tammy Woodall
My favorite side to go to pizza is a Greek Salad.
fivling
My favorite side dish for pizza is another pizza. It's a big deal in this house.
Lori Jackson
I like a nice crisp salad! Preferably with ranch because I like to dip my pizza in ranch too!
Tiffany Greene Elliott
My favorite side dish with pizza is a salad most of the time or a side of hot wings! Thank you!
Janice Dean
I would have to go with salad as my favorite side to pizza. Thanks and good luck.
Gina Ferrell
My favorite side to accompany pizza is hot wings and garlic breadsticks.
Jennifer Vega
Love a good salad with my pizza!
Michelle Corriveau-Carlino
Love a simple salad with my pizza..
Jay J
I like a fresh salad as a starter before my pizza.
Alina A
Yummy!!
Alina A
I love pizza with something fresh on the side- like a salad!!
debra dubois
Italian cheesy bread and a fresh salad.
Michael Bratek
Breadsticks or cheesy bread or a side salad or wings go good with a pizza!
Kelly Tupick
I like to have a fresh tossed salad with my pizza.
Jody Arbogast
I like veggies on my pizza. Like Broccoli, red peppers, green peppers and onions. Not much of a salad person.
Annalisa Linder
I like a side salad with pizza
Kim Henrichs
I love a good greek salad when I get pizza!
Amy L
I like to have some veggies and ranch dip with pizza.
Peggy Damon
my favorite side to a pizza is a caesar salad
Jeanne Coulombe
I like salad and cheese sticks with my pizza
Stella K.
Our family usually always has some kind of bread sticks.
katie h
Breadsticks definitely!!
Celeste Herrin
My favorite side is a salad! I just love the combination. I eat my pizza while eating my salad. Yummy!!
Carly Williams
I like to make caprese to go with my pizza!
Seth @ Giveaway Guy
It might not be considered a side, but I'm a sucker for blended avocado - not guac, but just avocado blended with some salt and oil.
Joanne Schultz
sides of food with pizza - never. How about a side of beverage - beer!
Thanks for the giveaway!
David
We usually cook up tater tots or seasoned fries because they cook at the same temperature.
Serge B
A Ceasar salad!
Heather D
I love a good breadstick or cheesy sticks to go with my pizza. A salad is a good starter.
Darlene Wright
I love a salad with mine!
Anita Mitchell
I like side salad with ranch or blue cheese dressing with pizza. Yummy!
Patricia Wojnar Crowley
I like to have a garden salad or breadsticks with pizza!
Mita
I like garlic bread sticks.
Evie B.
I like garlic bread or bread sticks with pizza.
Bridgett Wilbur
I love chicken wings and a salad with my pizza.
laurie steiner
I love to have a salad with oil and vinegar with my pizza
Robin
A side of marinara sauce is yummy with pizza!
Kimmy Ripley
I love to have antipasto salad!
Dana Matthews
My favorite side with pizza is a good salad....full of everything!
Robert Tschinkel
I always love to have BarBQ chicken wings as a side with my pizza, they just seem to go together
Sam L
I really like eating french fries with my pizza! 🙂
AC
I really like mozzarella sticks with my pizza. But I also love boneless wings that are bbq flavored.
Catherine Shaw
A big tossed salad is my fave side dish with pizza!
Amanda Patterson
I really love having salad and fruit on the side!
kelly nicholson
Tell me your favorite side to accompany pizza!
for some reason i like pasta,but salad is cool too
Teresa
I like to have something crisp and cool like cucumbers or radishes. I usually have black olives on my pizza but if I don't, I'd have them on the side as well.
Barrie
I like a fruit salad with my pizza
Sam Blank
I love a cold salad with pizza!
Laurajj
Oh I love to have an Italian salad with pepperoni, cherry tomatoes, black olives....oh so good with pizza!
Vann Eubank
Anything cheese filled is good with me!
savannah rose
I usually try to stick with salad
Julie
I like a side salad with my pizza.
Lori Magelky
I like to add vegetables and ranch dressing.
Ashley kitchens
I love cheese sticks & ranch
denise low
My favorite side would be bread sticks with cheese.
John Leahy
My go-to pizza side dish is ... red wine!
Desiree
I like hot wings with my pizza!
Morgan C
Oh my goodness! We eat frozen pizza once (or twice) a week because it's just so easy!
Barbara
It depends on the pizza but usually I have cheese bread.
Elizabeth
I like garlic bread with my pizza!
Teresa Moore
I either like cheesy bread or some hot wings to accompany my pizza.
Aaron
My favorite side to accompany pizza is French fries!
SHAYNA BROOKMAN
I LOVE BONELESS CHICKEN WINGS AND/OR A SIDE SALAD 🙂
Julie Cutshaw
Hi Brianna, new fan to your site via a friends twitter share. Love your site and look forward to joining your email updates for your great gluten-free recipes. We like a side salad to accompany our pizza and I'll be trying this recipe you've so kindly shared. Thank you and enjoy your fall season.
Joellen G.
I do love a good salad with pizza and that salad looks delish!
Allison Swain
I have to have a salad with my pizza!
Thank you for the chance to win this
natasha lamoreux
I love eating my pizza with a ceaser salad.
Dan Dykstra
I love a good salad. Pizza on the side.
Brandon Sparks
Salad is a must have with pizza.
Mary Beth Elderton
I don;t usually have a side with pizza---I like everything *on* the pizza. However, I do like dessert. Pizza can be a bit heavy, so I like something tangy like a lemon custard or a berry crisp.
Jeanne Coulombe
I like a great salad and cheese sticks with my pizza and being gluten free cause of Celiac Disease and not by choice it;s hard to find a good tasting pizza and Frechesta gluten free pizza is so freaking good!
M. J. Medina
It's not the healthiest but I have always loved crispy chicken of any kind to go with my pizza!
Sarah Mayer
My favorite side with pizza is cheesy garlic bread!
peter gladue
How about some ice cold Turkey Hill Cherry Pomegranate Ice Tea to wash it down with and some cheesy Bread sticks on the side