Crispy Pancetta Salad (Keto friendly)

Pancetta is the shining star of this simple Mediterranean salad, and for good reason! Who can resist that crispy salty goodness atop a fresh bed of greens with creamy crumbled bococcini and zesty sweet cherry tomatoes. This salad is a breeze to prepare as its assembled right on the serving plate and drizzled in a dijon balsamic vinaigrette which you can mix up by hand in seconds. This will serve one as an entree or 2-3 as a side and I promise there won’t be any left. Enjoy!

SALAD INGREDIENTS

• 3 loosely measured cups of your favourite greens, washed and dried (or enough to generously cover your serving plate of choice)

• 7 (approx) cherry or grape tomatoes halved

• 1 large ball of bocconcini

• 1 tbsp sweet onion sliced as thin as possible

• 8 thin deli slices of pancetta (rounds)

• 3 Kalamata olives seeded and broken up (optional)

• fresh basil leaves torn up (optional)

DRESSING INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

• 1 tbsp Good Balsamic

• 1 tsp Dijon

• 1 squeeze of lemon

• sea salt to taste (go light since the salad has salty ingredients already)

• 1 tsp water to thin (Optional: use only if your dressing is too thick you want it thin enough to lightly drizzle)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a frying pan on low heat and fry pancetta flipping as necessary ensuring it doesn’t burn. Cook until it is a deep reddish brown and most of the fat has been rendered. Dry and let cool on a paper towel. Note that it will crisp up once it cools.

2. Combine all dressing ingredients in a measuring cup and whisk with a fork until emulsified.

3. Find a plate, a dinner sized plate works fine for these measurements, and lay down your layer of greens first.

4. Top with cherry tomatoes, slivered onions and olive morsels.

5. pinch and pull pieces off your bocconcini ball and distribute evenly atop the veggies. I used to always slice bocconcini with a knife until I had a recent epiphany and realized when you pull it apart by hand it has so much more surface area (aka dressing pockets) and I will never look back!

6. Top with crispy pancetta slices and fresh basil pieces (if using)

7. Give your dressing another quick whisk and lightly and evenly drizzle with your balsamic dressing. A light fast hand is key as this salad doesn’t require much dressing at all. Serve and enjoy immediately.