Italian Grinder Pasta Salad (Printable)
Hearty pasta salad with cured meats, cheese, and vegetables in zesty dressing
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
02 - 1 tbsp kosher salt for pasta water
→ Meats & Cheese
03 - 3.5 oz Genoa salami, sliced into strips
04 - 3.5 oz deli ham, sliced into strips
05 - 3 oz provolone cheese, sliced into strips
06 - 2 oz pepperoni, sliced into strips
→ Vegetables
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1 cup iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
11 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
→ Dressing
12 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
13 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
14 - 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
15 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
16 - 1 tsp dried oregano
17 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
18 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Garnish
19 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
20 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# Directions:
01 - Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, drain, rinse under cold water, and cool completely.
02 - Whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and emulsified.
03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl with dressing and toss thoroughly to coat every piece evenly.
04 - Add salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, and roasted red peppers. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly distributed.
05 - Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Its basically your favorite sandwich transformed into a craveable pasta salad that feeds a crowd effortlessly
- The creamy zesty dressing gets even better after a few hours in the fridge
02 -
- Letting the salad sit for 30 minutes before serving transforms it completelyflavors meld and the pasta absorbs the dressing
- The lettuce will wilt if this sits overnight so add it fresh if meal prepping for the next day
03 -
- Rinse the pasta until its cold to the touchwarm pasta will make the lettuce wilt instantly
- Use your hands to gently toss everything together at the endits more forgiving than spoons