Italian Grinder Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)

Hearty pasta salad with salami, ham, pepperoni, and crisp 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

# How-To Guide:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
03 - Add cooled pasta to the bowl with dressing. Toss thoroughly to coat pasta evenly with dressing.
04 - Add salami, ham, pepperoni, provolone cheese, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, and roasted red peppers to pasta. Gently toss until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout salad.
05 - Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley over top. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 4 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It transforms ordinary pasta into something that feels like a treat from an Italian deli
  • The dressing hits every craving tangy, creamy, and perfectly seasoned
  • Its actually better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • Add the lettuce right before serving if youre making this ahead
  • The flavors intensify after a few hours, so dont be afraid to taste and adjust
03 -
  • Cut all your meats and cheese into similar sized strips for the best eating experience
  • Pat the roasted red peppers dry with paper towels so they dont make the salad watery

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