Grinder Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)
Hearty pasta salad with Italian sandwich flavors, crisp vegetables, savory meats, and creamy zesty dressing
# What you'll need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz rotini or penne pasta
02 - 1 tbsp salt for boiling water
→ Meats & Cheeses
03 - 4 oz sliced salami, cut into strips
04 - 4 oz sliced ham, cut into strips
05 - 4 oz sliced provolone cheese, cut into strips
→ Vegetables
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
08 - 1/2 cup red onion, thinly sliced
09 - 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini peppers
10 - 1/2 cup roasted red peppers, chopped
→ Dressing
11 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
13 - 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
14 - 2 tsp Dijon mustard
15 - 1 tsp dried oregano
16 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
17 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
18 - 1/4 tsp salt
# Method:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, salami, ham, provolone, cherry tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, pepperoncini, and roasted red peppers.
03 - In a separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, olive oil, Dijon mustard, oregano, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt until smooth and creamy.
04 - Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Toss until everything is well coated. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld. Toss again just before serving.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Its basically a deconstructed sandwich in pasta form, but somehow even more satisfying
- The creamy zesty dressing ties all those bold Italian flavors together perfectly
02 -
- Cooling the pasta completely before mixing prevents the mayonnaise from separating and becoming oily
- The salad tastes even better after resting in the fridge for a few hours
03 -
- Cut your meats and cheese into strips rather than cubes for that authentic grinder texture
- Squeeze excess moisture from roasted red peppers if they seem too watery