Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

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Italian Grinder Pasta Salad is bold, tangy, meaty, and cheesy—everything you love about a grinder sandwich in pasta form. That dressing? Unreal. Shop the recipe here.

Don’t love one of the mix-ins? Skip it and add more of what you do—just keep the total around 6½ to 7 cups.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Italian Grinder Pasta Salad

Servings: as a side

Author: Chelsea Lords

Cost: $22.18

Equipment

Large bowl

Ingredients

Salad

1 (16-ounce) package ditalini pasta
1 cup diced cucumber
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved or quartered
1/3 cup finely diced red onion
1/2 cup diced banana peppers or pepperoncini
1 cup (4 ounces) diced salami see note 1
1 cup (5 ounces) diced deli ham
1 cup (4 ounces) diced pepperoni
1 cup (5 ounces) diced provolone cheese

Dressing

1/2 cup olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup mayo
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1-1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning

US - Metric

Instructions

Dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a wide-mouth mason jar. Season to taste (I add 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper). Secure lid tightly and shake until mixed well. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Bring 12 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon salt, then the pasta. Cook until al dente, following package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water for 20 seconds. Shake off all excess water.
Add pasta to a large bowl. Shake the dressing and pour about 2/3rds over the pasta. Toss well to coat. Refrigerate until completely cooled.
Once the pasta is cool, gently stir in the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, banana peppers, salami, ham, pepperoni, and provolone.
Pour the remaining dressing over the salad. Toss gently to combine. Taste and adjust salt or pepper if needed. Serve right away.

Video

Notes

Note 1: I get all the meats from the deli and ask for thick slices. You can use just 2-3 types if you prefer.

Storage: Best served fresh. To prep ahead, keep the pasta, dressing, and toppings separate. Mix right before serving.

Nutrition