Description
Experience the vibrant flavors of Italian Grinder Pasta Salad, a perfect blend of deli meats, creamy mozzarella, and fresh vegetables tossed in a zesty homemade dressing. This dish is not only quick to prepare—taking just 40 minutes—but also makes for an ideal option at picnics, potlucks, and quick lunches. With its rich combination of textures and tastes, this salad is guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser. Customize it by mixing your favorite deli meats and veggies for a personalized twist. Enjoy it as a hearty main course or a delightful side dish that brings everyone together.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 ⅓ cups mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup red apple vinegar
- 1 tablespoon peperoncini pepper juice
- Marinade oil leftover from marinated mozzarella balls
- ½ teaspoon fresh black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 2 (8 ounce) containers marinated mozzarella cheese balls
- 5–6 peperoncini peppers
- 10 ounce container cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup pickled red onion
- 10 slices deli Genoa salami
- 8 slices deli chicken ham
- 20 slices pepperoni
- ½ head lettuce
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- Whisk together mayonnaise, red apple vinegar, peperoncini juice, marinade oil, black pepper, salt, oregano, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes in a medium bowl until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked rotini pasta with marinated mozzarella balls, sliced peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, pickled red onion, salami chunks, chicken ham chunks, and pepperoni.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and gently stir until fully combined.
- Cover and refrigerate for several hours to let the flavors meld together.
- Just before serving, mix in shredded lettuce for added crunch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 250g)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 13g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: For added flavor depth, let the salad marinate overnight. Feel free to add seasonal vegetables or swap out deli meats based on preference.