Description
A vibrant and flavorful Party Pasta Salad loaded with fresh vegetables, savory meats, and a zesty homemade dressing. Perfect for gatherings, this pasta salad combines al dente pasta with a mix of romaine, radicchio, salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, olives, and a blend of cheeses all tossed in a tangy, herby vinaigrette.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 1 pound short-cut pasta
- 1 large head romaine lettuce, shredded
- 1 head radicchio, shredded
- 6 ounces spicy salami, chopped
- 3 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 3 ounces prosciutto, torn
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup mixed pitted olives, torn
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoncini
- 1 cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup mini mozzarella cheese balls
- 1 cup cubed provolone cheese
- 1/2 cup shaved parmesan cheese
Dressing
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup champagne vinegar
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon fig preserves (or 2 teaspoons honey)
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh mixed herbs (basil, oregano, dill), chopped
- Sea salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Make the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Season with sea salt, pepper, and chili flakes to your preference.
- Cook the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the short-cut pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, approximately 10 minutes. Drain the pasta well.
- Toss pasta with dressing: While the pasta is still warm, transfer it to a large bowl and toss with the prepared dressing to thoroughly coat.
- Add salad ingredients: Add shredded romaine lettuce, shredded radicchio, chopped spicy salami, chopped pepperoni, torn prosciutto, halved cherry tomatoes, torn mixed olives, chopped red bell pepper, sliced pepperoncini, fresh basil leaves, mini mozzarella balls, cubed provolone cheese, and shaved parmesan cheese to the bowl.
- Mix and serve: Gently toss all the ingredients together to combine evenly. Serve the salad warm or chilled according to your preference. Enjoy your party pasta salad!
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meats and add extra cheese or marinated vegetables.
- Use gluten-free pasta if you need to make this dish gluten free.
- The salad can be served immediately warm or chilled in the refrigerator for an hour for a cooler option.
- Fig preserves add a subtle sweetness; substitute with honey or omit for a less sweet dressing.
- Adjust chili flakes to control the heat level in the dressing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
