ITALIAN DELI PASTA SALAD

If you’re tired of bland pasta salad, make this one.

This Italian Pasta Salad is loaded with salami, provolone, peperoncini, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, and a creamy Italian dressing that gets even better after a few hours in the fridge. It’s a make ahead cold pasta salad that’s simple to whip up, feeds a crowd, and will disappear first.

Whether you’re headed to a barbecue, packing a picnic, or need an easy side for dinner, this is the recipe you’ll come back to all summer.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb rotini, cooked and cooled

• 1 lb salami, Calabrese or pepperoni, sliced and cut into thin sticks

• 8 oz provolone, sliced

• 1 cup shredded lettuce

• 1/2 cup peperoncini or banana peppers

• 1/2 cup red onion, diced

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

• 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan

• 1/8 cup chopped fresh basil (optional)

Dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise

• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tbsp banana pepper juice

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1/2 tsp dried basil

• 1/2 tsp dried thyme

• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes

• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

• 1 tsp honey

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil pasta in salted water until tender. Drain, rinse with cold water, and let cool completely.

2. In a bowl, whisk together mayo, red wine vinegar, olive oil, banana pepper juice, garlic powder, oregano, basil, thyme, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Set aside.

3. Add cooled pasta to a large bowl.

4. Add in whichever meat you are using, provolone, red onion, peperoncini or banana peppers, chopped basil, Parmesan and tomatoes.

5. Pour the dressing over everything and toss until evenly coated.

6. Right before serving, fold in the shredded lettuce so it stays crunchy.