Italian Grinder Pasta Salad (Printable Version)
Penne with ham, pepperoni, provolone, crunchy lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy Parmesan dressing. Classic deli flavors.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 -
450 g penne pasta
→ Grinder Salad Dressing
02 -
120 ml mayonnaise
03 -
30 ml red wine vinegar
04 -
10 g minced garlic
05 -
4 g sugar
06 -
1 g dried oregano
07 -
3 g salt
08 -
2 g ground black pepper
09 -
25 g grated Parmesan cheese
→ Grinder Pasta Salad
10 -
115 g shredded iceberg lettuce
11 -
115 g ham, sliced into 6 mm strips
12 -
115 g pepperoni, sliced into 6 mm strips
13 -
115 g salami, sliced into 6 mm strips
14 -
115 g provolone cheese, cut into small cubes or thin slices
15 -
300 g grape tomatoes, halved
16 -
60 g sliced pepperoncini peppers
17 -
60 g red onion, finely diced
# Step-by-Step Guide:
01 -
Boil the penne pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking. Drain thoroughly.
02 -
In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, sugar, dried oregano, salt, black pepper, and grated Parmesan until smooth and fully combined. Set aside.
03 -
Slice ham, pepperoni, and salami into 6 mm strips. Cut provolone cheese into bite-sized cubes or thin strips. Halve the grape tomatoes, thinly slice the pepperoncini peppers, and finely dice the red onion.
04 -
In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, shredded iceberg lettuce, ham, pepperoni, salami, provolone cheese, grape tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, and red onion.
05 -
Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
For optimal texture and flavor integration, ensure all mix-ins are chopped to similar bite-sized pieces. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
02 -
For meal prep, assemble all ingredients except lettuce and dressing. Add them and toss just before serving for maximum freshness.
03 -
Any medium-size tubular pasta such as rigatoni, bow-tie, or rotini may be substituted for penne.
04 -
Provolone cheese may be replaced with mozzarella if preferred.