Description
Italian Sub Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining classic Italian sub ingredients with tender pasta, fresh veggies, and a zesty homemade Italian vinaigrette. Perfect for picnics, potlucks, or easy lunches, this salad offers a delicious fusion of textures and tastes that’s ready in under 30 minutes and highly customizable.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini or bowtie pasta
Italian Deli Meats
- 3 ounces Genoa salami, chopped
- 3 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 3 ounces ham, chopped
Cheese
- 1 cup cubed provolone cheese
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup banana peppers, sliced
Olives
- 1/4 cup sliced black or Kalamata olives
Fresh Herbs
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley or basil
Dressing
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta for the salad.
- Prepare the Ingredients: While the pasta cooks, chop the deli meats into bite-sized pieces, cube the provolone cheese, halve the cherry tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion and olives. Finely chop the fresh parsley or basil.
- Make the Dressing: In a bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, pepper, and sugar until emulsified. Adjust seasoning to taste for a tangy Italian vinaigrette.
- Toss Everything Together: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, chopped meats, cheese, vegetables, olives, and herbs. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss until all ingredients are evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled and enjoy.
Notes
- Cook pasta perfectly to avoid overcooking and maintain a firm texture.
- Chill the salad thoroughly for enhanced flavor melding and freshness.
- Use high-quality deli meats for the best authentic taste.
- Adjust vinegar and oil in the dressing to your preferred level of acidity.
- Add fresh herbs just before serving to keep their bright color and aroma.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Italian Sub Pasta Salad, Italian salad, deli meat pasta salad, picnic salad, summer pasta salad, easy pasta salad, gluten-free pasta salad option