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Creamy Italian Pasta Salad with Salami and Provolone – Easy 20-Min Recipe

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This creamy Italian pasta salad with salami and provolone comes together in about 20 minutes. It’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a quick lunch, and always gets rave reviews.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 tablespoon salt (for pasta water)
  • 6 ounces hard salami, cut into thin strips or small cubes
  • 6 ounces provolone cheese, cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup red onion, finely diced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tablespoon of salt.
  2. Cook the rotini according to package directions until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse with cold water until cool. Shake well to remove excess water.
  4. Spread the drained pasta on a baking sheet or in a large bowl and let it dry for 5 minutes.
  5. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, red wine vinegar, olive oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper until smooth.
  6. While the pasta dries, cut the salami into thin strips or small cubes, cube the provolone, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the red onion, slice the olives, and chop the parsley.
  7. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta with about three-quarters of the dressing. Toss gently to coat.
  8. Add the salami, provolone, tomatoes, red onion, olives, and parsley. Toss until evenly distributed.
  9. Add remaining dressing if needed. The salad should be well coated but not swimming in dressing.
  10. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.
  11. Before serving, give the salad a final toss. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with extra parsley or oregano if desired.

Notes

Salt the pasta water generously. Rinse pasta with cold water until completely cool to stop cooking and help dressing stick. Dry the pasta well to avoid diluting the dressing. Cut all ingredients roughly the same size for balanced bites. Don’t overdress; start with less and add more as needed. Let the salad rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes (preferably 1 hour) for best flavor. Bring to room temperature before serving. Reserve a little extra dressing to stir in before serving if making ahead.

Nutrition

Keywords: pasta salad, creamy Italian pasta salad, salami, provolone, easy pasta salad, 20-minute recipe, potluck, picnic

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/creamy-italian-pasta-salad-with-salami-and-provolone-easy-20-min-recipe/