Description
A vibrant and flavorful Grinder Pasta Salad featuring rotini pasta, savory salami, turkey breast, provolone cheese, and fresh veggies, all tossed in a tangy homemade dressing with mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, and banana pepper juice. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a refreshing meal on a warm day.
Ingredients
Scale
Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp banana pepper juice (from the jar of banana pepper rings)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp oregano
Salad
- 1/3 cup banana pepper rings
- 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced or to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 5 ounces salami, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 6 ounces deli turkey breast, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 8 ounces sliced provolone cheese, chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1 pound rotini pasta
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a pot of water to a boil on the stovetop. Cook the rotini pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse under cold water to cool it down and stop the cooking process.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, red wine vinegar, banana pepper juice, garlic powder, and oregano. Whisk thoroughly until the dressing is smooth and well blended.
- Assemble the Salad: Chop the provolone cheese, turkey, and salami into small bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion, half the cherry tomatoes, and chop the banana pepper rings. Add all these ingredients into a very large bowl.
- Toss Everything Together: Add the cooled pasta to the bowl with the chopped ingredients. Drizzle the prepared dressing over the mixture and toss everything gently but thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve or Store: Serve the Grinder Pasta Salad immediately for the best freshness, or cover and refrigerate for later use. It keeps well chilled and the flavors meld even better after some time in the refrigerator.
Notes
- To reduce prep time, you can prepare the dressing in advance and refrigerate it.
- Adjust the amount of banana pepper juice to taste for desired tanginess and heat.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute the meats with extra cheese or plant-based deli slices.
- The salad can be made a few hours ahead to allow the flavors to meld, but it’s best eaten within 24 hours for optimal freshness.
- Rinsing the pasta under cold water prevents it from sticking and stops the cooking process, ensuring the proper texture.
