Description
A light, tangy, and budget-friendly cold pasta salad featuring salami, cheddar cheese, and fresh vegetables. This no-cook (mostly) recipe is perfect for potlucks, meal prep, and feeding a crowd without breaking the bank.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound (450g) rotini or penne pasta
- 8 ounces (225g) Genoa salami, sliced thinly and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup (100g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 medium red onion, finely diced
- 1 large English cucumber, diced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup (120ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup (60ml) red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes).
- Drain the pasta in a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water to stop the cooking process. Shake off excess water.
- While the pasta cooks, prep the vegetables: dice the red onion, cucumber, and halve the cherry tomatoes. Slice the black olives if using.
- Slice the salami into thin strips or bite-sized pieces.
- In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cucumber, red onion, cherry tomatoes, olives, shredded cheese, and chopped salami.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour to allow flavors to meld. Toss again before serving.
Notes
Rinse the pasta cold to prevent it from becoming mushy. Soak diced red onion in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor if desired. This salad tastes better the next day as flavors meld. Do not freeze, as the pasta will become mushy. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 12
Keywords: cold pasta salad, salami salad, potluck recipe, budget-friendly dinner, easy pasta salad, summer salad, meal prep