Big Deli Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1 lb Pasta (overcooked and still hot)
• 0.5 cup Extra virgin olive oil (use the very best you can find)
• 0.5 cup Red wine vinegar (one part vinegar to one part oil)
• Dried oregano (or Italian seasoning, to taste)
• 2 tbsp Basil pesto (secret ingredient to help everything stick)
• 0.5 cup Pepper and cheese pickled peppers (chopped)
• 0.5 cup Muffaletta mix (or olives if unavailable)
• 0.5 lb Deli cheese ends (mixed Italian cheeses, chopped small)
• 0.5 lb Deli meat ends (mixed cold cuts like salami, ham, or pepperoni, chopped small)
• Salt and black pepper (to taste)

Steps

1. 1

   Boil the pasta until it is slightly overcooked. Drain the pasta and place it into a large mixing bowl while it is still hot.

2. 2

   While the pasta is hot, dress it with the olive oil and red wine vinegar. Alternatively, you can use your favorite bottled Italian dressing.

3. 3

   Add a little bit of dried oregano or Italian seasoning to the bowl.

4. 4

   Add the basil pesto. This acts as a binder to help the dressing and seasonings stick to the pasta rather than pooling at the bottom.

5. 5

   Chop the pickled peppers, deli cheese ends, and deli meat ends into small, bite-sized pieces.

6. 6

   Add the chopped peppers, muffaletta mix (or olives), cheese ends, and meat ends to the pasta bowl.

7. 7

   Mix everything together thoroughly to ensure the pasta is well-coated and the ingredients are evenly distributed.

8. 8

   Taste the salad for seasoning. Add salt and pepper only if needed, as the deli meats and cheeses are naturally salty.

9. 9

   Place the salad in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill completely before serving.

Notes

The author suggests going to an Italian deli and asking for 'ends'—the leftover pieces of meat and cheese that are too small to slice for sandwiches. They are often sold at a significant discount and provide a great variety of flavors for this salad.

Nutrition per serving

• pasta salad
• deli style
• Italian
• main dish
• side dish
• meal prep
• picnic food