Spring Antipasto Pasta Salad (Print Version)

Lively pasta salad inspired by viral grinder salad with arugula, salami, mozzarella, and tangy pickled vegetables.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10 oz ditalini pasta
02 - Salt for boiling water

→ Salad Base

03 - 3.5 oz fresh arugula
04 - 4 oz salami, sliced into strips or small cubes
05 - 5 oz fresh mozzarella pearls or diced mozzarella
06 - 3.5 oz pickled vegetables such as giardiniera, pepperoncini, or mixed Italian pickles, chopped
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Zesty Dressing

09 - 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - 0.5 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
16 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the ditalini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to cool, then set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, chili flakes if using, salt, and pepper.
03 - Add the cooked ditalini, arugula, salami, mozzarella, pickled vegetables, red onion, and cherry tomatoes to the bowl with dressing.
04 - Toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Serve immediately or chill for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Toss again before serving.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It gets better as it sits, so you can make it ahead and actually enjoy your own party.
  • The pickled vegetables and arugula keep it from tasting heavy like most pasta salads do.
  • You can double it without any extra effort, and it feeds a crowd without breaking the bank.
  • Leftovers taste fantastic straight from the fridge the next day.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the pasta, or it will clump together and soak up all the dressing before you even mix it.
  • If you make this ahead, keep the arugula separate and toss it in right before serving so it stays crisp and green.
  • The salad will taste bland if you under-season the dressing, so be generous with salt and pepper upfront.
03 -
  • Use the best olive oil and vinegar you have, they're the backbone of the dressing and you'll taste the difference.
  • If the salad tastes flat after chilling, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a pinch of salt to wake it back up.
  • Slice the red onion as thin as possible, a mandoline makes this easy and keeps the onion from being too sharp.
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