Spring Antipasto Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)

Vibrant ditalini tossed with arugula, salami, mozzarella, and giardiniera in a zesty dressing.

# 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 (giardiniera, pepperoncini, or mixed Italian pickles), chopped
07 - 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Zesty Dressing

09 - 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
14 - 1 tsp dried oregano
15 - ½ tsp chili flakes
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 directions until al dente. Drain and rinse briefly under cold water to cool; set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
03 - Add the cooked ditalini, arugula, salami, mozzarella, pickled vegetables, red onion, and cherry tomatoes to the bowl with the dressing.
04 - Toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Toss again before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The dressing soaks into the ditalini while you prep everything else
  • It actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for an hour
  • People fight over the salami-mozzarella-pickle combo
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly or it keeps cooking and turns mushy
  • The salad will seem dry at first but pasta soaks up dressing as it sits
  • Add delicate ingredients like arugula right before serving if making ahead
03 -
  • Cut everything into similar small pieces so you get all flavors in each forkful
  • Let the dressed pasta sit for 15 minutes before adding fragile ingredients
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