Chef John’s Antipasto Pasta Salad

Description

An antipasto is a cold platter of meat, cheese, and vegetables which is served at the start of a meal before the pasta and other courses, but to save some time, I thought we’d add the pasta right into the antipasto to turn into a complete meal all by itself. You could serve this as a side dish, but with a hunk of crusty bread and a glass of wine, I’m not sure what else you’d need. Top with more parsley before serving.

Ingredients

  • 1 (16 ounce) package fusilli pasta
  • 1 clove garlic, finely crushed
  • 1 anchovy fillet
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • ½ cup red wine vinegar, or more to taste
  • 1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • ⅓ cup julienned red onion
  • ⅓ cup julienned jalapeno pepper
  • ⅓ cup julienned pickled pepperoncini peppers
  • ½ cup julienned fire-roasted red pepper
  • 1 cup quartered baby artichoke hearts
  • ½ cup sliced black olives
  • ½ cup sliced green olives
  • ¼ pound salami, julienned
  • ¼ pound pepperoni, julienned
  • 3 ounces deli-style ham, julienned
  • ¼ pound provolone cheese, julienned
  • ¼ cup freshly chopped Italian parsley
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of well salted water to a boil. Cook fusilli in the boiling water
  2. stirring occasionally
  3. until tender yet firm to the bite
  4. about 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander
  5. but do not rinse; stir to release heat. Allow to cool in the colander for 5 to 10 minutes.
  6. While pasta cools
  7. add garlic and anchovy to a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk or fork to crush the anchovy and garlic into a paste. Add Dijon mustard
  8. mayonnaise
  9. vinegar
  10. salt
  11. pepper
  12. oregano
  13. and thyme and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in olive oil
  14. whisking constantly
  15. until dressing is smooth
  16. thick
  17. and coats the back of a spoon.
  18. Pour cooled pasta into the bowl of dressing and toss with a large spoon until well coated.
  19. Stir red onion
  20. jalapeno
  21. pepperoncini
  22. red pepper
  23. artichokes
  24. black olives
  25. green olives into the salad. Add salami
  26. pepperoni
  27. and ham; mix thoroughly. Add Provolone cheese. Mix with a spoon thoroughly to combine. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled
  28. 3 to 12 hours.
  29. Remove from the refrigerator
  30. add chopped parsley and tomatoes
  31. and mix thoroughly. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed.

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 20 mins

Total Time: 3 hrs 55 mins

Servings: 12

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