Salami Pasta Salad For People Who Like Picnics and Penne, and How to Buy Quality Olive Oil

bowl of cold penne pasta salad with summer sausage or salami

It sounds like an online dating ad for a salad—for people who like picnics, penne, and parsley—but this side dish has a lot going for it with its slippery olive oil, tangy vinegar, and salty chunks of salami. It will catch your attention without an embellished ingredient list or exaggerated prep time.

Easy Salami Pasta Salad doesn’t contain mayonnaise or eggs so it’s a smart option for outdoor entertaining, picnics, and office lunches. And more times than not, I’ve eaten this as the main course with a side of fresh bread. It keeps well in the refrigerator for just a few days so you want to eat it up quickly or share with your friends. Serve it at room temperature so the oil has time to turn back into a liquid.

For heightened flavor, use a good olive oil. Here are a few resources:

  1. Local to the Brookings, South Dakota area – visit the Coteau des Prairies Olive Oil Co. tasting bar at the Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge located at 726 Main Avenue South and talk to Michael Johnson. Or shop online at Coteau des Prairies Olive Oil Co.
  2. Read or listen to What extra virgin means, and who in the olive oil industry abides” from the Splendid Table.
  3. Read author and journalist Tom Mueller’s book Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil.

If you like cold pasta salad, try my taco ranch pasta salad with corn, black beans, peppers and cheddar cheese. They don’t contain pasta, but summer is also a good time to serve my ex-in-law broccoli ranch salad with cauliflower, peas, celery and red onion or chicken chickpea cilantro salad with rotisserie chicken.

View our favorite easy salami pasta salad recipe from Taste of Home.

Sweet & tangy wishes,

Easy Salami Pasta Salad

Staci at Random Sweets
Serve this salad as a light meal or with a sandwich.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 42 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 8
Calories 317 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups uncooked penne pasta
  • 8 oz hard salami, cubed (or beef summer sausage)
  • 4 green onions, diced
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 4 teaspoons minced fresh basil, or 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the pasta as directed on the package. Drain and rinse the pasta thoroughly with cold water. Set aside to drain.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper.
  • In a large bowl, toss together the pasta, salami, parsley, onions, oregano and basil.
  • Stir in the olive oil mixture, tossing to coat all the pasta.
  • Store covered in the refrigerator overnight or at least 12 hours, stirring a time or two. Serve at room temperature so the oil is a liquid.
  • Serve topped with shredded Parmesan cheese.
  • Store in refrigerator up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 317kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 11gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 27mgSodium: 1034mgPotassium: 166mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 129IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 103mgIron: 1mg
Keyword pasta salad, salami, summer sausage

Go back to the recipe by scanning this QR code:

QR Code

All text and images © Staci Mergenthal • Random Sweets

Tried this recipe?Mention @RandomSweets and tag #OurSweetMidwestLife

Similar Posts

One Comment

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.