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    Home » Recipes » Pizza and Pasta

    By Carol Published: Jun 12, 2021 Modified: Jun 13, 2021 | This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette

    Jump to Recipe
    5 from 1 vote
    50 minutes

    Summer is just not summer without a pasta salad. It's a side dish that's always welcome at any backyard barbecue, picnic or potluck. Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette is the perfect addition to your get-together and comes together in about an hour.

    Serve alongside Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Peperonata and Rasberry Ricotta Cake with Almonds for an Italian-inspired feast your guests will rave about.

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette in serving bowl.

    TABLE OF CONTENTS - Click the Icon to Find the Info You Need FAST!

    • Why This Recipe is a Keeper!
    • How to Make Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette:
      • Recipe Ingredients:
      • Ingredient Notes:
      • Step-By-Step Instructions:
    • Chef Tips and Tricks:
    • Frequently Asked Questions:
    • Serve with:
    • More pasta salads you'll love!
    • Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette
      • Equipment
      • Ingredients  1x2x3x
        • Vinaigrette
        • Salad
      • Instructions 
        • Vinaigrette
        • Salad
      • Notes
      • Nutrition

    Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette has everything you love about an antipasto platter which is the traditional first course Italians serve for special occasions. It has meat, cheese, olives, marinated artichokes hearts and chickpeas that you can pull from your pantry or grab at the deli counter or olive bar.

    This show-stopping pasta salad has all that but with the goodness of broccoli and other fresh vegetables like red bell pepper and onion added in. The Parmesan and fresh herb vinaigrette makes it all sing with flavor!

    This salad is sure to become a favorite for all your get-togethers!

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette garnished with fresh basil.

    How to Make Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette:

    Recipe Ingredients:

    Here’s everything you’ll need to make this pasta salad recipe along with how to prep. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

    Photo of ingredients for Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad in glass bowls.

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Olive Oil and canola oil: I like to use an extra-virgin olive oil for pretty much everything. However, some extra-virgin olive oils can be quite fruity and can even overpower a dish. Good olive oil can also be pricey so I blend it with inexpensive canola oil for flavor balance. You can also use vegetable oil instead of canola oil.
    • Lemon juice: Fresh is always best!
    • Pasta: I used bowtie pasta but any short pasta shape will work such as rotini, penne, ziti or large elbow macaroni.
    • Salami: Any type of salami will work such as sopressata, pepperoni, or Genoa. Here's a complete guide to Italian salumi from Serious
      Eats.

    Step-By-Step Instructions:

    • Start with the vinaigrette. Gather and prep all the ingredients.
    • Combine them all in a food processor or blender and process until smooth and set aside.
    Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette in glass jar on white marble background.
    • Gather and prep the ingredients for the rest of the salad.
    • Prepare an ice bath.
    • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Toss in the broccoli florets for about 5 seconds then immediately scoop it out and place in the ice bath.
    • Cook the pasta according to package directions (al dente), drain and rinse with cold tap water to stop the cooking process.
    • Combine all the salad ingredients in a large bowl.
    Ingredients for Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette in glass bowl before being combined.
    • Toss in the blanched broccoli.
    • MAKE AHEAD:  Can be assembled 2 days ahead of time. Leave the dressing off the salad otherwise, the pasta will soak it up. Dress the salad when you’re ready to serve.
    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette in gray bowl on blue background.
    • Dress with the Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette as desired...
    Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette poured over the top about to be mixed with serving utensils.
    • Add a little extra chopped fresh parsley, basil leaves for garnish and of course, a little extra Parmesan cheese.
    • And serve!
    Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette in gray bowl with serving utensils on blue background.

    Chef Tips and Tricks:

    • Save time and water by blanching the broccoli in the same water you'll be cooking the pasta in. Bring the pot of salted water to a boil, toss in the broccoli then transfer it to an ice bath. Bring it back to a boil then pour in the pasta.
    • Be sure to only cook the pasta to the al dente stage. Al dente means "to the tooth." Basically, it should be cooked yet fight back a little.
    Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette with serving utensils in gray bowl.

    Frequently Asked Questions:

    Can I make this salad ahead?

    Yes, you absolutely can. Up to two days should be fine. Leave the dressing off the salad as the pasta will soak it up. Dress the salad when you're ready to serve.

    What substitutions can I make?

    This is a very versatile salad which is why I love it! As already mentioned, you can use rotini, penne, ziti or large macaroni instead of bowtie pasta. Any short pasta shape will work. Use cauliflower instead of broccoli, cannellini beans instead of chickpeas or green olives instead of Kalamata olives.

    Can I use dried herbs instead of fresh herbs?

    I don't advise it because you won't get the same fresh herb taste.

    Serve with:

    • Loaded Roasted Eggplant Dip (Baba Ganoush)
    • Chilled Cantaloupe Soup
    • Pickled Grape (or Cherry) Tomatoes
    • Tomato Ricotta Tart with Basil Pesto
    • Grilled Peaches with Vanilla Ice Cream and Honey Balsamic Drizzle

    More pasta salads you'll love!

    • Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Pepperoni
    • Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
    • Creamy Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing Peas and Fresh Dill
    • Chicken Pasta Salad with Spinach Buttermilk Dressing

    Get all my great salad side dish recipes at: Side Dish Salads - From A Chef's Kitchen

    Close-up photo of Antipasto Pasta Broccoli Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette.

    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette

    5 from 1 vote
    By: Carol | From A Chef's Kitchen
    Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette is the perfect addition to your backyard barbecue, picnic, pot luck or just an easy, delicious grab-and-go lunch! Serve alongside Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Peperonata and Rasberry Ricotta Cake with Almonds for an Italian-inspired feast your guests will rave about.
    PRINT RECIPE PIN RECIPE SAVE RECIPE Saved!
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Total Time 50 mins
    Course Salads
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8
    Calories 767 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wusthof Chef Knife
    • Cutting Board
    • Glass Mixing Bowls
    • Pasta Pot with Insert

    Ingredients
      

    Vinaigrette

    • 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
    • ½ cup canola oil
    • ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons lemon juice - about 1 large lemon
    • Several sprigs of fresh basil, parsley and chives
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
    • 4 cloves garlic - minced
    • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - or to taste
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper - to taste

    Salad

    • Salt
    • 2 large broccoli crowns - cut into florets (approximately 4-5 cups)
    • 1 pound (16-ounces) farfalle (bowtie pasta)
    • Olive oil
    • 1 medium red onion - finely chopped (approximately 1 cup)
    • 1 large red bell pepper - seeded and chopped
    • 1 can (15-ounce) garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed - garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
    • 1 jar (12-ounce) marinated artichoke heart quarters - halved widthwise
    • ½ cup pitted and halved Kalamata Olives
    • 6 ounces salami - such as Genoa cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 1 block (8-ounce) Mozzarella or Provolone cheese cut into ¼ to ½-inch pieces - cut into ¼ to ½-inch pieces
    • Fresh basil leaves - for garnish
    • Chopped parsley - for garnish
    • Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

    Instructions
     

    Vinaigrette

    • Combine all the vinaigrette ingredients in a food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until needed.

    Salad

    • Prepare an ice bath. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
    • Drop the broccoli into the boiling water. Cook for 5 seconds or until the broccoli turns bright green. Drop into the ice bath and let cool. Drain and set aside.
    • Drop the pasta into the boiling water and cook according to the package directions. Drain and rinse with cold tap water. Toss with olive oil.
    • Combine the pasta with next 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Toss in the broccoli.
    • Drizzle with dressing as desired.
    • Garnish with fresh basil leaves, chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    Save time and water by blanching the broccoli in the same water you'll be cooking the pasta in. Bring the pot of salted water to a boil, toss in the broccoli then transfer it to an ice bath. Bring it back to a boil then pour in the pasta.
    Be sure to only cook the pasta to the al dente stage as the pasta will soften up after the dressing is added. Al dente means "to the tooth." Basically, it should be cooked yet fight back a little.
    SUBSTITUTIONS:  Use rotini, penne, ziti or large macaroni instead of bowtie pasta. Any short pasta shape will work. Use cauliflower instead of broccoli, cannellini beans instead of chickpeas or green olives instead of Kalamata olives.
    MAKE AHEAD:  Can be assembled 2 days ahead of time. Leave the dressing off the salad otherwise, the pasta will soak it up. Dress the salad when you’re ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 | Calories: 767kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 34g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 793mg | Potassium: 780mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1712IU | Vitamin C: 166mg | Calcium: 175mg | Iron: 3mg

    These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @fromachefskitchen.

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    Categories: Main Course - Dinner Salads

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    I’m Carol, a personal chef with 20 years of experience cooking food people want to eat! Here you’ll find easy, step-by-step chef-tested gourmet recipes for today's modern home cook!

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