Name: Deli Style Pasta Salad with Kale
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1/3 Cup Olive Oil; 4 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar; 1 tsp Mustard, yellow mustard; 1/2 tsp Oregano; 1 Garlic, minced; Salt and Black Pepper, per taste; 1 tsp Italian Seasoning; 1/2 lbs Pasta, Fusilli or Penne, or use both half and half; 1 Bunch Kale, 8-10 leaves, purple and green kale, rough chopped; 1 Zucchini; 1 Cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved; 1/2 Red Onion, medium onion, thin sliced; 1/2 Cup Kalamata Olives, water packed, pitted, drained (sliced, if prefer); 1/2 Cup Cheddar Cheese, cubed, or provolone; 1/2 Cup Feta Cheese, crumbled; 2 Red Bell Pepper, or 1 green and 1 red, diced bite size; 1/4 Cup Parsley, fresh leaves, chopped

In this deli-style pasta salad, every fork full will have something delicious to keep digging for more. If you are fan of deli-style pasta salads, this vegetarian pasta salad will be your new favorite! I promise!

Specially great to pack for potlucks or family trips, ingredients in this pasta salad are robust and also benefit from sitting in vinaigrette. Now, what else would one want from potluck food? Food that stay fresh long, (don't wilt or get soggy or mushy), are easy to carry, can be served without reheating and some which everyone can enjoy!

That much and still my favorite is? Lots of fresh veggies and even kale!!! Kale gives this salad a mighty punch of flavors and nutrients. Honestly, more than potlucks, when I crave deli pasta salads... it is on my "dinner" table too... with leftovers, for sure, in lunch box ;)

Does this look that tempting or what?

a deli style pasta salad vegetarian and healthy touch of kale and lots of crunchy vegetables | chefdehome.com

Every ingredient in this salad contribute to the deli-fresh taste and texture. Seriously, when I first made this salad, I was overjoyed sniffing that same deli-style aroma, texture of pasta, crunchy bell peppers and zucchini, juicy tomatoes, with bites of cheese, briny olives here and there.. oh yumm! even writing this makes me hungry!

Deli-style pasta salads often have dried or cured meats. However, I decided to keep it vegetarian so every one can get to enjoy it. You know the "golden rule" for party food? Always make vegetarian options double the meat/poultry! Why? Because everyone would like a taste of vegetarian sides, so these will disappear faster. A delicious pasta salad like this one will disappear even sooner!

You would not see Kale normally in deli pasta salads and it is totally my love for kale which shines here. (I told yaa I'm back on my kale regime, you guys!)

Honestly, once you make this salad, you will wonder just like I do... why don't deli-style pasta salads have kale?

Texture of Kale stands so so well to mustard dressing. It does not get soggy and rather picks up the flavors as it is sits in dressing. You will not have single boring bite in whole bowl full! Chefdehome's promise! (health satisfaction is total bonus here)

Last weekend I made a big batch of this kale Pasta Salad. For two reasons - first to share this recipe with you and second to enjoy leftovers for lunch on weekdays. Due to lot of veggies and dressing mixed in with pasta, pasta does not sticky together and stays nice and fresh for up to 2 days. In fact, I'm still enjoying a batch from Sunday's cooking on Tuesday.
Sounds awesome, right? You can make deli-style pasta salad using fresh and good quality ingredients, at home in 20 minutes and make it ahead too to save some time on day of the event! Sounds super cool too me!

Actually, if you ever try to carry Pasta Salad for a potluck, remember there are few ingredients which make a potluck pasta salad, "the best pasta salad" ever!
1. Good Dressing: First and foremost, a flavor packed dressing. Like for this salad, I have used Mustard Red Wine Vinegar dressing which gives salad a delicious zing and tongue tantalizing taste.
2. Good and Right Cooked Pasta: Choose of good kind of pasta. Mostly tube shaped and pasta with ridges such as penne rigate, farfale, or fussili or a mix works wonderful. Also, I always make sure to cook pasta just until done. Overcooked pasta is no good for salads... actually no good for anything. :)
3. Crunchy Vegetables: such as red bell peppers, zucchini, celery!
4. Balance of flavors: Addition of olives, cheese such as feta, Parmesan, provolone, cheddar enhances the flavor of veggies and also compliment the pasta.
5. Lots of colors: Choose a colorful range of produce. From kale to zucchini, all crunchy sturdy greens and vegetables go great in cold potluck salads.

Deli style easy and healthy pasta salad with crunchy vegetarian and healthy touch of kale | chefdehome.com

This pasta salad is best when served cold. So I highly recommend, refrigerating fresh mixed salad batch for few hours to marry the flavors. If you are not ready to mix salad until the day of potluck.... dressing can be made ahead too and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Just whisk well before tossing in salad.

I hope you having blast this week! With St Patrick's Day around the week, I'm sure everyone is excited to party and have fun. If you hosting a potluck or visiting one, don't forget to pack this delicious salad to take along.

Wish you a great week ahead!

Enjoy! -Savita