Muffuletta Pasta Salad (2024)

August 22, 2014 by Joy the Baker 27 Comments

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Some might say that you haven’t lived until you’ve had a muffuletta sandwich at its birthplace: Central Grocery in New Orleans.

For those of you who have yet to live (dramatic,right?), a Muffuletta is a sandwich made when a soft loaf of Italian bread is topped with olive spread, a pickled Italian vegetable medley called giardiniera, salami, mortadella, ham, and provolone. The sandwich isalso often has parsley, vinegar, and olive oil, and is pressed together to marry the flavors. It’s a dang good sandwich. There’s no denying it. The muffuletta was made popular back when New Orleans was just a youngin’ by the lunch habits of Italian immigrants, and ooooh how thankful we are for (among other things) their sandwich sensibilities.

Before I dive into full-blown muffuletta-land, I’m doing to tinker around with a pasta salad version. There’s lots of chopping and cubing. It’s meditative, don’t fight it. I cubed salami, ham, roasted chicken, and provolone. Crisp celery and raw onions and garlic for kick. Olives.. a lot, and sliced. Parsley and dried spices. Dignified and delicious, all of it!

Pasta talk. It’s like pillow talk but with more carbs.

I used a medium-size shell pasta. A spiral would be nice. Use whatever makes you feel right on the inside.

I found the largest mixing bowl I have. It’s a step down from the punch bowl I inherited from my parents’ wedding. I don’t know what that has to do with anything, but that’s alright.

Sharp parsley, salty olives, lots of meat and cheese, and yessss to pasta too! It’s all very good news.

Before I toss the salad, I shake up a spicy vinaigrette in a mason jar. My vinaigrette has apple cider vinegar and sriracha. Lots of tang and spice.

This pasta salad is all of the things! Salty, spicy, crunchy, filling, and just dang delicious. It’s a nice end-of-summer pot luck situation. Also bring doughnuts and you’ll be the most popular person in the world… after me. I’m pretty popular (because of the doughnuts). Kidding. Seriously.

Adapted just so from Emeril’s recipe.

You might also consider adding finely chopped carrots and capers.

Muffuletta Pasta Salad

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Prep Time: 0 hours
Cook Time: 0 hours
Total Time: 40 minutes

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Description

New Orleans and Emeril inspired Muffuletta Pasta Salad is satisfying and feeds a small army! Great to take to a potluck!

Ingredients

Scale

Muffuletta Pasta Salad
For the Salad:
1 pound pasta shells, cooked until soft and drained
1 small onion, chopped finely (a heaping 1/2 cup)
1 large clove garlic, minced
4 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon celery seed
4 – 1/4-inch slices dry salami, cut into small cubes
3 – 1/4-inch thick slices boiled ham, cut into small cubes
3 – 1/4-inch thick slices roasted chicken, cut into small cubes
3 – 1/4-inch thick slices provolone cheese, cut into small cubes
pitted black olives, sliced
pitted green olives, sliced
salt and pepper, to taste
For the Vinaigrette:
3/4 cup olive oil
6 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
hot sauce or sriracha, to taste
salt and pepper to taste
shredded Parmesan to top

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Instructions

Drain pasta and place in a large serving bowl. Add onions, garlic, celery, parsley and dried herbs. Toss to combine.
Add cubed meats and cheese, sliced olives, and a bit of salt and pepper. Toss to combine.
In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine olive oil, vinegar, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and salt and pepper. Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously. Taste and add more salt and pepper as necessary. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the pasta salad and toss. Cover and allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours, or overnight. Toss and serve chilled!

Nutrition

Serving Size: 6 servings

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Reader Interactions

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Questions

Linda

June 30, 2015 at 8:11 am

I have made this before and loved it! I plan to make this for 4th of July festivities as is, but also wanted to make a veggie version for the non-meat eaters. Any suggestions for replacments? I was thinking carrot (would that be TOO much crunch) and broccoli. But not sure if that is enough to make it substantial. Help to anyone with more foodie skills than I have! Thanks.

Reply
- Juli Chouinard
  
  May 22, 2022 at 9:44 pm
  
  I think cauliflower might be a good addition, as well as cubed golden beets.
  
  Reply
The Queen of Dreaming

September 1, 2014 at 9:55 am

I use to eat this kind of salad (without pasta) when I’m in the northest part of Italy, a few km away from Austria. Definetely I’m gonna try the pasta-version!
https://justsem.wordpress.com/

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Linda

August 26, 2014 at 3:41 pm

I checked out the Emeril version just to see the differences. In doing so, ran across another muffaletta salad but without the pasta. I think the same could be done here and would still be good. Yours sounds better. Not that I am against carbs! But I have been told to limit them :-( I hope to make your version over the Labor Day holiday. Thanks.

Reply
- joythebaker
  
  August 26, 2014 at 3:51 pm
  
  i think this would be great with less pasta and more raw spinach and iceberg lettuce! have a wonderful holiday!
  
  Reply
  - Linda
    
    September 3, 2014 at 4:08 pm
    
    This salad was a hit! My brother, who never likes anything I make, said I should make it again. Even cutting the receipe in half, it made alot! Thanks Joy.
    
    Reply
Mondo | I bake he shoots

August 25, 2014 at 8:11 pm

oh my goodness , this looks so good. double up on the salami for me, please!

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tara

August 25, 2014 at 5:17 pm

This looks soooo good!

Reply
Callie / Flour and Fancy

August 24, 2014 at 11:59 am

“Pasta talk. It’s like pillow talk but with more carbs.” Greatest line ever!

Reply
Tamsin | A Certain Adventure

August 24, 2014 at 10:22 am

I love how these flavours came together from an Italian invention born outside of Italy – and how you’ve taken them one step further by turning them into a pasta! Looks so delicious and perfect for a warm late summer evening dinner. x
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Feminism and Fritters (Vegan Crispy Lentil Fritters)

Reply
Heather

August 23, 2014 at 9:28 am

Looks fantastic! Your tales of New Orleans food have me wanting to visit!

Reply
dani

August 23, 2014 at 1:16 am

This. sounds. amazing! I’ve heard about and seen photographs of the sandwich, but this pasta salad is more appealing to me. As for all the chopping, put on some music and do a little dancing and singing (or at least sway and hum) for a really great time.

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Cookitgirl

August 22, 2014 at 10:07 pm

HA! It is definitely pillow talk with carbs! lol

Reply
Debbie

August 22, 2014 at 4:49 pm

Ever since visiting NOLA a few years ago, I have been a muffuletta addict. I will definitely be making this salad version this weekend. Thanks. Would it be too much to make pralines for dessert!

Reply
caitlinmatero

August 22, 2014 at 3:22 pm

This sounds and looks so so good! I can’t wait to try it!
Caitlin
lifealamodeblog.wordpress.com

Reply
fchem101

August 22, 2014 at 3:07 pm

Mmm olives and cheeses and sriracha…This looks like the pasta salad that other pasta salad wishes it could grow up to be.

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amanda

August 22, 2014 at 12:31 pm

this looks DELISH! thank you!

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Anna

August 22, 2014 at 11:31 am

Oh hells yeah, what a great idea! Though to be honest, anything at all with olives in it and I’m sold…

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Natalie @ Paper & Birch

August 22, 2014 at 11:16 am

Oh my, that sandwich sounds amazing! Definitely going to try this pasta salad :)

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Rebecca Jeffries-Hyman

August 22, 2014 at 10:32 am

The muffaletta is reason enough to live in New Orleans. Joy, try the one at Koz’s. They have stores in Harahan and Gentilly. It’s my personal fave for its decadence, melty cheesy olive oily-ness. And also perhaps because it was my first when I moved here.

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Chris

August 22, 2014 at 9:59 am

Brilliant reinterpretation. Especially for summer when cold pasta salads rule! Making this.

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Taylor

August 22, 2014 at 9:18 am

I will take this for lunch today and every day, thank you very much.
xoxo
Taylor

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Jordan

August 22, 2014 at 8:12 am

Yum! Such great flavors.

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shelly

August 22, 2014 at 7:50 am

hey recipe card! nice addition!

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dessertfortwo

August 22, 2014 at 7:35 am

DOOD. When I saw this on insta, my heart jumped! And now my mouth is watering at the thought of the Central Grocery muffuletta sandwich we had on our honeymoon. there are no words. This pasta is the stuff of my dreams.

Reply
amanda

August 22, 2014 at 7:11 am

This looks and sounds amazing! I’m going to be craving a muffuletta sandwich all day because of you.

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Jenn

August 22, 2014 at 2:32 am

Before this, I’d never heard of a Muffuletta. Honestly, when I read the title in my inbox, I had muffin thoughts. That, & automobiles. Please ignore the functionality of my mind.
I’m definitely curious now! It looks carblicious.

Reply