A reader-favorite (and reader-created!) recipe, this satisfying pasta salad was inspired by the classic sandwich and is a tried-and-true crowdpleaser. Easy to make too!
It is always a joy to receive recipes from those who read my newspaper column or blog. When readers send me their family favorites, I am always happy to cook them for my family.
Nine times out of ten, those tried-and-true recipes are a hit in our house, too.
And who doesn’t love a good hoagie?
I sure do, so when I received Landisville resident Maria DeAngelis Bowman’s recipe for a salad based on an Italian sub, I had high hopes.
Maria explained that she and her family enjoyed a similar salad from a now-defunct stand at Lancaster Central Market. Maria set out to recreate it, and her family liked the following version better than the original.
This novel salad is what Maria is now known for, and she cannot attend a potluck, barbecue, shower, or work party without a request for this dish.
Maria and I also discovered that we were former class of ’88 classmates at J.P. McCaskey High School. Go Tornadoes! (The timing is actually quite perfect as my older son starts his freshman year there today!)
Italian Hoagie Salad
Ingredients
- 1 box of penne pasta (or similarly shaped pasta; use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 envelope of Good Seasons Zesty Italian Salad Dressing (and ingredients to make*)
- 1 (8-ounce) bag shredded Italian blend cheese
- 1 small head of curly lettuce (about 5 ounces**)
- 4 ounces of hard salami from the deli, sliced thick***
- Cherry or grape tomatoes, optional (I use a pint box)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse with cold water, and then set aside to cool.
- Rinse the lettuce, dry well, and chop into bite-size pieces. Halve the tomatoes, if using, and cut the salami into small pieces.
- Add the lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, salami, and Italian dressing to the pasta and mix well. (I start with ½ cup of the dressing and drizzle a little more prior to serving.)
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
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