Antipasto Pasta Salad yield: Serves 8 to 10

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less but requires additional unattended time.

Ingredients for Antipasto Pasta Salad:

• 1 pound rotini or fusilli (corkscrew-shaped pastas)
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard
• 1/3 cup red-wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 ounce (1/2 cup) sun-dried tomatoes (not packed in oil), soaked in hot water for 5 minutes and drained well
• 1/2 pound smoked mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• a 1-pound can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
• 3 1/2 ounces sliced hard salami, cut into julienne strips
• 10 to 20 bottled small peperoncini (pickled Tuscan peppers)
• 1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
• 1 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leafed parsley leaves, minced

Preparation

In a kettle of boiling salted water cook the rotini until it is tender and drain it. Refresh the pasta under cold water and drain it well. In a blender blend the garlic, the mustard, the vinegars, the water, the oil, and salt to taste until the dressing is emulsified. In a very large bowl toss the pasta well with the dressing and stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, the mozzarella, the garbanzos, the salami, the Tuscan peppers, the red pepper flakes, and the parsley. Chill the salad, covered, for 1 hour. The salad may be made 2 days in advance and kept covered and chilled.