Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable Version)
Cheese tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing. Ready in 22 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz fresh cheese tortellini
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
06 - 1/4 cup black olives, sliced
→ Cheese & Herbs
07 - 1/3 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves, torn
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
12 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large salad bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, black olives, halved mozzarella balls, and torn fresh basil leaves.
03 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable and cheese mixture. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified and well combined.
05 - Pour dressing over the pasta salad. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly with the vinaigrette.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top. Lightly toss once more to incorporate. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The dressing soaks into the tortellini as it sits, making it taste even better the second day
- You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in literally five minutes
02 -
- Don't skip rinsing the pasta under cold water. Otherwise it keeps cooking and turns into a starchy mess.
- The tortellini will absorb some of the dressing as it sits, so taste and adjust seasoning before serving.
03 -
- Use a salad spinner to dry your vegetables thoroughly. Excess water will dilute the dressing.
- Let the dressed salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving. Those flavors need a minute to get friendly.