Tortellini Pasta Salad (Printer-friendly)
Cheese-filled tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing. Ideal for outdoor gatherings and quick meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb fresh cheese tortellini
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - ½ cup black olives, sliced
06 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
→ Cheese & Herbs
07 - ½ cup mozzarella balls, halved
08 - ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
→ Dressing
09 - ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Prepare:
01 - Boil tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to halt the cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced black olives, finely chopped red onion, halved mozzarella balls, and chopped fresh basil.
03 - Whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until fully emulsified.
04 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Refrigerate salad for minimum 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Toss once more immediately before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing soaks into the pasta overnight making leftovers even better than fresh
- Everything can be prepped ahead so you are not scrambling when guests arrive
02 -
- Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
- The salad tastes significantly better after sitting for a few hours so do not rush the chilling time
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables slightly larger than you think you need because they shrink when chilled
- Make double the dressing and keep it separate for refreshing leftovers the next day