Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable version)
Tender cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying meal.
# What you'll 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
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook fresh cheese tortellini according to package directions until al dente, approximately 7 minutes. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and set aside.
02 - While pasta cooks, halve cherry tomatoes, dice cucumber and red bell pepper into uniform pieces, thinly slice red onion, and slice black olives. Cut fresh mozzarella balls in half. Combine all prepared vegetables, olives, and mozzarella in the bowl with cooled tortellini. Add torn fresh basil leaves.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Whisk vigorously until emulsified and well combined.
04 - Pour prepared vinaigrette over salad mixture. Gently toss with salad servers or spoons until all ingredients are evenly coated. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese across the top. Toss lightly once more to distribute. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after sitting
- Its one of those rare salads that satisfies pasta cravings while feeling fresh and light
02 -
- The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator for the flavors to really develop
- Never serve it immediately after tossing the pasta just tastes starchy not harmonious
03 -
- Cutting the cherry tomatoes with a serrated knife prevents them from squishing
- Use the finest holes on your box grater for the Parmesan it melts into the salad better