Tortellini Pasta Salad Italian (Printable)
Cheese tortellini with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing, ideal for picnics and potlucks.
# What's Needed:
→ 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 Make It:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to halt 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, chopped red onion, halved mozzarella balls, and 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 components are evenly coated.
05 - Refrigerate salad for minimum 30 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Toss once more immediately before serving.
# Tips for Success:
01 -
- The textures are incredible with soft tortellini crunchy vegetables and creamy mozzarella in every single forkful
- You can make it ahead and it actually tastes better after sitting in the fridge for a bit
02 -
- Never skip rinsing the cooked tortellini under cold water or the residual heat will continue cooking the pasta until it's mushy and unpleasant
- The salad needs at least thirty minutes in the refrigerator for the tortellini to absorb some of that dressing and truly transform
03 -
- Cut your vegetables slightly larger than you think you need because they'll shrink a bit after being dressed
- Always reserve a small amount of fresh basil to sprinkle on top right before serving for maximum aroma