Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)
Tender cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a fresh, satisfying meal ready in 22 minutes.
# 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
# How to make it:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil.
03 - Gently fold cooled tortellini into the vegetable mixture.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper until emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor melding.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything can be prepped ahead so you are not stuck in the kitchen while guests arrive
- The pasta absorbs the dressing beautifully, making it even better after a short chill
- One bowl feeds a crowd with minimal cleanup and maximum satisfaction
02 -
- Rinse the cooked pasta under cold water immediately or it will continue cooking and turn gummy
- The salad tastes best after chilling for at least thirty minutes but do not refrigerate longer than two hours or the pasta will start to absorb too much dressing
- Always salt the pasta water generously since the tortellini itself is not heavily seasoned
03 -
- Cut the cherry tomatoes in half through the equator rather than pole to pole so they release less juice into the salad
- Use the highest quality olive oil you can afford since it really makes a difference in the overall flavor