Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)
Tender cheese tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying meal.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 ounces 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 and Herbs
07 - 1/3 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, torn
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How to Prepare:
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.
02 - In the same large bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, and sliced black olives.
03 - Add halved mozzarella balls and torn fresh basil leaves to the vegetable mixture.
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.
05 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Gently toss to coat all components evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing soaks into the pasta making every bite more flavorful than the last
- It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after sitting for a bit
02 -
- Rinse the cooked tortellini thoroughly under cold water or the residual heat will wilt your fresh vegetables
- Let the dressed salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the pasta can absorb the dressing
03 -
- Cut all vegetables to similar sizes so each forkful gets a bit of everything
- Make extra dressing and store it separately to refresh the salad before serving leftovers