Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable View)

Tender cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing for a fresh, satisfying meal.

# What You 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, 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 Steps:

01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - Combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
04 - Whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss once more.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Its one of those rare dishes that tastes better after sitting for an hour, making it perfect for meal prep and potlucks
  • The combination of cool tender pasta with crisp vegetables feels like eating summer itself
02 -
  • Never skip rinsing the cooked tortellini under cold water or the residual heat will wilt your fresh vegetables and melt the mozzarella too much
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator for the flavors to really marry together
03 -
  • Double the dressing and store half separately to refresh leftovers the next day
  • Use a vegetable peeler to shave ribbons of Parmesan on top instead of grating for an elegant presentation

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