Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Print Version)
Cheese-filled pasta tossed with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a refreshing 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 (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 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, and sliced black olives.
03 - Add halved mozzarella balls and torn fresh basil leaves to the vegetable mixture.
04 - Add cooled tortellini to the bowl with vegetables and cheese.
05 - 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.
06 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Gently toss to coat all components evenly.
07 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Its the perfect make-ahead dish that actually tastes better after the flavors have had time to hang out together
- You get those satisfying forkfuls of tender pasta, crunchy vegetables, and creamy cheese all in one incredible bite
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will continue cooking and become unpleasantly soft
- The dressing might seem too thick at first but the moisture from the vegetables will thin it out perfectly
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables slightly larger than you think you need since they shrink a bit once tossed with the dressing
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad since vinegar strength varies between brands