Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable Version)
Tender cheese tortellini with crisp vegetables, fresh mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing. 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
# Directions:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large serving bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, black olives, halved mozzarella balls, and torn fresh basil.
03 - Add cooled tortellini 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 and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under 25 minutes, and most of that is just waiting for pasta water to boil
- The dressing gets even better as it sits, making this the ultimate make-ahead meal for busy weeks
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will keep cooking and turn mushy in your salad
- The salad is best served within a few hours because the tortellini will soak up the dressing and become soft
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables into similar sizes so every forkful has the perfect ratio of ingredients
- Taste the dressed salad before adding the final Parmesan since the cheese adds significant saltiness