Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable View)
Cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables, fresh mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying 22-minute meal.
# 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, 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 - Boil tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
02 - Combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, sliced black olives, halved mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves in the bowl with cooled tortellini.
03 - 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.
04 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It comes together in under 25 minutes but tastes like you spent ages prepping
- The dressing doubles as a marinade, so flavors actually deepen over time
02 -
- Rinse the pasta under cold water until it is completely cool, or it will continue cooking and turn mushy
- The salad tastes best after sitting for 30 minutes, but do not refrigerate longer than 2 hours or the pasta absorbs too much dressing
03 -
- Use room temperature ingredients so the cold pasta does not immediately seize up the olive oil in the dressing
- Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving, as pasta absorbs salt and can taste bland after sitting