Tortellini Pasta Salad Italian (Printable)
Fresh tortellini with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, and mozzarella in a zesty homemade Italian dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 1 lb fresh cheese tortellini
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
04 - 1 cup red bell pepper, diced
05 - ½ cup black olives, sliced
06 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
→ Cheese & Herbs
07 - ½ cup mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
08 - ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
→ Dressing
09 - ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
10 - 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
11 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
12 - 1 clove garlic, minced
13 - ½ tsp dried oregano
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to halt cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large serving bowl, toss together cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, black olives, red onion, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil until evenly distributed.
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 and smooth.
04 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture. Pour dressing over salad and toss gently until all components are thoroughly coated.
05 - Refrigerate salad for minimum 30 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Toss again immediately before serving to redistribute dressing.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Everything comes together in under thirty minutes, leaving you more time to actually enjoy the gathering you are heading to
- The pasta actually tastes better after sitting in the dressing, making it perfect for meal prep and makeahead situations
02 -
- Rinsing the cooked pasta under cold water is not optional, it prevents the tortellini from clumping together and stops the cooking process completely
- The salad needs at least thirty minutes in the refrigerator, but letting it sit overnight makes it even more flavorful
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables into similar sized pieces so every forkful has the perfect balance of flavors and textures
- Taste the dressing before adding it to the salad, adjusting the salt and acid to your liking