Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)
Cheese tortellini with crisp vegetables in zesty Italian dressing—ideal for picnics and potlucks.
# 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 - Boil tortellini according to package directions until tender. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running 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 basil leaves.
03 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture. Toss gently to distribute ingredients evenly.
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 fully emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients without damaging tortellini.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours for enhanced flavor melding.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- Cheese-filled pasta doubles as protein so vegetarians leave satisfied
- Everything can be prepped ahead and actually tastes better after chilling
- The zesty Italian dressing transforms simple vegetables into something crave-worthy
02 -
- Tortellini continues absorbing dressing as it sits. Make extra dressing if serving leftovers the next day.
- The salad peaks at 2 hours chilled but stays delicious for 24 hours. After that, pasta starts softening.
- Add delicate ingredients like fresh basil and Parmesan right before serving leftovers.
03 -
- Rinse cooked tortellini until completely cold to stop the cooking process immediately
- Cut vegetables slightly larger than you think. They shrink when tossed with dressing.