Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Tender tortellini with crisp vegetables, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing for a fresh and satisfying 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 (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

# Steps:

01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - In a large salad 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 bowl with 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 evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours for flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The pasta soaks up the zesty dressing while staying perfectly tender
  • It comes together faster than you can finish a glass of wine
  • Everyone thinks you spent way more effort than you actually did
02 -
  • The pasta will continue absorbing the dressing as it sits so it is best served within two hours of tossing
  • Rinsing the cooked tortellini under cold water is absolutely necessary to stop the cooking process
  • Do not skip the salt in the dressing because the pasta needs seasoning from the outside in
03 -
  • Buy the refrigerated tortellini from the dairy section not the dried pasta aisle
  • Let the dressed salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the flavors can mingle

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