Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Cheese tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying cold dish.

# 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 running water to stop cooking process. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
02 - Combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, black olives, halved mozzarella balls, and torn basil in the bowl with cooled pasta.
03 - Whisk together 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 mixture. Gently toss to coat all ingredients evenly. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly once more.
05 - Serve immediately for best texture, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld. Toss again before serving if chilled.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 25 minutes but tastes like you spent ages planning it
  • The flavors actually get better as it sits making it perfect for meal prep
  • Elegant enough for company but casual enough for a Tuesday night dinner
02 -
  • Rinse the cooked pasta with cold water immediately or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • The dressing needs at least 30 minutes to work its magic into the tortellini
  • Do not add the Parmesan until right before serving or it can get clumpy
03 -
  • Buy the good quality tortellini from the refrigerated section not the dry pasta aisle
  • Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving if it has been refrigerated

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