Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Cheese-filled tortellini with crisp vegetables and zesty Italian dressing.

# 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

# How to Make It:

01 - Boil tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, thinly sliced red onion, sliced 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 emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over top and toss once more.
06 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It travels beautifully and actually gets better after sitting for an hour
  • You can prep everything ahead and toss it together in minutes
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta thoroughly or the residual heat will wilt the fresh vegetables
  • The salad absorbs dressing as it sits, so keep a little extra on hand for refreshing
03 -
  • Use a salad spinner to thoroughly dry the vegetables after washing
  • Cut everything to roughly the same size for the most enjoyable eating experience

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