Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)

Tender cheese tortellini with crisp vegetables in 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 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
12 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain well and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Set aside.
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 and toss gently to distribute 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 until all ingredients are evenly coated.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top and toss lightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to develop.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything can be chopped ahead and kept separate until youre ready to assemble, making it the ultimate low stress party food
  • The tortellini soaks up that zesty Italian dressing as it sits, so leftovers taste even better the next day
02 -
  • Overcooking the tortellini is the quickest way to ruin this salad, so pull them as soon as they float even if the package says longer
  • The dressing needs at least 30 minutes to work its magic into the pasta, so plan accordingly or make it the night before
03 -
  • Spin the drained tortellini in a salad spinner or pat dry with paper towels so the dressing actually sticks instead of sliding right off
  • Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving if youve refrigerated it, cold pasta kills the flavor

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