Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Printable)
Cheese tortellini with fresh 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
# Directions:
01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water to stop cooking process. Set aside to cool completely.
02 - In a large serving bowl, combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil.
03 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together 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.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The dressing soaks into the pasta just enough to make every bite burst with flavor without getting soggy
- It travels beautifully and actually tastes better after sitting for a bit
02 -
- Rinse the pasta thoroughly under cold water or it will continue cooking and become mushy
- Let the salad sit for at least 15 minutes before serving so the flavors can mingle
03 -
- Cut all your vegetables into similar sized pieces so every forkful has the same balance of ingredients
- Use the finest holes on your box grater for the Parmesan so it melts into the dressing slightly