Tortellini Salad Italian Dressing (Print Version)

Tender tortellini with crisp vegetables in zesty Italian dressing—perfect for picnics and potlucks.

# 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 - Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water until completely cooled. Set aside.
02 - Combine cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, mozzarella balls, and fresh basil in a large mixing bowl.
03 - Add cooled tortellini to the vegetable mixture and toss gently to distribute evenly.
04 - Whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl until emulsified.
05 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat all ingredients evenly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything gets chopped and tossed in one bowl making it the ultimate low effort crowd pleaser
  • The flavors actually get better after sitting in the fridge for a bit unlike most salads
02 -
  • The salad needs at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator after tossing to let the flavors penetrate the pasta
  • This dish is best served within 4 hours because the tortellini will eventually absorb all the dressing
03 -
  • Double the dressing if you plan to serve this the next day since the pasta drinks it up
  • Use roasted red peppers from a jar for an even sweeter more complex flavor profile

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