Cheese Tortellini Salad (Printable)

Tender cheese tortellini tossed with crisp vegetables, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying 22-minute meal.

# What You 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

# Steps:

01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold running water until completely cooled. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside.
02 - In the same bowl with cooled tortellini, combine halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, sliced red onion, black olives, halved mozzarella balls, and torn basil leaves.
03 - 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.
04 - Pour dressing over salad and toss gently to coat evenly. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over top and toss lightly once more.
05 - Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes even better after sitting for an hour so you can make it way ahead of guests arriving
  • The combination of cold tortellini with that zesty dressing creates this crazy addictive flavor profile people cannot stop talking about
02 -
  • Rinse the pasta under cold water immediately after draining or it will keep cooking and turn mushy
  • The salad absorbs dressing as it sits so keep a little extra on hand if you are making it more than an hour ahead
03 -
  • Buy the highest quality tortellini you can find since it is the star of the show
  • Let the dressed salad sit for at least 30 minutes before serving so the flavors really meld together

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