Cheese Tortellini Italian Salad (Print version)

Cheese tortellini tossed with fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and zesty Italian dressing for a satisfying cold pasta dish.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Prepare tortellini according to package directions. Drain thoroughly and rinse under cold water to stop cooking and cool the pasta. 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 the cooled tortellini to the bowl with the vegetable and cheese mixture.
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 the dressing evenly over the salad ingredients. Gently toss to coat all components thoroughly.
06 - Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the top and toss lightly once more. Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours to allow flavors to meld together.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • You can assemble everything ahead and the flavors actually get better after a few hours in the fridge
  • The combination of textures—chewy tortellini, crisp vegetables, and creamy mozzarella—is deeply satisfying
02 -
  • The salad is best served within 2 hours of dressing or the tortellini will start to absorb all the vinaigrette and become mushy
  • If you need to make it ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss everything together just before serving
03 -
  • Cook the tortellini about 30 seconds less than the package directions since they will continue cooking as they cool
  • Pat the halved cherry tomatoes dry with paper towels to prevent the dressing from becoming watery

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