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The Ultimate Tortellini Pasta Salad

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This Tortellini Pasta Salad is a vibrant, flavorful dish loaded with fresh veggies, cheese, and a tangy dressing. Perfect for a potluck, picnic, or as a side dish for dinner, it’s packed with protein and veggies for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

  1. For the Salad:

    • 20 oz refrigerated cheese tortellini
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes (halved)
    • 1 cucumber (peeled and chopped)
    • ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
    • 1 cup pitted kalamata olives (chopped)
    • 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls
    • ½ cup chopped salami or pepperoni
    • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
    • 2 cups baby spinach or arugula
    • ¼ cup chopped fresh basil

    For the Dressing:

    1. ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
    2. ¼ cup red wine vinegar
    3. 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
    4. 1 tsp honey
    5. 1 clove garlic (minced)
    6. ½ tsp dried oregano
    7. Salt and pepper (to taste)

Instructions

  • Cook the Tortellini:
    In a large pot of salted water, cook the tortellini according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water. Transfer to a large bowl.
  • Make the Dressing:
    In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper. Shake well until emulsified.
  • Toss with Tortellini:
    Pour half of the dressing over the warm tortellini and toss gently to coat. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
  • Add the Veggies & Protein:
    Add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, mozzarella, salami or pepperoni, Parmesan, spinach, and fresh basil to the tortellini.
  • Toss & Chill:
    Pour the remaining dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld.
  • Garnish & Serve:
    Toss the salad again before serving and taste for seasoning, adjusting salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed. Garnish with additional fresh basil and Parmesan, if desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Notes

  • This salad is best made ahead of time, allowing the flavors to meld together after refrigerating for a few hours.
  • If you’re making it for a crowd, double the recipe!
  • Feel free to add other veggies like bell peppers, zucchini, or olives.
  • For a lighter version, you can skip the salami/pepperoni or use turkey pepperoni.
  • To make this a meal, add grilled chicken or shrimp.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://grandmarecipesflash.com/the-ultimate-tortellini-pasta-salad/