Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Serves 6 | Total time: 2 hours 25 minutes | Active time: 25 minutes

Fresh, colorful, and loaded with bold Italian flavors, this tortellini pasta salad is the dish everyone will be reaching for at your next gathering.

This tortellini pasta salad is fresh, colorful, and loaded with bold Italian flavors, making it the dish everyone will be reaching for at your next gathering. To start, cheesy tortellini takes the place of ordinary pasta, meaning every single bite comes with a little something extra. In addition, the combination of savory meats, fresh vegetables, and a tangy homemade vinaigrette dressing makes this tortellini pasta salad as satisfying as it is beautiful. Best of all, it can be made ahead of time, so the flavors have plenty of time to meld together in the fridge. Whether you are bringing it to a summer potluck, packing it for a picnic, or serving it alongside grilled meats at a backyard cookout, this salad is guaranteed to impress.

Salad

• Cheese tortellini
• Cherry tomatoes
• Cucumber
• Red onion, thinly sliced
• Pitted Kalamata olives
• Fresh mozzarella balls
• Salami or pepperoni
• Grated Parmesan cheese
• Baby spinach or arugula
• Fresh basil, chopped

Dressing

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red wine vinegar
• Dijon mustard
• Honey
• Garlic
• Dried oregano
• Salt
• Pepper

How to Make Tortellini Pasta Salad

1. First, cook the tortellini in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Then drain and rinse under cold water and transfer to a large bowl.
2. Meanwhile, make the dressing. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, mustard, honey, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake well until emulsified.
3. Next, pour half of the dressing over the warm tortellini and toss gently to coat. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
4. After that, add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, olives, mozzarella, salami, Parmesan, spinach, and basil to the bowl with the tortellini.
5. Finally, pour the remaining dressing over the top and toss gently to combine all the ingredients.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the flavors to meld before serving.

Credit: Recipe courtesy of Insanely Good Recipes