Description
A refreshing, flavorful Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad featuring cheese tortellini, fresh vegetables, savory salami, and a zesty Italian dressing. This chilled pasta salad is perfect as a light meal or a vibrant side dish for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Cheese
- 20 ounces of fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 cup mozzarella balls or cubed mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup sliced cucumbers
- 1 cup black olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
Meat
- 1 cup Italian salami, diced
Dressing and Seasonings
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini: Cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain the tortellini and rinse under cold water to halt the cooking process. Allow it to cool completely for the best texture in the salad.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add the cooled tortellini, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, sliced black olives, mozzarella cheese, sliced red onion, and diced Italian salami.
- Add dressing: Drizzle the Italian dressing evenly over the combined salad ingredients to ensure each bite is flavorful.
- Toss the salad: Gently toss the mixture to coat all ingredients well with the dressing, being careful not to mash or break the tortellini.
- Add cheese and basil: Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil over the salad, then toss lightly again to distribute these final flavors.
- Season: Taste the salad and season with salt and pepper according to your preference.
- Chill: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least one hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
- Final toss before serving: Give the salad a final gentle toss before serving. If the pasta has absorbed too much dressing, add a bit more to refresh it.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad chilled. It makes an excellent light meal or a vibrant side dish perfect for warm weather gatherings.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen tortellini as preferred; just ensure it is cooked fully before adding to the salad.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the Italian salami or substitute it with plant-based alternatives.
- Homemade Italian dressing can be made using olive oil, vinegar, garlic, herbs, and spices for a fresher taste.
- Allowing the salad to chill helps the flavors blend, but avoid leaving it too long to prevent the cheese from becoming rubbery.
- Feel free to add other fresh vegetables such as bell peppers or artichokes for extra texture and flavor.
