Description
This Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad is a vibrant and flavorful dish combining tender cheese tortellini with fresh cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, and Italian salami. Tossed in zesty Italian dressing and topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, it’s perfect for a quick lunch, picnic, or potluck. The salad is served chilled and is a delightful medley of textures and tastes that come together in just about 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 20 ounces fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
Vegetables & 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
Cheese & Meat
- 1 cup mozzarella balls or cubed mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Italian salami, diced
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Dressing & Seasoning
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing (homemade or store-bought)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook Tortellini: Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions. Once cooked, drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process. Let the tortellini cool completely before assembling the salad.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In a large salad bowl, add the cooled tortellini, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, black olives, mozzarella balls or cubes, sliced red onion, and diced Italian salami. Mix gently to combine.
- Add Dressing: Drizzle the Italian dressing evenly over the salad ingredients in the bowl, ensuring each component will be flavored.
- Toss Salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is well coated in the dressing.
- Add Parmesan and Basil: Sprinkle the freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped basil over the salad, then toss lightly again to distribute them evenly.
- Season to Taste: Add salt and pepper according to your taste preferences and give the salad a gentle toss.
- Chill: Refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly.
- Final Toss and Adjust: Before serving, give the salad a final toss. If the pasta has absorbed too much dressing, add a bit more to refresh the flavors.
- Serve: Serve the Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad chilled and enjoy!
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen tortellini—just adjust cooking time according to package instructions.
- For a vegetarian option, omit salami and substitute with more cheese or roasted vegetables.
- Feel free to use store-bought Italian dressing for convenience, or make your own for a fresher taste.
- The salad tastes even better when chilled overnight to fully develop the flavors.
- You can add other vegetables like bell peppers or artichoke hearts for additional texture and flavor.
