Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe
This vibrant Tortellini Pasta Salad features cheese tortellini combined with salami, fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and a zesty Italian dressing, making it a perfect cold dish for picnics, potlucks, or quick lunches. Bursting with fresh flavors and a delightful mix of textures, it is easy to prepare and chill ahead for a refreshing, satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Meat
- 24 ounces frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 cup chopped salami (thick sliced deli hard salami)
Vegetables and Cheese
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, washed and halved
- ½ cucumber, sliced and quartered
- ½ cup sliced black olives
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese pearls or diced fresh mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup diced red pepper
- ¼ cup diced green pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
Seasonings and Dressings
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- ¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup zesty Italian salad dressing
- 2 tablespoons pesto sauce
Instructions
- Cook Tortellini: Cook the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool and stop cooking.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooled tortellini, chopped salami, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, black olives, mozzarella pearls, thinly sliced red onion, diced red and green peppers, fresh basil leaves, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper.
- Add Parmesan: Sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese evenly over the combined salad ingredients.
- Add Dressings: Drizzle the zesty Italian salad dressing and pesto sauce over the salad mixture.
- Toss Salad: Gently toss all the ingredients until well combined and coated with the dressings.
- Chill: Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld.
- Serve: Before serving, give the salad a final toss to redistribute the dressing. Serve chilled and optionally garnish with extra fresh basil leaves.
Notes
- Ensure tortellini is rinsed with cold water after cooking to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- You can substitute salami with pepperoni or omit for a vegetarian version.
- For a lighter dressing option, use a low-fat Italian dressing.
- Make the salad a few hours ahead for the best flavor absorption.
- Store leftover salad in an airtight container refrigerated for up to 3 days.
Keywords: Tortellini pasta salad, cheese tortellini salad, pasta salad with salami, Italian pasta salad, cold pasta salad, easy pasta salad
Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/tortellini-pasta-salad-recipe/
