Description
This flavorful Tortellini Pasta Salad combines tender cheese tortellini with a colorful medley of fresh vegetables, salami, mozzarella, and a zesty Italian dressing enhanced with pesto. Perfect as a make-ahead dish, it is chilled to meld the vibrant flavors, making it a refreshing and satisfying salad ideal for picnics, potlucks, or a light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 24 ounces (1½ – 16-ounce packages) frozen cheese tortellini
- 1 cup chopped hard salami (thick sliced deli)
- 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
- ½ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup diced red bell pepper
- ¼ cup diced green bell pepper
- ¼ cup chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
- 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 the tortellini: Prepare the cheese tortellini according to the package instructions until they are al dente. Drain the tortellini and rinse under cold water to cool and stop the cooking process, preventing mushiness.
- Combine salad ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked tortellini, chopped salami, halved cherry tomatoes, quartered cucumber, sliced black olives, mozzarella pearls, thinly sliced red onion, diced red and green bell peppers, chopped basil leaves, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Mix gently to combine.
- Add parmesan cheese: Sprinkle the fresh grated parmesan evenly over the salad mixture to introduce a nutty, savory element.
- Dress the salad: Drizzle the zesty Italian salad dressing and pesto sauce over the salad ingredients for a flavorful coating.
- Toss the salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is thoroughly combined and coated with the dressing and sauces.
- Chill the salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour. This chilling time allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the salad to become refreshingly cool.
- Serve: Before serving, toss the salad once more to redistribute the dressing. Serve chilled and optionally garnish with additional fresh basil leaves for a vibrant presentation.
Notes
- This pasta salad tastes better after chilling for several hours, making it ideal for make-ahead meals.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
- Best served cold or at room temperature; reheating is not recommended.
- Freezing is not advised, as tortellini and dressing lose texture and become mushy upon thawing.
- Ensure tortellini is cooked al dente to avoid mushiness when tossed.
- Cut vegetables uniformly for balanced bites.
- Chilling for at least 1 hour is key for flavor melding.
