Easy Tortellini Pasta Salad (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
24 ounces frozen cheese tortellini
→ Meat
02 -
1 cup chopped hard salami
→ Vegetables and Herbs
03 -
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
04 -
½ cucumber sliced and quartered
05 -
½ cup sliced black olives
06 -
½ cup thinly sliced red onion
07 -
¼ cup diced red bell pepper
08 -
¼ cup diced green bell pepper
09 -
¼ cup chopped fresh sweet basil leaves
→ Cheese
10 -
½ cup mozzarella cheese pearls
11 -
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
→ Dressings and Sauces
12 -
½ cup zesty Italian salad dressing
13 -
2 tablespoons pesto sauce
→ Seasonings
14 -
½ teaspoon kosher salt
15 -
½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
# Instructions:
01 -
Boil the cheese tortellini according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and rinse under cold water to halt cooking.
02 -
In a large bowl, mix the cooled tortellini with chopped salami, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, black olives, mozzarella pearls, red onion, diced red and green bell peppers, fresh basil, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper.
03 -
Sprinkle freshly grated parmesan cheese evenly over the combined salad ingredients.
04 -
Drizzle zesty Italian dressing and pesto sauce over the salad mixture.
05 -
Gently toss all components to ensure even coating, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to meld flavors.
06 -
Before serving, toss the salad again to distribute dressing. Serve chilled with optional garnish of fresh basil leaves.
# Notes:
01 -
Chilling the salad for at least one hour enhances flavor integration.