Description
Zesty summer tortellini salad celebrates fresh ingredients with a Mediterranean twist. Cheese-filled pasta, crisp vegetables, and tangy herbs create a light, refreshing meal perfect for warm days.
Ingredients
Scale
- 500 g (1 lb) cheese tortellini, fresh or refrigerated
- 1 cup fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini) or cubed mozzarella
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 cup bell peppers (red, yellow, or orange), diced
- ½ cup black olives, sliced
- ½ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup basil, fresh, chopped
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Boiling Preparation: Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil, creating an ideal cooking environment for the tortellini.
- Cooking Process: Gently lower the tortellini into the roiling water, allowing them to simmer until they float to the surface and reach an al dente consistency, typically 3-4 minutes.
- Cooling Technique: Drain the tortellini in a colander, immediately shocking them with cold water to arrest the cooking process and preserve their delicate texture, then spread them out on a clean surface to cool completely.
Notes
- Prevent Overcooking: Watch tortellini closely during boiling to maintain al dente texture, typically 2-3 minutes less than package instructions to keep pasta firm and prevent mushiness.
- Master Cold Water Technique: Use ice-cold water when rinsing to quickly stop cooking process, ensuring tortellini retain their shape and prevent becoming soggy or sticky.
- Temperature Management: Allow tortellini to reach room temperature naturally for optimal salad texture, spreading them in a single layer helps cool evenly and prevents clumping.
- Salt Water Wisely: Use enough salt in boiling water to enhance pasta flavor, but avoid oversalting which can make tortellini taste bland or overly seasoned.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg