Italian tortellini salad is a fresh, hearty pasta salad that’s perfect for lunch, picnics, or a light dinner. It combines cheese-filled tortellini with crisp veggies, herbs, and a zesty dressing.
Here’s a simple, authentic-style version 👇
🥗 Italian Tortellini Salad (Classic Recipe)
🧾 Ingredients
- 250–300g cheese tortellini (fresh or dried)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (chopped)
- ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
- ½ cup black olives (sliced)
- ½ cup mozzarella balls or cubes
- Fresh basil leaves
🥣 Dressing
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1–2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- Salt & black pepper
👨🍳 Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package instructions, then rinse with cool water and drain.
- In a large bowl, combine tortellini, tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olives, and mozzarella.
- Whisk together dressing ingredients.
- Pour dressing over the salad and toss well.
- Add fresh basil on top and chill for 30–60 minutes before serving.
✨ Variations
- Add grilled chicken or salami for extra protein
- Toss in roasted peppers or sun-dried tomatoes
- Sprinkle parmesan for more flavor
💡 Tips
- Don’t overdress—it should be light, not soggy
- Tastes even better after a few hours in the fridge
- Use high-quality olive oil for best flavor
If you want, I can give you a creamy version, a low-calorie version, or one with a strong “restaurant-style Italian” flavor.
