Description
A fresh and vibrant Tortellini Pasta Salad featuring tender tortellini, crisp vegetables, tangy feta cheese, and a zesty oregano vinaigrette. Perfect as a light meal or a side dish, this salad combines Italian flavors with a quick and easy preparation ideal for any occasion.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 20 ounces Tortellini
Vegetables
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup Cucumbers, diced
- ⅓ cup Red Onion, sliced thin
- 1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped (approximately 1 cup)
- ½ cup Olives, sliced
Cheese
- ½ cup Feta Cheese, crumbled or chopped
Dressing
- ½ teaspoon Dried Oregano flakes
- ½ cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- ¼ cup Red Wine Vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon Sea Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
Instructions
- Prepare Tortellini: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and cook it al dente according to package instructions to ensure it stays firm and doesn’t become mushy.
- Chop Vegetables and Cheese: Dice the cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green bell pepper, and slice the red onion thinly. Crumble or chop the feta cheese into bite-sized pieces.
- Shock Pasta: Once cooked, drain the tortellini and immediately rinse with cold water to halt the cooking process and keep the pasta from becoming overly soft or mushy.
- Make Dressing: In a jar or small bowl, combine the dried oregano, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, sea salt, and black pepper. Shake or whisk vigorously until the dressing is well emulsified and flavorful.
- Toss Salad: In a large bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, chopped vegetables, olives, feta cheese, and the prepared dressing. Toss everything thoroughly until the salad is evenly coated with the dressing and ready to serve.
Notes
- For the best flavor, use fresh extra virgin olive oil and a good quality red wine vinegar.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like basil or parsley for extra freshness.
- This salad can be made a few hours ahead and refrigerated to allow flavors to meld.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving, especially salt and pepper.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
