Italian Tortellini Salad is a simple and delicious summer salad. Loaded with veggies and cheese tortellini, this salad will be a favorite at picnics and BBQ's.
Ok a little fun fact about my family: they aren't big salad eaters. Now, they have improved greatly over the years, especially my meatatarian husband. We love fresh spinach at our house and green leaf lettuce usually gets a smile or two.
However, I love a good salad and the different blend of flavors it brings. I enjoy the chance to create fun salads and bring them to different picnics or BBQ's. This Italian Tortellini Salad is a great addition to any picnic, celebration or gathering.
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini
- Yellow peppers
- Cherry tomatoes
- Spinach
- Cheese cubes
- Cute bowl for travel (this one even has a lid!)
The Process
The making of the salad is quite easy. The longest part is boiling the cheese tortellini, but while that is boiling, you can be chopping up the vegetables.
When you are done boiling the pasta on the stove, you will need to drain the water and rinse it with cold water. That will help stop the cooking process and it will help cool the pasta down for when you put it in the fridge.
Be sure to buy the Mona's cheese tortellini if you have it in your stores. It is a local favorite around here.
Like salads? Try: Grape Jello Salad, Strawberry Lettuce Salad and Poppy Seed Fruit Salad.
The Italian Dressing
I have used different types of Italian dressing on this salad and I have to say, they all taste great. If you have a favorite, go ahead and use that one.
I would recommend using a dressing that is for salads or marinades, not the creamy Italian. You could also use your own homemade dressing.
Substitutions
You can substitute a few ingredients in this recipe. Any type of peppers, red, orange or green for the yellow pepper would work
Also, any type of cheese would work as well. I would stay away from blue cheese but that may be because it is not my favorite.
Don't substitute the cheese tortellini for sausage. The cheese needs to be in recipe, as I feel the sausage would be a bit strong.
FAQ
Keep the salad wrapped with Saran Wrap and keep in the fridge when not eating.
Yes it can! However, I would limit the time to 30 minutes. It doesn't have any milk products in it or mayonnaise so that makes it a little safer to leave out.
Yes. Follow the package direction on your package of tortellini.
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Italian Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 16 oz cheese tortellini
- 1 cup grape tomatoes cut in half
- ½ cup Colby cheese cut into cubes
- 1 cup fresh spinach chopped
- ¾ cup yellow bell pepper chopped
- ½-3/4 cup Italian Dressing
Instructions
- Cook tortellini according to package directions
- Drain and rinse with cold water
- Add tortellini to a medium bowl
- Mix tortellini, tomatoes, cheese, spinach and bell pepper with the tortellini
- Stir on Italian Dressing
- Let flavors mix in refrigerator for at least an hour
- Serve
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!