Tortellini is filled with ricotta cheese and when tossed with Italian dressing, the flavors are perfect together for that social gathering or any backyard event.
Using all simple pantry ingredients, this salad is the perfect accompaniment with any grilled hotdogs, burgers, (or with our favorite Tuscan Grilled Steak) you're cooking up.
We love using tortellini in recipes and you may also like to try making our homemade recipe for tortellini it's perfect for this recipe when you have the time.
The salad dressing on this pasta really compliments this dish and all homemade using fresh herbs, spices, balsamic vinegar a little lemon juice, and olive oil.
She also made delicious Steak cutlets Caprese and often topped toasted bread called Bruschetta with similar ingredients added on top.
Tomatoes fresh mozzarella just shouts summer salad and perfect all through the warmer months.
Scroll down to the bottom to print off this super yummy recipe.
Pasta Salad
Even though we love using tortellini, you can really use whatever cooked pasta you prefer
We have use mini ravioli, penne, and even wagon wheel fun-shaped pasta, and all of them work great with this dressing and caprese style salad.
The light salads are perfect for outdoor picnics but just remember to keep them cold and on ice for safety reasons.
Our salad can be enjoyed all year round but always top of mind when grilling season starts.
Ingredients For Caprese Tortellini Salad
- Fresh tortellini or another pasta you prefer cooked and drained
- Italian dressing
- Plum tomatoes cubed or grape tomatoes
- Basil leaves, fresh
- Mozzarella cut into cubes
- Salt, pepper
- Italian Homemade Salad Dressing
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Balsamic Vinegar or use Red Wine Vinegar
- Fresh lemon juice
- Fresh basil leaves, parsley chopped, oregano,
- Cloves finely minced garlic
- Dash cayenne pepper,
- Salt and black pepper
- Romano cheese
- Other additions: chopped bell peppers, green sliced olives, freshly sliced radishes, diced beets
Tip:
- Always salt the water when you're cooking pasta
- Overcooked pasta will burst and the filling will escape
- Always salt the water when making the pasta
- Always tear the basil with your hands, chopping with a knife turns it brown
- The pasta tastes better with the dressing on it overnight then add the tomatoes and torn basil at the end
- You can use any kind of pasta you like, we also have substituted mini ravioli for this recipe
- Bottled dressings can be substituted: IE Peppercorn Parmesan or other creamy Italian styles
- Suggestions and Additions: diced beets, sliced radishes, chopped red onion, fresh mint, chopped pickles, scallions, diced bell pepper, or hot peppers, for a sweeter salad you can add some fresh raspberries or strawberries
Pin Caprese Tortellini Salad
Other Great Salad Recipes to Try:
Watermelon Salad
Beet Salad
Butternut Squash Salad
Caprese Portabello
Italian Potato Salad
Insalata Caprese Salad
Tuscan Panzanella Salad
Caprese Salad
The colors are so pretty in this Caprese salad and can be a festive look on the Christmas holiday table.
So even though we love our summer pasta salads, this one is versatile and can be made all year long.
Also, our delicious homemade dressing is wonderful on any salad your making and great for also marinading meats!
Caprese Tortellini Salad
Yield: 8
prep time: 15 Mcook time: total time: 15 M
This is a simple pasta salad I love to make for picnics and side dishes when I don't want to worry about things being heated up. The salad is cold with a delicious homemade Italian dressing over the pasta, tomatoes and fresh basil. The best part for me, cubed whole milk mozzarella, this is a winner salad for any meat and perfect side dish. It also looks fabulous on a holiday table with a colorful red and green for Christmas.
ingredients:
- 1 pound tortellini, cooked or another cooked pasta you prefer drained
- Italian dressing
- 1 pound plum tomatoes cubed ( I also take the skins off see notes below) or 1 pint of grape tomatoes cut in half
- 10 basil leaves, torn with your hands (a knife will brown the leaves)
- 1 cup mozzarella pearls or sliced whole mozzarella cut into cubes
- Salt & pepper
- Italian Homemade Salad Dressing Recipe:
- 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/4 cup good grade Balsamic Vinegar or use Red Wine Vinegar
- 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoons each of fresh preferred, (dried when not available) basil leaves, parsley chopped, oregano,
- 2 cloves finely minced garlic or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- dash cayenne pepper,
- salt and black pepper to taste,
- 2 tablespoons grated Romano cheese
- Other additions: chopped bell peppers, green sliced olives, freshly sliced radishes, diced beets
instructions:
How to cook Caprese Tortellini Salad
- For the dressing:
- Mix all ingredients above for dressing in a bowl and whisk to blend together.
- Set aside.
- For the pasta:
- Prepare tortellini according to package instructions, we like them al dente, cook longer for softer pasta and always salt the water.
- Drain.
- Make the dressing.
- Toss cooked tortellini in the dressing.
- Stir in tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella pearls.
- Season with salt & pepper.
Calories
117
117
Fat (grams)
17
17
Sat. Fat (grams)
7
7
Carbs (grams)
11
11
Net carbs
9
9
Sugar (grams)
5
5
Pin Caprese Tortellini Salad
Other Favorite Recipes
Chicken Penne Mozzarella Pasta
Grilled Chicken Caprese