Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Arugula, and Mozzarella
I wanted a nice and simple side dish to serve for dinner that I could prepare in advance due to an extra busy day. This cheese tortellini pasta salad with tomatoes, arugula, and mozzarella pasta salad came together by looking through the refrigerator and using up what I had on hand. It was just what I was hoping for – light, flavorful, and so delicious. I am looking forward to the leftovers for lunch tomorrow.
How to Make a Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Arugula, and Mozzarella
Combine the vegetable oil, olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, and minced garlic together in a large bowl. Add some sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste; whisk until well combined. Side Note: We like our vinaigrette to be very tangy, if you don’t, halve the vinegar amounts.
Cook the cheese tortellini in salted boiling water, per package instructions. Drain.
Add the drained cooked tortellini to the whisked vinaigrette; toss to coat evenly. Set aside for 30 minutes to allow flavors to mingle and for the pasta to cool.
Add the arugula, spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella to the pasta then season well with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste. Toss to coat evenly. Serve. Enjoy.
Equipment
Ingredients
Vinaigrette:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1 clove of garlic minced
- Sea salt and freshly cracked pepper to taste
Other Ingredients:
- 18 oz cheese tortellini cooked per package instructions, drained
- 1 cup baby arugula
- 1 cup baby spinach
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved if large
- 1 cup small mozzarella balls ciliegine, halved
- 3-4 tbsp fresh basil chopped
Instructions
- Make the vinaigrette by combining the vegetable oil, olive oil, seasoned rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, and minced garlic together in a large bowl. Side Note: We like our vinaigrette to be very tangy, if you don't, halve the vinegar amounts.
- Add some sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste; whisk until well combined.
- Cook the cheese tortellini in a large pot of salted boiling water, per package instructions. Drain.
- Add the drained cooked tortellini to the whisked vinaigrette; toss to coat evenly.
- Set aside for 30 minutes to allow flavors to mingle and for the pasta to cool.
- Add the arugula, spinach, tomatoes, and mozzarella to the pasta then season well with sea salt and freshly cracked pepper, to taste.
- Toss to coat evenly. Serve. Enjoy.
Quick and very delicious….a perfect meal for those busy weekdays.
The best dishes are made from “what is in the refrigerator”. This salad looks scrumptious. It would also make a great party dish.
Hi. Just curious, why do you use vegetable oil together with olive oil for the dressing, instead of just all olive oil?
Using tortellini is an inspired move, Pam! This looks like a great do-ahead dish.
look beautiful !!
Simple pasta salads like this are what warm weather eating is all about!!
what a simply elegant dish! i don’t think i’ve ever bought tortellini, but it must make for a delicious quick-fix meal!
This is totally the perfect summer dinner!! I’m all about meals like this 🙂
This looks delicious! How many days do you think this can sit in the fridge for meal-prepping?
It tasted great the following day too.
Personally, I would keep the ingredients separated in the refrigerator if you want to make a few days ahead of serving. The pasta/vinaigrette dries out after being refrigerated. I would toss everything together 30 minutes prior to serving and let it sit at room temperature.