This Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad is sure to be a hit at your next barbecue or summer gathering. It's easy to make with cheese tortellini, cherry tomatoes, basil, fresh mozzarella, and a homemade tomato vinaigrette.
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It has been an unbearably hot summer here in New Jersey! It seems like we've had heatwave after heatwave! So we've been keeping our meals light and making dinner on the grill, when we can. It's also been nice to have a larger garden this year. It's provided us with so much produce to turn into fresh side dishes and salads.
Salads are definitely one of my go-to hot weather foods to make. And I'm not just talking about a bowl of leafy greens either! Although a nice, chopped salad is good, it doesn't compare to pasta salads and salads made with garden tomatoes, herbs, and other fresh ingredients.
Caprese salads will forever be a summer favorite of mine! Since we grow a lot of tomatoes in our garden, it's a salad I make over and over again throughout the summer season.
The other night, we had burgers for dinner. Instead of our usual side of French fries, I decided to made a Caprese style pasta salad. I made the pasta salad with a delicious combination of garden ingredients, fresh mozzarella cheese, and yummy tortellini! The, I finished it off with an easy homemade tomato vinaigrette that really brings the dish together.
Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is a perfect summer side dish and this pasta salad is so flavorful and satisfying! This pasta salad would also be great for barbecues, parties, and holidays because it's so easy to put together. And if you have a garden full of tomatoes, it's a great way to use them up!
To start this salad, we need to make our tortellini. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Carefully add the tortellini and cook according to the package. Cooking times will vary based on whether you used fresh/refrigerated tortellini or dry tortellini.
Once the tortellini is cooked, drain, rinse with cold water, and set aside.
While the tortellini is cooking, slice the cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls. Add them to a mixing bowl.
Once the tortellini has cooled, add it to the mixing bowl along with some chopped fresh basil. Stir to combine.
Now, we can make the dressing which is simply made with a whole tomato, garlic, olive oil, red wine vinegar, fresh basil, salt and pepper, and a pinch of sugar.
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Then, pour it over the salad and mix.
Spoon the pasta salad into a serving bowl and serve immediately. If you want to make this ahead of time, keep the dressing separate. Then, pour and stir it into the pasta salad before serving.
Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad
Ingredients
- 8 oz cheese tortellini
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes halved
- 8 oz ciliegine fresh mozzarella halved
- 2 tbsps. + 1 tsp. fresh basil leaves roughly chopped
- 1 small tomato chopped
- 2 cloves garlic chopped
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of sugar
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Add tortellini and cook according to package. Pasta will soften and float to the top of the pot when ready.
- Drain tortellini and rinse with cold water. Allow pasta to cool in a strainer.
- Add cherry tomatoes and mozzarella to a mixing bowl.
- Add cooled tortellini to bowl + 2 tbsps. chopped fresh basil.
- In a blender, add chopped tomato, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, 1 tsp. fresh basil, salt and pepper, and sugar.
- Blend ingredients until smooth. Then, pour over the pasta salad.
- Mix to combine and coat ingredients with dressing. Serve immediately.
If you love Caprese salad or are just looking for a tasty recipe to help you use up your garden tomatoes and basil, this is it! It's cheesy, but light, and full of fresh flavors!
Did you make this Caprese Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
