Tortellini Caprese Salad (Printable)

Fresh cheese tortellini tossed with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil in a balsamic dressing.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz cheese tortellini, fresh or refrigerated

→ Vegetables & Herbs

02 - 1½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 4 oz fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
04 - ½ cup fresh basil leaves, torn

→ Dressing

05 - 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
06 - 1½ tbsp balsamic glaze or balsamic vinegar
07 - 1 garlic clove, minced
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the tortellini and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and rinse under cold running water to stop the cooking process and cool the pasta completely.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, halved cherry tomatoes, halved bocconcini, and torn basil leaves.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic glaze or vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until well blended.
04 - Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Serve immediately at room temperature, or refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under twenty five minutes, which means you can make it right now without thinking twice.
  • The balsamic glaze clings to every tortellini crevice and makes each bite feel a little fancy.
  • It travels beautifully to picnics and potlucks, and honestly tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for an hour.
02 -
  • Do not skip rinsing the tortellini because residual heat will melt the cheese filling into a gummy mess and nobody wants that.
  • If you substitute regular balsamic vinegar for the glaze, add a tiny drizzle of honey or the dressing will be too sharp and thin.
03 -
  • Cut every tomato and mozzarella ball in the same direction so each bite has the same ratio and nothing feels lopsided.
  • Make the dressing in a jar with a lid and shake it hard for ten seconds because it emulsifies better than whisking ever will.

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