Description

Serve family and friends the best pasta salad ever. It has cheesy tortellini, fresh veggies, mozzarella balls, and salami all tossed with a homemade Italian dressing. Make it vegetarian by omitting the salami, if desired.

Ingredients

• Homemade Italian Dressing* see below
• 20 oz. bag refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 cucumber peeled, sliced and quartered
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 6 oz. can black olives, drained and halved
• 1 orange bell pepper, chopped
• 2 T. chopped pepperoncini peppers from a jar
• 8 oz. fresh mozzarella balls, quartered
• 8 oz. sliced salami, chopped
• feta cheese, Parmesan, parsley, optional
• *Homemade Italian Dressing
• 3/4 c. olive oil
• 1/4 c. red wine vinegar
• 2 T. lemon juice
• 1/4 c. freshly, finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 t. EACH dried parsley, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder
• 3/4 t. salt
• 1/2 t. EACH dried oregano, paprika, pepper
• 1/2-1 t. sugar or more to taste

Steps

1. Prepare Italian Dressing according to directions below; refrigerate until ready to use; shake or whisk to combine before using.
2. Salad:
3. Cook tortellini in well salted boiling water according to package directions; drain. Rinse in cool water; drain again; add to a large bowl. Pour half of the dressing over the warm pasta; toss. Add the remaining salad ingredients to the tortellini.