In our opinion, pasta salad and summertime go hand-in-hand. There’s something about the simplicity of the dish mixed with the deliciousness of pasta that makes it a go-to for hosting during this season. Plus, it’s perfect to serve family style and super portable to either serve at home or bring to a loved one’s house this season! For all these reasons, we were inspired to share with you this New England Tortellini Summer Salad that brings in the crunchy goodness of garden-fresh fruits and vegetables, along with the delicious cheesiness of tortellini. If you want to complete the look with a complementary tablescape, check out our Summer Soiree Tablescape to simplify your summertime hosting.
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New England Tortellini Summer Salad Recipe
This tortellini salad is jam packed with fresh, nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, making it, dare we say, a healthy pasta salad recipe! Broccoli and cauliflower florets bring an array of B vitamins while the grape tomatoes bring the Vitamin C and cucumbers round it out with a healthy serving of Vitamin K. Plus, the light red wine vinaigrette dressing doesn’t weigh this recipe down, making it the perfect meal on a warm summer day.
The Secret to Making This Recipe
It’s all in the chill, friend! Ideally, you want to make this recipe the day before your gathering and then chill it in the refrigerator overnight (or for at least two hours) so it’s nice and cold for serving to loved ones. One more important tip: save a little of the red wine vinaigrette dressing to stir into the pasta right before serving. The tortellini loves this dressing and will soak up a lot of it (which makes the flavor oh–so-good) so adding a little before serving ensures it’s not going to be dry.
How To Best Serve This Summer Salad
You’re going to want to showcase this delicious entree, so we suggest choosing a simple, clear glass serving bowl to show off all those delicious fruits and vegetables and the tasty red wine vinaigrette. Pair with timeless serveware, such as our favorite Matte Gold Salad Servware, allowing guests to help themselves.
What You Need To Make This Recipe
How To Prepare Your New England Tortellini Summer Salad
Start by cooking the tortellini according to its package. Tortellini cooks quickly, usually in under five minutes, so you won’t want to go too far away from your stove. After the tortellini is drained, place in a large mixing bowl and add just a little red wine vinaigrette and mix to keep the pasta moist. Then, prep all your fruits and veggies. Mix the produce in with the tortellini, add the rest of the red wine vinaigrette dressing (saving a small amount to add just before serving), and then chill the entire mixture until you’re ready to serve.
Want more summer recipe inspiration? Check out these recipes that pair perfectly with this New England Tortellini Summer Salad.
That’s it! Hap-bee hosting, friend!
New England Tortellini Summer Salad
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan
- Colander
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Large Wooden or Plastic Mixing Spoon
- cutting board
- Cutting Knife
Ingredients
- 20 oz. cheese tortellini
- 6 oz. broccoli florets, chopped
- 6 oz. cauliflower florets, chopped
- 1 English cucumber, peeled and diced
- 1 c. grape tomatoes, sliced into thirds
- 1 bottle red wine vinaigrette dressing
Instructions
- Follow cooking instructions on tortellini package
- Once tortellini is drained, pour tortellini into a large mixing bowl.
- Mix 1/3 of the red wine vinaigrette into tortellini and stir. Set aside to cool.
- Stir grape tomatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, and cucumber into mixing bowl with tortellini.
- Pour the 1/3 more of the red wine vinaigrette into bowl and stir.
- Chill tortellini salad overnight (or for at least two hours).
- Right before serving, stir in the remaining 1/3 of the red wine vinaigrette.
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