Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad is a filling and delicious side dish with ripe grape tomatoes, fresh basil and tangy red onion. Vegetarian.
I just LOVE tortellini! It makes a great cold pasta. I use it to make Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad.
You can do so much with it. Add pesto, homemade tomato sauce or a tomato sauce made with fresh tomatoes. There are so many possibilities.
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Tortellini is a yummy cheese-filled pasta. It cooks in only a few minutes. When it floats in the boiling water, it’s done! It makes a quick main or side dish because of this reason. Just add your flavoring.
This Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad is simple to make and comes together quickly.
Note: The pasta will pick up the flavors of the onion and basil the more it sits together. Therefore, it’ll become more flavorful as it sits.
Can tortellini be eaten cold?
Cheese tortellini can be eaten cold (once cooked of course.) It’s not common to eat meat tortellini cold but, it can be done (once cooked.)
How long to you cook tortellini?
Fresh, refrigerated tortellini cooks in 2-3 minutes while frozen tortellini cooks 3-5 minutes and dried tortellini takes about 10 minutes too cook.
Look at this recipe up close!
It looks so yummy!
Substitutions
- Use fresh or dried tortellini (cook according to package directions) instead of frozen.
- Use cherry tomatoes instead of grape tomatoes.
- Add sliced black olives if you wish instead of the red onion or in addition to it.
- Add grated Parmesan cheese.
You can make this delicious side dish (or eat it as a main dish if you wish) with simple ingredients. Take it to a summer potluck or make it for a quick side dish to go with hamburgers or chicken!
I took this recipe to Weekend Potluck.
Tomato Basil Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 19 oz frozen tortellini
- 16 oz grape tomatoes
- 4 oz extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tbsp finely chopped red onion
- salt and pepper to taste
- 10 leaves fresh basil
Instructions
- First, cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain hot water and run cold water over to cool.
- Meanwhile, cut grape or cherry tomatoes in half lengthwise.
- Then, stack basil leaves and roll them. Cut them width wise in 1/8 inch wide pieces. Unravel and pull apart.
- Next, finely chop red onion.
- Add drained tortellini into a mixing bowl along with remaining ingredients and stir.