Tortellini Pasta Salad – Greek Inspired. Tortellini mixed with balsamic vinegar, oil, feta cheese, tomatoes, olives, and cucumbers.
This easy tortellini pasta salad recipe was the result of needing and appetizer for a party I was hosting. It went really well with the main dishes I was serving and was also hearty enough to be a great starter without needing additional food to keep the hungry guests at bay as the dinner was being finished.
This recipe has more ingredients than I typically like to use, however, it really is a simple tortellini pasta salad. I started off knowing I wanted a cold tortellini salad, but I wanted something different than the my Italian inspired tortellini pasta salad which has olives and dun dried tomatoes. After looking through my refrigerator and pantry I noticed I had the making of a Greek inspired tortellini pasta salad.
NOTE
Before beginning the recipe remember to read the “Invent Your Recipe” section below for additional suggestions, recipe combinations, or ingredient alternatives.
How to Make Tortellini Salad
Preparing the Tortellini:
- Prepare the tortellini according to the package instructions.
- When the tortellini are cooked strain the water and place the tortellini in a large bowl to cool.
Bringing the Recipe Together:
- While the tortellini are cooking prepare the vegetable mixture. In a large bowl, add all of the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Finally, when the tortellini have cooled add them to the vegetable mixture and mix well.
How To Serve Greek Pasta Salad with Tortellini:
- Allow this tortellini pasta salad to cool before serving. For best results, place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
More Pasta Recipes To Try
Pasta Primavera Recipe
Chop up some vegetables, sprinkle on some olive oil, roast away, and combine with pasta.
Pasta with Escarole and Beans
Escarole sautéed in garlic and oil and combined with cannellini beans, pasta, and grated cheese.
Pasta with Zucchini and Tomatoes
Zucchini and tomatoes sautéed with garlic and onions and mixed with pasta.
Pasta with Artichokes and Peppers
Artichokes and peppers sautéed with garlic, onions, and tomatoes and mixed with penne pasta.
The Recipe
Greek Inspired Tortellini Salad
Ingredients
- 1 package tortellini
- 1 can garbanzo beans 15oz
- 4 oz. Kalamata olives sliced
- 1 small cucumber chopped small
- 1- pint cherry tomatoes cut in half
- 4 oz. feta cheese crumbles
- ½ red onion sliced thin
- ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ½ tsp. ground black pepper
Instructions
- Before beginning the recipe remember to read the “Invent Your Recipe” section below for additional suggestions, recipe combinations, or ingredient alternatives.
Preparing Tortellini:
- Prepare the tortellini according to the package instructions.
- When the tortellini are cooked strain the water and place the tortellini in a large bowl to cool.
Bringing Everything Together:
- While the tortellini are cooking prepare the vegetable mixture. In a large bowl, add all of the remaining ingredients and mix well.
- Finally, when the tortellini have cooled add them to the vegetable mixture and mix well.
To Serve:
- Allow this Greek inspired tortellini salad to cool before serving. For best results, place in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before serving.
Invent Your Recipe
Nutrition
Invent Your Recipe:
For this cold tortellini pasta salad, I am using most of the traditional ingredients found in a Greek salad. I did decide to use balsamic vinegar though because I like that more than red wine vinegar. The flavor of the balsamic vinegar is really nice; however, it does change the color of the dish.
This cold salad would also look and taste great with another pasta. I would recommend penne, farfalle, or rotini as an alternative. I have made this dish will all three of those pastas so I can attest to the finished product. However, the tortellini are a nice break from a more traditional cold pasta salad.
If you are not a fan of the traditional Greek salad ingredients, you can easily substitute what you like. Try asiago, sharp provolone, or fresh mozzarella instead of the feta cheese. Instead of the olives you could try artichokes, carrots, broccoli, or peas. As for the cherry tomatoes, you could substitute red roasted peppers or sun dried tomatoes. Or keep the cherry tomatoes, add in some fresh mozzarella and make a caprese tortellini pasta salad.
You could also change up the dish and make an easy pesto tortellini pasta salad. Instead of balsamic vinegar and oil, use pesto instead. Add it to the dish and mix the pesto in well.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tortellini:
What does tortellini pair well with?
Tortellini pairs well with most sauces you would serve with pasta. For example, tomato, cream, blush, or pesto sauces. It also works well with a garlic and oil sauce.
Can tortellini be eaten cold?
Yes. After the tortellini is cooked, it can be cooled and served cold. This recipe serves the tortellini salad cold.
What to eat with tortellini salad?
Tortellini salad is a great appetizer of side dish. It pairs well with hot or cold sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled chicken, sausage, or steak. Basically, anything you would make for a main dish for a BBQ or cookout, tortellini salad would pair well with.
What is the best way to serve tortellini?
Tortellini can be served many ways. I like to serve tortellini by itself with marinara sauce for dinner. You can add tortellini to soups, salads, or side dishes. You could use tortellini in chicken noodle soup as a replacement for the noodles, or add the tortellini cold to a summer salad. Another great options is to bread and fry the tortellini to serve as an appetizer.
For more ideas like this tortellini salad click on the link below.
For even more ideas check out our Pinterest page.
