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Tuscan Tortellini Salad

Tuscan tortellini salad with cheese tortellini, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and white beans tossed in a balsamic garlic dressing. Chilling for at least 1 hour helps the flavors meld for a bright, Italian-style side dish.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
chilling 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 560
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cheese tortellini salad components
  • 1 lb cheese tortellini Cook until al dente, then rinse cold to stop cooking.
  • 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil Drain and chop.
  • 2 cup fresh spinach Chopped.
  • 1 can (15 oz) white beans Drained and rinsed.
  • 0.5 cup red onion Thinly sliced.
  • 0.25 cup olive oil
  • 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2 garlic Minced.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese Grated.
  • 0.5 salt To taste.
  • 0.5 pepper To taste.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Cook tortellini
  1. Cook the cheese tortellini according to package directions until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water so it stops cooking.
Make balsamic garlic dressing
  1. Whisk together the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper until the dressing looks evenly combined and glossy.
Assemble salad
  1. Combine the tortellini, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, chopped spinach, drained and rinsed white beans, and thinly sliced red onion in a large bowl.
Toss and finish
  1. Pour the balsamic dressing over the salad and toss gently until everything is lightly coated.
Chill before serving
  1. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the salad and refrigerate for at least 1 hour so the flavors settle, then serve cold.

Notes

For best texture, rinse the tortellini with cold water and let it drain well so the salad doesn’t get watery. Refrigerate in a covered container up to 4 days; the salad freezes poorly due to tender greens. For a lighter option, use reduced-fat Parmesan and swap part of the olive oil for a little extra balsamic vinegar.