Description
Summer nights sparkle with this tortellini caprese salad, blending Italian classics into a refreshing dish. Cheese-filled pasta, ripe tomatoes, and fresh basil create a simple Mediterranean meal you’ll savor with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 10 oz (283 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 8 oz (226 g) mozzarella pearls
- 20 oz (566 g) cheese tortellini, uncooked
- ½ cup olive oil
- 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar
- ¾ tsp italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- Balsamic glaze (optional)
Instructions
- Tortellini Preparation: Cook tortellini in generously salted water until they float, achieving an al dente texture according to package instructions.
- Ingredient Preparation: Uniformly dice fresh mozzarella, halve ripe cherry tomatoes, and roughly tear fragrant basil leaves into artistic, bite-sized portions.
- Cooling Process: Drain pasta thoroughly, rinsing under cool water to cease cooking and prevent mushiness, then allow to cool momentarily.
- Salad Assembly: Transfer cooled tortellini into a spacious mixing vessel, creating a robust base for the caprese-inspired composition.
- Vegetable Integration: Fold crisp baby spinach leaves into the pasta, ensuring even distribution and vibrant green undertones.
- Flavor Layering: Gently incorporate mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil throughout the mixture, creating a harmonious flavor profile.
- Aromatic Enhancement: Finely mince garlic to unleash its pungent essence, infusing the salad with depth and complexity.
- Dressing Application: Generously drizzle extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, coating ingredients with a glossy, flavor-rich sheen.
- Seasoning Finale: Sprinkle Italian seasoning, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper, delicately tossing to ensure comprehensive flavor integration.
- Flavor Melding: Refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop a cohesive taste experience.
- Serving Preparation: Perform a final gentle toss before presentation, redistributing dressing and ensuring optimal flavor balance.
- Finishing Touch: Optionally crown the salad with a delicate balsamic glaze drizzle for elevated visual and gustatory appeal.
- Storage Guidelines: Preserve in an airtight container within refrigeration, consuming within 3-4 days to maintain peak freshness and taste integrity.
Notes
- Chill for Flavor Fusion: Refrigerating the salad for 30 minutes allows ingredients to marinate and develop deeper, more harmonious taste profiles.
- Precise Pasta Preparation: Cook tortellini just until they float, ensuring a perfect al dente texture that prevents mushiness and maintains ideal pasta integrity.
- Ingredient Uniform Cutting: Chop mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil into consistent bite-sized pieces for balanced flavor distribution and elegant presentation.
- Serve Fresh and Cold: Consume within 3-4 days and keep refrigerated to maintain crisp vegetables and prevent potential bacterial growth.
- Prep Time: 15 min
- Cook Time: 10 min
- Category: Lunch, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 370 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg