Top-of-the-Class Salad

Time :15 minutes
Yield :8 servings

Recipe Background

Well, this dish certainly gets an "A." Top-of-the-Class Salad is like the graduated upgrade of classic pasta salad — with tender, cheesy tortellini instead of regular pasta for an extra hearty, extra delicious bite, Top-of-the-Class Salad will absolutely wreck the grading curve for other pasta salads. Juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella bring all that goodness together for a top marks dish! A caprese salad mixed with tortellini moves to the head of the class!
Well, this dish certainly gets an "A." Top-of-the-Class Salad is like the graduated upgrade of classic pasta salad — with tender, cheesy tortellini instead of regular pasta for an extra hearty, extra delicious bite, Top-of-the-Class Salad will absolutely wreck the grading curve for other pasta salads. Juicy tomatoes and creamy mozzarella bring all that goodness together for a top marks dish! A caprese salad mixed with tortellini moves to the head of the class!

Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
  • 1 (16-ounces) package heirloom cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 (8-ounce) package pearl mozzarella balls
  • 1/2 cup basil chopped, plus more, whole leaves, to taste, for garnish
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste

Directions

  • In a large pot of salted, boiling water, add the tortellini and cook to al dente, according to the package directions.
  • Drain the tortellini and rinse it under cold water.
  • In a bowl, add the cooked tortellini, the cherry tomatoes, the mozzarella balls, 1/2 cup of the chopped basil, the olive oil, and the vinegar and toss to combine.
  • Season the tortellini mixture with the salt and the pepper.
  • Top with the extra whole basil leaves and serve.
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