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Tortellini Tricolore Salad

This Italian-inspired salad uses fresh cheese tortellini as its base. (You can find fresh tortellini in the refrigerated section of your local supermarket.) It’s a fun variation on the usual pasta salad suspects. Plus, it’s superconvenient because you can fix it up to a day ahead and serve it straight from the fridge. We love the way tortellini and mozzarella taste when they’ve been marinating in Italian seasonings and how nice the colors of the broccoli, tomatoes, and olives look when they are served together. That’s why we call this salad tricolore (Italian for “three colors”)!

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

1/2 pound fresh cheese tortellini
3/4 pound broccoli, cut into bite-size florets
3/4 cup mayonnaise
One 1/2-ounce packet Italian salad dressing mix
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, plus additional to taste
2 cups shredded mozzarella (8 ounces)
1 cup diced cooked chicken
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the tortellini according to the package directions. Drain well and let cool.

    Step 2

    Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for about 2 minutes, until tender but still slightly crisp. Drain and plunge into ice water to stop the cooking. Let cool. Drain well.

    Step 3

    To make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Italian salad dressing mix, and vinegar.

    Step 4

    In a large bowl, combine the tortellini, broccoli, mozzarella, chicken, cherry tomatoes, and olives. Fold the dressing into the salad. Taste and add more vinegar, if desired.

[![The Deen Bros. Take It Easy</a> <p>Reprinted with permission from <a href=](/images/recipesmenus/bookcovers/deenbrostakeiteasy.jpg)The Deen Bros. Take It Easy](http://astore.amazon.com/epistore-20/detail/0345513266) by Jamie Deen, Bobby Deen, and Melissa Clark. Copyright © 2009 Jamie Deen, Bobby Deen, and Melissa Clark. Published by Random House Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved. Jamie and Bobby Deen grew up in Georgia—first in Albany and then in Savannah—and, like many Southerners, they have always considered cooking and food a big part of their lives. When their mother, Paula Deen, started a sandwich delivery business in 1989, the boys took charge of deliveries. As the business grew into The Lady restaurant, they continued to help. Then, in 1996, the trio opened The Lady & Sons Restaurant to resounding success. They haven't looked back since. They regularly appear on ABC's Good Morning America and had their own Food Network show, Road Tasted. Melissa Clark has written for The New York Times, Food & Wine, Travel & Leisure, and Real Simple and has collaborated on twenty-one books.
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