Description
A refreshing Garden Tortellini Pasta Salad combining soft plant-based cheese tortellini, crisp fresh vegetables, and smoky turkey bacon, all tossed in a bright and zesty apple cider vinegar dressing (natural). Perfect for potlucks, quick lunches, or light dinners, this colorful and vibrant salad offers delightful textures and flavors that are easy to prepare and customizable to your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein
- 2 cups cheese (plant-based) tortellini
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
Vegetables
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup cucumber, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar dressing (natural)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (natural)
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini: Boil the cheese (plant-based) tortellini in salted water until just tender but still holding their shape. Drain well and let cool slightly to avoid wilting the fresh vegetables.
- Prepare the veggies and bacon: While the pasta cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, slice the red bell pepper into thin strips, and finely chop the red onion. Cook the smoked turkey bacon in a skillet until crispy, then let it cool and chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar dressing (natural), olive oil (natural), vegetarian Worcestershire sauce (natural), salt, and black pepper until emulsified and well combined.
- Combine everything: In a large mixing bowl, gently toss the cooked tortellini, chopped vegetables, smoky turkey bacon, and fresh basil leaves. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss again to coat evenly with the bright, tangy flavor.
- Chill and serve: Refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld beautifully. Before serving, give it a quick toss and garnish with additional fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
- Cook tortellini al dente to retain a perfect chew and prevent mushiness.
- Use fresh, crisp vegetables to add texture and vibrant colors.
- Make sure pasta and bacon are cooled before mixing to preserve vegetable crunch.
- Chill the salad to allow flavors to meld and intensify.
- Adjust salt and pepper seasoning after combining for a balanced taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 12g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: tortellini pasta salad, plant-based tortellini salad, turkey bacon pasta salad, fresh vegetable pasta salad, quick lunch salad, light dinner salad, apple cider vinegar dressing salad
