Everyone needs a signature dish.
Something that’s easy and effortless, and an overall crowd pleaser. Ideally, it can be made ahead of time too, and doesn’t require a strict recipe.
This dish is exactly that.
It’s my summertime specialty which is so simple (and tasty!) you’ll make it over and over again.
How to Do it:
The tortellini can be made 2-3 days in advance which is a great time-saving bonus. After cooking and draining, lightly coat in olive oil to prevent sticking and refrigerate until ready to use.
Also: if you double the amount of tortellini, save half for dinner to serve with a quick tomato sauce (recipe in my cookbook).
See? Easy.
Then, if you’re in the mood, prep the rest of the salad.
Now, not all veg is meant to be prepped ahead (but you already know that). Tomatoes will get really soggy and chopped green herbs will turn an ominous shade of black (not parsley though- it’s a super herb!).
Here, diced bell peppers and thinly shaved cucumbers hold up just fine, about 1 day in advance. I like to use my mandolin to slice the cucumbers paper thin.
Store the vegetables in separate containers with a damp paper towel over the top to preserve freshness.
When ready to serve, toss everything together with white balsamic vinaigrette and LOTS of fresh herbs, including mint, basil and dill.
I’m using white balsamic so that the tortellini doesn’t turn brown. If you have regular balsamic, that’s okay too. It won’t be that brown.
Remember, this salad is flexible so add more dressing, salt and pepper, and even black olives to suit your taste.
But do yourself a favor: only add the feta at the very end, so it doesn’t disappear into a cloudy mess when you toss the salad a hundred times.
You know what I’m talking about.
Giveaway {Now Closed 8/4/16}
Congratulations Kathleen Wood! You are the lucky winner! Check your email for details…
And one more thing!
If you like the pretty plates and bowls I’m using in the pictures above, Q Squared NYC is giving away a 12 piece collection of your choice!
One lucky winner will receive:
4 x Dinner Plates (10.5″ diameter x 1.25″ height)
4 x Salad Plates (8″ diameter x 1″ height)
4 x Cereal Bowls (6.5″ diameter x 2.75″ height)
{Click here for all collections}
{Click here for the Palazzo collection- this is what I used}
To Enter
Comment below and tell me your favorite summertime signature dish (bonus points if you mention your favorite Q Squared NYC Collection, too!). Contest is open to US residents and will end on 8/3/16.
To shop now: use code CLEVERCARROT20 for 20% off everything online. It’s currently active from now until Labor Day.
Good luck to all!
*This post was sponsored by Q Squared NYC. All opinions are my own. Thanks for your continued support!
Printgreek tortellini salad
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 4-6 as a side dish
Ingredients
- 22 oz package of fresh cheese tortellini
- olive oil, for drizzling
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 orange bell pepper, diced
- 1 small cucumber, very thinly sliced (use a mandolin if you have one)
- handful of fresh dill, basil & mint
- small block of feta
Dressing
- White Balsamic Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup white balsamic vinegar
- ¾ cup olive oil
- generous pinch of salt & pepper, to taste
* You will have extra vinaigrette leftover. Store in the fridge and use for salads during the week. Make up to 1 week in advance.
** The tortellini can be cooked 2-3 days in advance; coat lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking and refrigerate until ready to use. The bell pepper and cucumber can be prepped one day in advance; store in an air-tight container with a damp paper towel over the top to preserve freshness. The tomatoes and herbs are best chopped fresh.
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to the package instructions. Drain and run under cold water to remove any extra starch. Transfer to a large bowl. Coat lightly with olive oil to prevent sticking. Chill before using.
- Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. Add the balsamic vinegar and olive oil to an empty jam jar. Season generously with salt and pepper. Screw the lid on tight, and give it a shake. Set aside.
- Right before serving, combine the tortellini, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers into a large serving bowl.
- Thinly slice the dill, basil, and mint and add to the bowl.
- Drizzle some of the vinaigrette over the top, season with salt and pepper, and toss well.
- Crumble some of the feta over the salad.
- Serve at room temperature.
Comments
Mel says
Aldi’s has a really easy recipe called SimplyNature Garden Bean Salad – I just LOVE it! It’s extremely quick with canned beans, spinach, avocado and just a few other ingredients. I mix up my own dressing. And the Pembroke is my favorite Melamine pattern! =) Thank you for entering me in your giveaway!
Sandy Rinks says
My go to dish is Greek Turkey Burgers that have spinach,sun dried tomatoes, red onion and feta in them with a yogurt sauce. Everyone loves them.
Denise M says
The summer is all about zucchini like grilled zucchini or zucchini boats filled with chicken and veggies with sauces like tomato or enchilada. Love the Medina set
Cindy Lucarotti says
I LOVE salmon cooked on a cedar plank placed over warm or room temperature orzo with olive oil, lemon and fresh basil and tomatoes!!! SOOOOOO GOOD!
Michelle says
My favorite summertime side dish is a Granny Smith Apple, Manchego Cheese and Chive Salad with a delicious Lemon/Apple Cider Vinaigrette . It’s light and refreshing and accompanies grilled chicken or steak perfectly. (P.S. I love those dishes, I will have to find that store in NYC)
Vickie says
I am a happy ge fan of qsquared products! Excited!
One signature summer family recipe is my ratatouille.
Really healthy and delicious hot or cold..and for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack.
And, a great way to use end of summer bounty of veggies.
A delicious blending of Flavors..we love it.
Your Greek tortellini looks yummy too.
Teresa M says
I would love to say my signature dish is a healthy, light salad but my family thinks summertime means they will get fried zucchini.
Brooke says
My summertime signature dish is a black bean pineapple salad with fresh basil & mint. It’s so yummy & refreshing!
Denimo says
My favorite summer treat is just about any kind of salad. The freshness of summer veggies enhances their flavor sooo much!! So many wonderful salad combinations. And sometimes, the simpler the better, like cottage cheese with farmer’s market perfectly ripened tomato and a little black pepper. Ummmm… I just had that for lunch! :) I’ll be adding your great salad to my collection.
Mary W says
One of our favorite summer time dishes is a garden veggie dish- either cold or hot. So it could be a salad with tomatoes, peppers and sliced baby okra or it could be chopped tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, eggplant and any thing else growing in the veggie beds that is stir fried in olive oil and served over brown rice or pasta. So many possibilities when the garden is producing!
LaTanya says
I love making potato salad
Anne Branca says
My favorite recipe is broccoli rabe,chick peas,cherry tomatoes,capers and a few pitted black Greek olives,tossed with sautéed garlic and olive oil over multi colored pasta . A few cooked lentils is really nice .
Alicia K. says
I’m a college student, so quick, affordable, and reusable recipes like this one (and many others that you’ve posted) are my go-to! Thanks for providing another creative recipe to test out. My summertime signature dish is a watermelon feta salad with mint and basil, lots of baby spinach and cucumbers, and a balsamic vinaigrette. Using fresh mint + basil reminds me of my mom’s cooking, especially in the summer months when she always had a surplus of zucchinis and avocados and tomatoes to pair it with – and I’m a huge fan of any fruit and veggie combo dish!
Annie says
My mom always makes her famous greek salad for all of our family get togethers in the summer, or even just on burger night which is always my favorite. It tastes of summer to me and everytime I eat it, I think of sitting with my family enjoying laughs and quality time together! She finally gave me the recipe when I got married. Of course, it will never taste as good as when she makes it but I can try. :)
Sue Byrum says
When you grow blueberries, you serve blueberries! I love making my grandmother’s cobbler recipe and serving it with vanilla flavored heavy cream. Yum
Amy says
Any salad with all the beautiful in season vegetables.
Sabine Klensch says
Oh my. What a nice salad! It’s already saved in my “must try” repertoire. Looking forward to reading more about your blogging retreat :)
Jennifer Roddie says
My go-to greek salad is very similar to yours, but I so love the addition of tortellini – great idea, and I will most definitely be adding that next time!
Sonia Prickett says
I love a twist on tabouli using ingredients from my potted garden – green beans, tomatoes, peppers, mint & parlsey with bulgar, avocado oil & fresh squeezed juice from an orange!
Kathie Kerler says
Chicken salad made with non-fat yogurt and almonds
Anne Weber-Falk says
My bread salad. I love it and so does everybody else. It’s also perfect for a summer potluck because there are no ingredients to turn bad in the sun and heat. Ooo, I want some right now!
Alicia J. says
I love South Your Mouth’s tuna noodle salad. My aunt made it when we were kids and I wasn’t able to find a recipe close to hers until this. Love it.
http://www.southyourmouth.com/2015/07/tuna-noodle-salad.html
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
It’s been too long since I’ve had tortellini, so I am in love with your simple signature recipe, Emilie! I know just where I’ll pick some up. I keep hoping Rob will get on the herb train with me.. I adore mint. Rob, not so much. But that just means more for me :D . My signature dish? I’m not sure.. but if I have one, I’d say massaged kale salad with cashew based Caesar dressing… we eat so much kale during Summer because the farm grows tons of it! The dinnerware is gorgeous and there’s so many different varieties to choose from. Thank you for hosting this generous giveaway and for your inspiration! I’m looking forward to hearing more about your recent trips! xo
Molly K says
My favorite summertime dish is any meal involving fresh corn on the cobb. Growing up in Indiana, one of my favorite childhood memories was shucking the corn husks with my cousins. I absolutely love summertime cookouts with grilled chicken, watermelon, potato salad, and fresh corn on the cobb.
Jen Theurer says
Pesto Chicken on the grill; marinate the chicken breast with white wine and rosemary add some lemon or lime grill and a few minutes before it is done pile it high with some fresh pesto with parm, add a side of iowa sweet corn and some muscatine melon and a chill white wine…”Is this heaven?”.. No, it’s dinner!!
meryl says
I love to prepare pan con tomate with jamon iberico and burrata. Perfect for a summer night.
Cathy says
Fresh tomatoes chopped with diced brie cheese and a little oil olive and basil left on the counter to get goey and tossed with homemade spaghetti, yummy
Joy Q says
My favorite summertime dish is making Asian sesame noodles with a bunch of vegetables and finishing the meal off with homemade blackberry jam over vanilla ice cream.
Rachel says
I have a zucchini couscous recipe that I love for summer :)
Helene says
My favorite summer dish is cols pasta salad with fresh right of the vine tomatoes with fresh basil and Italian olive oil
Nancy says
This summer it’s all about zucchini. I usually just saute with garlic or onions, tomatoes and throw in some chick peas and serve over angel hair.
Sharyl Wolter says
My fav is Caprese Salad – I need one now!
Gina Guthrie says
My go to is fresh zucchini and eggplant stacks with fresh basil, tomato and mozzarella.
Madeleine says
El Paso Chopped Salad! Desert would be my mother’s blueberry bread pudding since we are entering wild blueberry season in Maine. But in a pinch, fresh tomato and herbs straight from the garden!
http://merrymeetingmenu.blogspot.com/2010/08/chopped-salad-with-cilantro-lime.html
http://merrymeetingmenu.blogspot.com/2009/08/hihos-blueberry-pudding.html
Jeffrey says
My favorite summertime dish is homemade pasta sauce, using tomatoes from my garden, poured over zoodles and served alongside eggplant Parmesan. To make the pasta sauce I just roast the tomatoes and add a bit of salt, pepper and fresh basil…It tastes so clean and fresh!
Eric Jones says
I am going to make this pasta salad tonite! Looks delicious.
Always reminds me of summer when we have Cedar plank grilled rock salmon.
Yum!
Susan Nadolski says
I make a quick salad with cucumbers, black olives, grape tomatoes, feta, and a bit of balsamic vinaigrette- it keeps well and can be made ahead!
Natalie says
Summer rice salad (Italian)
Beth Rhoderick says
My favorite summertime dish is sliced zucchini that have been grilled and then topped with sliced tomato and sliced mozzarella. Then it’s drizzled with good balsamic vinegar. YUMMY!
Ann says
Ohhh, cute melamine! Fav summertime dish is simply fresh summer squash from garden cooked down with a Vidalia — simple, delicious!
Tyneisha says
Summer screams salad, so I love to make many different varieties that include fresh berries, apples, nuts, and grilled chicken. It’s lighter for those hot summer nights but still fulfilling.
Sarah St says
My favorite summertime recipe is grilled corn on the cob!
Melanie says
I make spaghetti with uncooked tomato sauce using fresh tomatoes, basil, parsley, olive oil and garlic. So good.
MaryEllen says
I wonder if my family would call this a “signature” dish? I make a fresh coleslaw that whenever I make it, my family exclaims it’s SO much better than store purchased coleslaw! I guess that would be it!
Jenny says
My absolute favorite is grilled pizza — a little charred on the bottom with a dusting of cornmeal, topped with wilted arugula, grilled corn, olive oil, truffle salt and a shaving of Parmesan. Easy and delicious but still fancy and feels special!
Kaylin@EnticingHealthyEating says
One of my favorite summertime signature dishes is a classic in our house: venison burgers from the grill with baked sweet potato fries.
Hilary says
I always make Ina Garten’s potato salad for summertime gatherings. It is always such a hit!
grace says
last year my favorite was a tomato and cucumber salad with wheat berries, but this year, we have ZERO tomatoes in our garden and very few cucumbers but oodles of squash and zucchini so i’ve switched up my favorite to a quinoa and squash salad. you have to work with what you’ve got! :)
jacquie says
some type of cookie :)
Asa says
Even though it involves using the stove, I love making caponata in the summer – eggplant, tomatoes, basil – just tastes like summer to me. Also, anything with fresh corn.
Lisa Lehr says
my favorite and go to for summer is anything summer tomatoes ! big bowl of chopped tomatoes and garlic and basil and toasted sliced bread… can and do it this everyday ..
oh and stuffed roma tomatoes !