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
Emily Zhang says
My favorite summertime recipe is a pasta salad with vegetables from my garden!
Heather says
Tough decision, but I think Heritage would be my choice. As for summertime classic — at least while we’re living on the NC coast — whole stuffed snapper on the grill!
Simona Carletti says
The summer dish I love making caprese pasta salad. I just chop everything and mix it with pasta and some pesto for that extra touch. Imagine how lovely that would look on Q Squared NYC’s Square Diamond melamine dish set! <3
June Snyder says
My favorite summer meal is BLTs with fresh tomatoes from the garden.
heather jacoby says
My absolute favorite summer dish is from Susan Branch’s Summer cookbook. It is Lemon Linguine with Beach Street Cajun Shrimp. The spicy shrimp is the perfect balance to the simple pasta. Best part, it tastes great cold too, for picnics or leftovers (if there are any)!
Thank you for introducing me to the Qsquared dishes. Perfect for patio meals!
Hoping to win this set for my beach house :)
Hannah says
For me, it’s grilled corn with chipotle aioli, sprinkled with a bit of coarse salt and cilantro… Perfection!
Susan Christy says
Southwestern Potato Salad is my signature summer dish and it would look even better served on Diamond Square dinnerware.
Debbie G says
I know it is old school,,,but soooooooo good on a hot day…pineapple jello salad with a cream cheese topping. Retro all the way!
Catherine says
My go-to summer dish is marinated grilled veggies! I usually do a mix of zuchinni, tomatoes, eggplant, and anything else that I have on hand. I marinate the cut veggies in a light vinegarette aND then grill them. They are great in salad, quinoa, pasta salad, and by them self!
Jenice says
It us hard to come up with just one summer salad but I loved a chopped salad with all the fresh veggies and roasted chicken on top.
Gretchen says
My favorite would be grilled pizza, especially margarita with tomatoes and basil from the garden. Of course the boys are a little hooked on cheese tortellini and pesto pasta salad so this would be a hit in our house. If only it weren’t so hot, my poor dill is burning from the sun. As for the dishes I love the pattern you chose, though Heritage pushes my buttons too. I’m a sucker for blue and white!
Joyce Neff Hough says
A quick pasta dish with a no cook fresh tomato and onion sauce served over hot pasta while at room temperature. Yummy good~ and serve with a beautiful summer fresh tossed salad!!
ali says
love grilled zucchini in the summer and ALL the fresh veggies… especially sungold tomatoes.. all wrapped in a taco shell… and i love the diamond square dishes!
Celine says
I love cold noodles with savory peanut sauce and grilled lemongrass pork, especially on a hot summer day!
Cathryn Adger says
my favorite summertime dish is pico de gallo, made with fresh tomatoes from my brother’s garden. I’ll eat that stuff with chips, veggies, chicken, quesodillas, even just by the spoonful!
Jean says
I love to make vegetable or fruit carpaccio from what’s in the garden. I use herbs and flowers to garnish. This would look fabulous on the Dimond Collection plates. My favorite this summer has been green peaches with blueberries basil and nasturtiums with a honey vinaigrette.
Ashley Mauceri says
We love to grill in the summer – grilled veggies (with a side of margarita) is my favorite summertime dish! Thanks for the chance to win.
Andrea Patterson says
I love a nice couscous salad, with lots of fresh tomatoes and even more feta. I love the Medina collection :).
Nicole says
I like to make a grilled flatbread with ricotta and roasted veggies in the summer. And i love the Portsmouth collection from the Q Squared NYC Collection!
Jeanelle Davis says
My favorite summer dish is a tomato gratin using heirloom tomatoes from the garden. Really, any dish using these tomatoes is delicious.
Candice says
My favorite summer dish is Caprese Pasta Salad. And my favorite from the Q Squared NYC Collection is Talavera In Azul. Beautiful!
Jillian Y says
I love strawberry Waldorf salad during the summer!
Holly says
Anything with real, fresh, tomatoes, I’m still trying to re-create eating garden fresh tomatoes with just salt and pepper at my grandmother’s house :)
And the Palazzo or Royal Lapis are gorgeous!
Susan P. says
I love to make fruit salad with the summer fruits and carambola since my carambola tree fruit is ripe. I love the Fontainebleau pattern of the melamine dinnerware and the intricate designs.
Caitlin says
Quinoa salad!
Lydia Ruddy says
My family and friends would say my signature dish is homemade Chinese dumplings. In summer I am fond of traditional Greek salad. I make a few times a week. Just tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, some good olive oil, garlic powder and oregano.
I really like the Zen collection – I am a tree nerd.
Heidi says
I love making anything with fresh zucchini from the garden. It’s such a versatile vegetable!
The plates you used are so beautiful! I also love the Talavera in Azul collection. Gorgous dinnerware!
Cameron says
Lovely table ware! Summertime means fresh berry cobblers around here. Also fresh tomatoes from our garden tossed in any dish.
Jan Vallar-Gillette says
I love doing variations on pasta salad and whatever fresh vegetables and herbs I have available from the garden. My favorite of the dishes is the peony set. It would highlight all the beautiful colors of summer vegetables, herbs and edible flowers!
Jan
Jerry says
I would have to say a perfect summer dish would be grilled lemon shrimp with a nice fresh corn and basil salad and the Talavera In Roja as the favorite collection.
Erin Ellis says
My favorite design is the TALAVERA IN ROJA.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
Erin Ellis says
My favorite summertime dish is a light pasta dish that has summer squash and tomato. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
Elizabeth says
My fave summertime dish is always fresh from my weekly CSA but usually involves a bright salad and something on the grill. Oh and watermelon!
Heather S says
My all time favorite summertime dish is grilled taco salad…YUM :) and my favorite collection is the Portsmouth 12PC set
patricia caradonna says
My favorite summertime signature dish is green salad with grilled chicken on top and Greek yogurt strawberry poppy seed dressing. My favorite Q Squared NYC Collection is Peony.
Kim Henrichs says
A good caprese salad with tomatoes and basil from our garden!
I absolutely LOVE the Portsmouth dishes!!
Jane says
We love chicken salad in the summer. Also oven fried zucchini! Slice it lengthwise, dip in beaten eggs, then dip in fine Italian bread crumbs, then place on a baking sheet thst has had 3-4 Tbsps. olive oil spread on it. Sprinkle a bit more olive oil and salt on top. Bake at 400 for 15 min, turn and bake 10 more min. or till crispy.
Pamela Green says
I love a pasta dish as a go-to as well! I make a no-cook pasta sauce similar to yours as my go-to with sliced kalamata olives, buffala mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomatoes. Beautiful dishes and photos as always!
Adri says
Well, my fave summer dish is any kind of pasta tossed with pesto made from my home grown basil. There is something so very satisfying and tasty about food made from herbs picked right from my garden. I love tortellini. I love simple. Plus the Bella Donna pattern is surely my fave. I’d say this post (and the contest) is a winner all the way around!
I am glad you are having a good summer, and I bet your vacation was terrific. Ben tornata!
Laura Wentz says
Wow, does that ever look delicious! Thanks for the recipe.
My signature dish in the summer is a chicken salad with granny smith apples, grapes and dill. I love the looks of the peony collection.
Melissa says
I like making my own fresh mozzarella and serving it with garden fresh tomatoes and olive oil. It’s easier than it sounds!
Megan says
My dad and I like to tag-team making grilled pizza, but I also really enjoy a nice, juicy watermelon diced and sprinkled with feta and basil. <3 So, so good!
And bonus–that Q Squared NY Peony set is quite adorable!
Kathryn says
Any cold pasta salad is so good during the hot summer months.
Jessie Snyder says
Love love love the cool, summer vibes here Emilie! And those plates, so pretty too <3. This is reminding me to pull out your cookbook this next week, I believe some peanut butter quinoa truffles are calling my name ;) hugs!
Monica says
Family recipe for years…grandma’s baked rice-stuffed tomatoes and roasted potatoes. Goes perfect with arugula salad with lemon-olive oil. I loved the Ruffle dinnerware!
Cassie says
My mom has a killer corn salad (that always tastes better when she makes it) – corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and lots of other good green goodies!
Julia says
All the salads…fresh fruit salad, caprese….
tara pittman says
I love greek pasta salad
Sharon says
I make a pasta primavera with rotini (the sauce loves it), tomatoes, avocado, and blanched broccoli, asparagus, and snow peas …all drenched with my special sauce (garlic, mayo, basil, salt and pepper).
Kristen Zanetti says
I love to make avocado hummus! So light for a summer appetizer!