Tortellini Pasta Salad

This pasta salad was delicious!  Thanks to the ladies over at Our Best Bites for this awesome recipe.  I really, really liked it.  It's tortellini pasta, cominbed with yummy veggies like tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, and olives. (Are olives a veggie?)  You whip up a mustard vinaigrette and combine it with these ingredients for some supreme yumminess.  When I made the vinaigrette, I cut the recipe in half, and found that it made exactly one cup, which was exactly what I needed for the pasta salad!  I also used half extra-virgin olive oil instead of only canola. 

Tortellini Pasta Salad

from Our Best Bites

About 8 servings

1 19 or 20-oz. package Cheese Tortellini

1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 medium cucumber, seeded and sliced
1 cup whole, large pitted black olives, halved (I found a regular can was about one cup)
1 cup Ground Mustard and Garlic Vinaigrette (Recipe below)

1.  Cook the pasta according to package directions.

2.  Meanwhile, combine the onions, tomatoes, cucumber, and olives in a large salad bowl. When the pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in cold water. When the pasta has cooled, toss it with the combined ingredients and then add the vinaigrette and toss until combined. If possible, refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

Ground Mustard and Garlic Vinaigrette
from Our Best Bites
makes 1 cup (half-recipe)

2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tablespoons white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
1 green onion, firm parts only, trimmed of the white “furry” ends
2-3 cloves of garlic
1/4 tsp. Kosher salt
1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar or honey
1 Tablespoon coarse grain mustard
1/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Blender Directions:  In the jar of your blender, combine all the ingredients except for the oil. Blend on high. While the blender is running, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. (Dressing should turn creamy.)  If possible, refrigerate the dressing for a few hours before serving.
Immersion Blender Directions: Dump all of the ingredients in a bowl or liquid measure cup and blend until creamy.  :) 

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