Description
Cheesy tortellini tossed with prosciutto, pearl mozzarella, sweet corn, fresh peaches, cherry tomatoes, and fragrant basil in a bold hot honey Dijon vinaigrette made with olive oil, red wine vinegar, and garlic. A stunning, sweet-spicy summer pasta salad ready in 20 minutes that is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, and meal prep.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 32 oz tortellini, cooked
- 4 oz prosciutto
- 8 oz pearl mozzarella balls
- 1 can (15 oz) corn kernels, drained
- 3 small peaches, diced into small chunks
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup fresh basil, chopped
For the Hot Honey Dijon Dressing:
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup hot honey
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini according to package directions until al dente. Drain, rinse under cold water to stop cooking, and allow to cool completely.
- Make the hot honey dressing. Whisk together the olive oil, hot honey, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until fully emulsified and smooth. Taste and adjust with more hot honey for sweetness and heat or more vinegar for additional tang.
- Tear or roughly chop the prosciutto into irregular bite-sized pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled tortellini, prosciutto pieces, pearl mozzarella balls, drained corn, diced peaches, and halved cherry tomatoes.
- Pour the hot honey dressing over the salad and toss gently but thoroughly until every piece of tortellini and every component is evenly coated in the dressing.
- Add the fresh basil and toss once more.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving for deeper flavor. Toss again just before plating.
Notes
- Cool the tortellini completely before dressing — warm tortellini absorbs all the dressing immediately and the salad ends up dry and under-dressed by the time it reaches the table.
- Add the peaches and basil right before serving if making ahead — peaches release juice over time and basil wilts quickly once dressed.
- Taste the dressing before adding — hot honey brands vary significantly in heat level so adjust to your preference before committing the full amount to the salad.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes