Super Simple Tortellini Salad with Homemade Croutons
This fast, easy and delicious salad is a cinch to whip up. Making homemade croutons adds an extra layer of delicious. Once you learn how to make croutons, you’ll never ever go back to buying store bought croutons! Homemade croutons are unbelievably easy to make and taste so much better than the dry kind you buy from the store. Easier on your dental work too!
Course Salad
Keyword croutons, Easy, Italian salad dressing, Salad, tortellini
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Servings 6servings
Author Lynn / Turnips 2 Tangerines
Ingredients
29 oz packages refrigerated or frozen cheese filled tortellini
2mediumcarrots, peeled and shredded
1pintcherry tomatoes, halves
6green onions, sliced
1/2cupmozzarella or provolone cheese, cubed
1/2cuphard salami, cubed
1/4cupfresh basil leaves, torn in pieces
1/2cupzesty Italian salad dressing
1/4cupParmesan cheese
Homemade Croutons
4heaping cupscubed bread, (croutons is a great way to use up left-over bread)
1/3cupextra virgin olive oil or something similar
1/4teaspooneach garlic powder and onion powder
1/4teaspoonsea salt
Instructions
Cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
Place in a large serving bowl. Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
Chill several hours.
Make croutons. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl, combine the bread, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle olive oil over bread while stirring. Stir well until bread is coated by all ingredients and olive oil is absorbed.
Spread the bread cubes into an even layer on a sheet pan. Don’t crowd the pan. Bake for 10 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp. If you’re using super fresh bread, they’ll take a little longer to become golden brown. If the bread is stale and dry, it may brown faster, so keep an eye on it!