Helpful Tips to make this Tortellini Salad

• DELI COUNTER. The deli counter is your best friend for this tortellini salad recipe. You can give them a list of exactly what you need (including the Swiss Cheese) and how thick to slice it then continue to shop and return to reap the harvest. I suggest printing out the recipe and highlighting what you want.  They won’t cube the meat/cheese for you, but they will slice it to the specified thickness.  When you get home, all you have to do is slice the meat/cheese in the other direction to create cubes.
• PORK ROAST SUBSTITUTE. If your deli doesn’t have pork roast (some do, some don’t), then you can purchase sliced pork top loin.  To cook, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Season pork with salt and pepper and cook for about 3 minutes per side.  Let rest 5-10 minutes before chopping into cubes.
• DON’T OVERCOOK TORTELLINI It is important to not overcook your tortellini otherwise it will fall apart when tossed.  To stop your tortellini from cooking after it’s removed from the heat, rinse and drain it in cold water.
• USE BOTTOM OF ROMAINE. Discard the very top flimsy part of the Romaine because it doesn’t have as much crunch then use the lettuce closest to the bottom stem for maximum crunch.
• PREP AHEAD DRESSING. You can make the dressing up to 24 hours in advance  of your tortellini salad and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  I think the dressing is far superior when made in advance because the flavors have time to develop.
• TANGIER DRESSING. As written, the dressing is infused with garlic and citrus but not overpowering.  If you want even a more sour taste characteristic of Mojo sauce, then add 1-2 tablespoons cider vinegar – but be sure you to taste the dressing first!

How to make Tortellini Salad in Advance

• You can make the Mojo Dressing up to 24 hours in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you choose to make it this far in advance, you might want to add a little more lemon or apple cider vinegar before tossing as the citrus will mellow over time – just taste first and then make the call.
• You can prep all of the Tortellini Salad ingredients in advance making this a fabulous make ahead dinner or side. Add the pasta and all of the ingredients to a large bowl EXCEPT the Romaine lettuce and toss with half of the dressing.   Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  Refrigerate the chopped lettuce separately.  When ready to serve, add the lettuce and the remaining dressing and toss until evenly combined.