Description
Squishy little tortellini pillows enveloped in a creamy pesto vinaigrette hug with pops of juicy tomato and lots of fresh basil. What more could you want in a pasta salad!?
Ingredients
Pesto Vinaigrette
- 3 tablespoons pesto
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar (sub white wine vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons mayo
- 1/2 teaspoon each kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
- pinch red pepper flakes, optional
Tortellini salad
- 1lb three cheese tortellini
- 8oz cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup basil leaves, sliced into ribbons
- 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts
- 4oz mozzarella pearls
- 3/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- for serving: balsamic glaze, basil leaves
Instructions
- Dressing: In a small blender or food processor combine 3 tablespoons pesto, ⅓ cup olive oil, 3 tablespoons champagne vinegar, 2 tablespoons mayo, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes, if using. Blend until smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed.
- Tortellini: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook tortellini according to the package instructions (usually around 3-4 minutes). Drain and place in a large serving bowl. Toss with a few tablespoons of the dressing to prevent sticking. Let cool for several minutes.
- Assembly: Add the cherry tomatoes, basil, pine nuts, mozzarella pearls and parmesan cheese to the tortellini. Drizzle with the pesto vinaigrette and toss well to combine. Garnish with a big drizzle of balsamic glaze, more parmesan cheese and a few whole basil leaves.
Ta-da! Summer salad-ing at its very finest.
Serve with balsamic grilled chicken or pesto chicken breast (pictured) to make it a full meal!
Notes
To toast pine nuts simply heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts (no oil or butter required here, folks!), and toast, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes until golden and fragrant.
To see how to chiffonade fresh basil leaves, refer to this post.
Refer to above blog post for ingredient information, step-by-step photos and answers to frequently asked questions.
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Nutrition
- Serving Size: about 2 cups pasta salad
- Calories: 457
- Sugar: 2.2 g
- Sodium: 641.5 mg
- Fat: 25.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 39.2 g
- Fiber: 2.8 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg