Recipe: Tortellini and Spring Vegetable Salad

Joanna Miller
Joanna Miller
updated Jun 4, 2019
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Credit: Emma Christensen

Serves6

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(Image credit: Emma Christensen)

Last summer, we talked about

Slate’s 12 steps to better pasta salad

But step No. 3? “Avoid tortellini.” Well, we think we found an exception to that rule.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

We can see how tortellini could be a bad choice for a pasta salad. Something meat-filled might be too heavy, and dried tortellini with reconstituted fillings could bring a bad flavor. But fresh tortellini with a light cheese and herb filling? We think that’s just fine.

When we thought about making a pasta salad, the first thing that came to mind was a photo from 101 Cookbooks that we came across more than two years ago. How’s that for a powerful image?

Heidi Swanson’s recipe calls for a ricotta-stuffed ravioli and lots of “other stuff.” We liked the idea of a salad packed with fresh, seasonal vegetables and a fresh, stuffed pasta to add bits of extra flavor. Fresh peas haven’t shown up at our just-opened farmer’s markets just yet, so we settled for frozen. But as soon as we can get our hands on some fresh peas, we’re making this again.

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Tortellini and Spring Vegetable Salad

Serves 6

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 1

    package Trader Joe's fresh pesto tortellini (8 ounce) (or any fresh stuffed pasta)

  • 1 pound

    asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch spears

  • 1 cup

    shelled peas (fresh or frozen)

  • 3 cups

    fresh spinach

  • 4

    radishes, sliced

  • 1 tablespoon

    fresh chives, chopped

  • 1/4 cup

    pine nuts

  • Herb and garlic goat cheese (about 5 ounces)

  • 1 tablespoon

    red wine vinegar (or a squeeze of lemon juice)

  • 1/4 cup

    olive oil

  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil, salt. Meanwhile, prepare and ice bath and prep vegetables.

  2. When the water is boiling, add the tortellini. It will cook in about 5 minutes (or follow package directions). After 3 minutes, add the asparagus. Add the peas for the last 30 seconds.

  3. Strain the pasta and vegetables and place immediately into the ice bath. Once they've cooled, strain again and pour into a mixing bowl. Add the spinach, radish, chives, pine nuts and goat cheese. Toss with vinegar and oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Recipe Notes

Adapted from 101 Cookbooks.

Related:

Twelve Steps to a Better Pasta Salad

(Images: Joanna Miller)

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Salad