Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
03.9.10
Is it Friday yet? For some reason this week has felt so long. Maybe because I haven’t been able to stop and breath? There is so much going on at home and at work. With that being said I’m counting the days to the weekend. “S” has already promised that I can have time for me this weekend. Not sure what I will do with that time but I could use it. Maybe a massage? Or a pedicure? I have to admit it’s been over a year since I had a pedicure. Luckily, it’s been cool here so it’s been ok to have my feet hidden in shoes. It’s warming up now so maybe a pedicure would be a good thing? We’ll see?
Ok, I know another pesto dish. I promise it was unconscious, really I do. Lately I have been making homemade pesto combining spinach, basil, a little cheese, garlic, and olive oil for a healthy alternative to your traditional pesto. In most classic pesto recipes they call for pine nuts, cheese and oil lots of oil. I like to think this is a healthier alternative especially with the addition of the spinach, which accounts for a full serving of vegetables. I made this salad so I could have for my lunch this week and its great cold or heated up. I have to say having this salad in the refrigerator has made packing my lunch so much easier! This week is a little crazy with the husband still recovering and work being pretty busy so easy is right up my alley. And even better, the salad is super easy to make.
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
1 (16-18 oz) package of Cheese Herb Tortellini
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup cooked chicken, cubed
1 cup steamed asparagus, cut into small pieces
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup homemade pesto or store bought pesto
Salt and Pepper to taste
Instructions:
Bring water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and transfer to a bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp olive oil. Add chicken, tomatoes, asparagus, and pesto and mix until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Note: You can add as much or little of pesto as you prefer.
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what a great spring dish..I love pesto!!
sweetlife
Love pesto and this looks wonderful!
Just planted my basil and looking forward to lots of Pesto! Last year I was giving the basil away because I had too much of it. This year I’m hoarding it all and vacumme sealing the pesto for later in the year. Very pretty pictures!! Great post!~LeslieMichele
This makes me so happy! Reminds me of a dish my mom makes! Thanks for sharing!
I stumbled across your website on “Tasty Kitchen”, and I love it so much! Your recipes look great! I haven’t had a chance to peruse the entire site, but so far, I’m hooked!
Having our first picnic of the season this weekend, and this recipe looks perfect – thanks for sharing it!