Creamy Pesto and Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad
Picture this: cheese tortellini bathed in a creamy, dreamy pesto sauce...no mayo or sour cream here, my friends! Instead, we're ramping things up with a little luscious mascarpone cheese for loads of velvety richness. Tossed with savory salami,sharp fontinella cheese, two kinds of tomatoes and olives, this is a pesto tortellini salad that will have you coming back for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths (no judgment here!).
Servings 8
Ingredients
- 12 oz cheese tortellini
- ⅔ cup sun dried tomatoes sliced
- ½ cup black olives sliced
- 5 oz sharp fontinella cubed; you can also use asiago
- 1 container cherry or grape tomatoes
- ¼ lb salami sliced into thin strips (julienned)
- ⅓ cup mascarpone cheese
- ⅓ cup pasta water
- ½-1 cup pesto homemade pesto recipe or store bought
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
- ½ fresh grated parmesan or more as desired
- fresh basil leaves sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the tortellini in heavily salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the tortellini in a colander.12 oz cheese tortellini
- Chop and/or slice the meat, cheese and vegetables.⅔ cup sun dried tomatoes, ½ cup black olives, 5 oz sharp fontinella, 1 container cherry or grape tomatoes, ¼ lb salami
- To a large serving bowl, add the mascarpone along with 1/2 cup of pasta water to start. Mix together until creamy. Stir in the pesto to make a creamy pesto sauce. Taste for seasoning.⅓ cup mascarpone cheese, ⅓ cup pasta water, ½-1 cup pesto
- Add the hot cooked tortellini and toss until the pasta is coated. (If making ahead, only start with half of the dressing and toss with the other half before serving.)
- Add in the chopped veggies, meat and cheese. Toss until all is mixed and coated with dressing.
- Sprinkle over fresh parmesan and garnish with fresh basil leaves.½ fresh grated parmesan, fresh basil leaves
Notes
- Start with less pesto initially and add more to taste as desired.
- Season the pesto sauce with salt and pepper instead of the whole salad.
