Forget flowers. How about bringing home a bouquet of broccoli instead? This tasty vegetable is a great way to sneak in daily doses of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium and fiber into your diet, which is why this Broccoli and Tortellini Salad with Arugula Pesto just might become your most requested recipe at potlucks!
Tender, cheese-filled tortellini plus crisp, fresh broccoli puts a flavorful spin on ordinary pasta salad. This tried-and-true salad is simple to toss together and convenient since you can make it ahead of time!
Pro Tip: This pasta salad can be a whole new flavor experience each time you make it just by switching the veggies!
Ingredients:
- 1 medium clove garlic
- 5 cups baby arugula
- 1/2 cup shredded Pecorino or Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, divided
- 2 tsp freshly grated lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 9- to 10-ounce packages fresh cheese tortellini, preferably whole-wheat
- 5 cups small broccoli florets (we love these from Birds Eye!)
Directions:
- Put a large pot of water on to boil.
- With the motor running, drop garlic through the feed tube of a food processor; process until minced. Turn it off and add arugula, cheese, oil, ¼ cup pine nuts, lemon zest and salt. Process, scraping down the sides as necessary, until the mixture is fairly smooth; leave the pesto in the food processor while you cook the tortellini.
- Cook tortellini in the boiling water until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes or according to package directions. Place broccoli in a colander and set it in a sink. Reserve ½ cup of the pasta-cooking liquid, then pour the tortellini and the rest of the cooking liquid over the broccoli in the colander. (Pouring the hot pasta and cooking liquid over the broccoli “flash-cooks” it, leaving it bright green and tender crisp.)
- Add the reserved ½ cup cooking liquid to the pesto in the food processor; pulse to combine. Transfer the tortellini and broccoli to a large bowl. Toss with the pesto. Serve sprinkled with the remaining 2 tablespoons pine nuts.
