Mozzarella, Tomato and Pesto Tortellini Salad
Did you race home from work last week and look in your fridge wondering what you were going to do with random ingredients? Next time, try this easy pasta salad with just a couple ingredients you probably have around your house! All that you probably need to buy is some mozzarella and tortellini 🙂
What you need: fresh mozzarella (I use ciliegine which are small grape size), Roma tomatoes/cherry tomatoes, pesto, tortellini, basil, apple cider vinegar. I used some refrigerated spinach tortellini from Trader Joe’s (a little extra veggies never hurt anyone!) Did I mention how much I love Trader Joe’s??
I had a batch of homemade pesto I made earlier in the week with some fresh basil. I used Ina Garten’s Pesto recipe, which is awesome by the way. Pre-made pesto will work in a pinch but fresh pesto is really where it’s at! Pesto is pretty easy to make if you have a food processor. You just need fresh basil, parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts or walnuts, garlic and lemon juice. If you are not planning on using the pesto immediately, be sure to add a small layer of olive oil on top before you freeze or refrigerate.
First, cut up the mozzarella balls into smaller chunks. I picked up this mozzarella from Chelsea Market when I was in NYC recently and brought it home. You could really get any size mozzarella and cut it up to your size preference.
Halve some cherry tomatoes or cut some Roma tomatoes (you may want to scoop some seeds out so your pasta isn’t too watery). I used a combo of both since I had some leftover cherry tomatoes in my fridge too.
Take your pesto and add a 1/2 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. I know it sounds a little strange but it really brightens up the pesto and gives the pasta a little ZING!
After boiling some water and cooking the tortellini according to the package instructions, toss in the pesto mixture, tomatoes and mozzarella pieces. I tore some fresh basil to top it off. Add salt and pepper to taste. Now, you’re ready to feast! Or you can refrigerate it and eat it cold as well. Yummy either way I promise.
I served it alongside some chipotle spiced chicken I made for some fakeout Chipotle burrito bowls the other night. So much cheaper than going to Chipotle all the time!
Ingredients
- 1 10-oz package of tortellini
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 5-6 fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup homemade pesto
- 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella
- 2 Roma tomatoes or 10 cherry tomatoes
Instructions
- Boil pasta according to package instructions.
- Cut up fresh mozzarella into small bite-size chunks.
- Halve cherry tomatoes or cut Roma tomatoes into large chunks.
- Add apple cider vinegar to pesto. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Add all ingredients together and toss. Tear up fresh basil leaves and mix into the pasta.
- Serve warm or cold.
