Cheese Tortellini With Pesto Food

PESTO TORTELLINI

Steps:

• Chop parsley in a blender or food processor.
• With motor still running, add pine nuts, garlic cloves, basil and salt.
• Continue processing until garlic is finely chopped.
• Slowly drizzle in olive oil.
• Then stop machine and fold in parmesan cheese.
• Cook tortellini according to package directions.
• Drain and toss with sauce.
• Serve as an appetizer at room temperature with toothpicks.
• Or serve chilled as a salad.
• Can also serve warm as a pasta dish.

CHEESE TORTELLINI PESTO PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook pastas, set aside to drain and cool a bit.
• In large bowl or punch bowl, add rest of ingredients, folding gently til well mixed.
• Gently fold in pastas well.
• Adjust seasoning to taste, meaning, add more salt, parmesan, etc., til you like it.
• Serve immediately, or refrigerate.
• *If you make this say a day ahead of time, you'll need to "refresh" this. Just add a bit more olive oil, salt and parmesan before serving.
• This salad is best, though, room temp, or even slightly warm.

CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH CREAMY PESTO SAUCE

Steps:

• In 4 quarts of boiling water, add 1 lb. of frozen cheese tortellini. Once water comes to a boil (which could take 15 minutes), cook for 12 minutes.
• While the tortelli is cooking, heat 2 Tbls. of butter in pan (large enough to add all ingredients towards the end). Saute the mushrooms in the melted butter.
• Add the can of cream of mushroom soup and milk. Mix well.
• Now, add the cream cheese and stir until the cream cheese has melted and the mixture is creamy.
• Add the pesto sauce until blended nicely, cooking all ingredients over a medium flame.
• Add the tomatoes. Continue stirring, adding the salt and pepper.
• Now, add the cooked tortellini to the creamy mixture and coat the tortellini, stirring gently - you do not wish to break up the cooked tortellini.
• Add a splash of red wine - stir until blended. (Wine is optional, but the alcohol will burn off, and the wine flavor remains.).
• Lastly, add the grated parmesan cheese and stir gently while the flame is still on medium.
• Lower the flame to "simmer." If you have a lid for your pan, cover your pan; if not, that's fine, too -- let the tortellini and creamy mixture simmer on a low flame for 8 minutes. Your Cheese Tortellini with Creamy Pesto Sauce is ready to be served.
• Dish up into separate bowls. This dish cools quickly, so serve promptly.
• Cover leftovers and refrigerate. When re-heating, add a little milk, if desired.

PARMESAN-PESTO TORTELLINI

Steps:

• Cook tortellini as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, process basil, cheese and garlic in food processor until well blended. With motor running, gradually add oil through feed tube at top, processing until well blended.
• Drain tortellini; place in large bowl. Add pesto; mix lightly.

CREAM CHEESE PESTO TORTELLINI

Steps:

• cook tortellini according to package instructions.
• while tortellini is cooking, mix cream cheese and pesto together so it is very soft.
• drain tortellini and return to pot.
• Add cream cheese mixture and toss very gently.
• serve right away, it cools quickly.

CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH WALNUT-PARSLEY PESTO

Steps:

• Place walnuts, oil, parsley, 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper in a food processor or blender; pulse into a coarse puree.
• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil; stir in tortellini and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the tortellini float to the top and the filling is hot, 7 to 8 minutes. Drain tortellini, reserving 1/2 cup cooking water.
• Toss tortellini with 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, walnut pesto, and butter. Add more of the cooking water if mixture seems dry. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese and pass more at the table.

CHICKEN AND TORTELLINI PESTO SKILLET

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Saute until chicken is cooked through and has browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and transfer to a bowl; cover to keep warm. Set aside.
• Deglaze pan with chicken broth over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits. Stir in pesto and heavy cream. Cook until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Mix in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and stir until melted. Add in spinach and tomatoes. Cook until spinach begins to wilt, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add tortellini and cooked chicken and continue cooking until bubbly and hot, 5 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and serve.

CHEESE TORTELLINI WITH WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, pulse the walnuts, parsley, garlic, Parmesan, oil, salt, and pepper to a coarse puree.
• Cook the tortellini, in a large pot of salted water*, until just done. The cooking time will depend on the brand you use (mine takes 8 minutes and you could use the fresh you find refrigerated in the grocery. I don't reccomend the dried tortellini) Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. (Don't forget this! It is easy to do).
• Drain the tortellini. Toss with 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, the walnut pesto, and the butter. Mix until the butter melts.
• If the pasta seems dry, add more of the reserved pasta water. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan and pass more at the table.
• *The water should be as salty as a broth.

TORTELLINI PESTO SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Place tortellini in the pot, and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain, and cool.
• In a large bowl, mix the cooked tortellini, red bell pepper, broccoli, carrots, olives, and garlic.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, pesto, milk, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and vinegar. Pour over the tortellini and vegetables, and gently toss to coat. Cover, and place in the refrigerator 1 hour, until chilled. Serve over spinach leaves.