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Article by Victoria Heerschap
This delicious dinner is a wonderful, light alternative to a heavy, cheesy pasta dinner. I always opt for the multi-colored tortellini, both for flavor and for a beautiful meal that’s pleasing to the eye. You can cut down the vegetables to small, bite-sized pieces (great if you have little ones), or chop them into larger pieces, like whole, small florets and one-to-two inch asparagus spears for a more restaurant-quality look.
Roasted Broccoli Tortellini Recipe
Ingredients:
1 large head broccoli – roughly chopped
1 bunch thin asparagus – roughly chopped
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 large lemon
6 cloves garlic – minced
1 – 1 lb. package refrigerated cheese tortellini
3 tbsp. butter
1 small shallot – minced
2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves (packed) – stems removed
1/2 cup parmesan cheese – shredded
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
Salt & black pepper
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400°.
Line a large baking sheet with foil, then arrange the broccoli and asparagus in a single layer and drizzle with the olive oil. Add half of your minced garlic, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat evenly. Roast for 25 minutes, stirring once or twice during cooking. When the vegetables show some charring, remove from the oven and set aside.
Boil a large pot of water and add the tortellini. Cook according to package directions. Drain the cooked tortellini, and retain 1/4 cup of the pasta water. Set these aside.
In the drained pasta pot, melt the butter over medium heat, then add the shallot, the rest of the garlic, red pepper flakes, and spinach leaves. Cook for about 4 minutes, until the spinach is wilted. Zest the lemon, and add the zest to the spinach, stirring to combine.
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the tortellini, roasted vegetables, pasta water, and the juice from the lemon. Cook on low until the food is heated through, about two minutes.
Sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.
Victoria Heerschap is a passionate food blogger and freelance writer. She has been a serious foodie for over a decade and loves playing with her food! Victoria enjoys cooking, singing, nature photography, and loves any excuse to play the hostess. You can find her blog at www.bonvivantkitchen.com.