{"id":16217,"date":"2025-06-11T19:55:24","date_gmt":"2025-06-11T23:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/?p=16217"},"modified":"2025-06-11T19:55:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T23:55:24","slug":"easy-tortellini-salad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/2025\/06\/11\/easy-tortellini-salad\/","title":{"rendered":"Easy Tortellini Salad"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Introduction to Tortellini<\/h2>\n<p>Tortellini is a winner when it comes to easy weeknight meals because it\u2019s quick to prepare and lends itself to so many different dishes. You can toss it with red sauce or pesto, or use the tiny dumplings to bulk up a savory broth. For heartier appetites, you can bake the pasta in a casserole dish in a creamy cheese sauce topped with breadcrumbs for an Italian take on mac \u2018n\u2019 cheese. Tortellini also works wonderfully in a warm or cold salad because the tiny pillows filled with meat, cheese or greens like spinach go nicely with crisp, seasonal vegetables and creamy or tangy dressings.<\/p>\n<h2>History of Tortellini<\/h2>\n<p>Some say Castelfranco Emilia in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy gave birth to this tender pasta stuffed with everything from ground beef to prosciutto to a mix of cheeses. But Modena to the west and Bologna to the east also claim it as their own. Whatever its geographical origins, tortellini (which means \u201clittle cake\u201d or \u201clittle ring\u201d in Italian) have been feeding the masses for centuries. In 1570, a rich pasta dish called tortelletti \u2014 made with capon breast, cow udder, beef marrow, fresh ricotta and warm spices like cinnamon \u2014 appeared in Italian Renaissance chef Bartolomeo Scappi\u2019s cookbook, \u201cOpera.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>The Curved Shape of Tortellini<\/h2>\n<p>The curved shape of the pasta also is open to a couple different interpretations. One of the most popular is that it was inspired by the contours of a beautiful woman \u2014 perhaps Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty \u2014 who a peeping tom-innkeeper saw when he peered through a keyhole as she undressed.<\/p>\n<h2>Budget-Friendly Tortellini Salad<\/h2>\n<p>For our latest installment of our bi-monthly budget meal series, we toss bagged tortellini with bite-sized pieces of asparagus and juicy cherry tomatoes in an entree salad with a lemony, Parmesan-heavy dressing that literally takes seconds to whisk together. Bookending the dinner is homemade focaccia dusted with salt and rosemary (it\u2019s easier than you think!) and a fluffy strawberry mousse that requires just three ingredients: sugar, cream and berries. The bread takes a few hours to prepare because the dough has to rise twice, but it only has to bake for around 20 minutes \u2014 about the same time it takes to toss together the pasta and veggies. Even better is the final tally \u2014 just $14.22 for two with leftovers, or a budget-loving $7.11 per diner.<\/p>\n<h2>No-Knead Pan Focaccia<\/h2>\n<p>Breadmaking can be intimidating for many home cooks. This recipe for homemade focaccia, a flat Italian baked bread, should chase those fears away. Both the ingredient list and the process is simple, making it a great recipe for bread beginners.<\/p>\n<p>To make the focaccia, you will need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2 cups all-purpose flour<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 teaspoon salt<\/li>\n<li>1 teaspoon dry instant yeast<\/li>\n<li>3\/4 cup lukewarm water<\/li>\n<li>3 tablespoons plus 3 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided<\/li>\n<li>2 teaspoons coarsely chopped fresh or dried rosemary leaves<\/li>\n<li>1\/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt<br \/>\nPlace flour, salt and yeast in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and pulse to combine. Add water and 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Pulse until a rough ball of dough forms, about 15 (2-second) pulses. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large bowl. Flour your hands, scoop the dough out of the food processor and form into a smooth ball. Place the dough in the oiled bowl and turn it so it\u2019s coated on all sides. Cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it sit at warm room temperature until doubled in size, 2-3 hours.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tortellini Salad with Spring Veggies<\/h2>\n<p>Pasta is always a good choice when you\u2019re trying to keep costs down. This recipe has dried spinach tortellini, fresh asparagus, cherry tomatoes and a handful of baby arugula for a super-easy and filling spring meal. Be sure to plunge the asparagus into an ice bath after it\u2019s been blanched so it doesn\u2019t overcook and stays bright green. If you happen to have pine nuts in your pantry, toast a few tablespoons and use as a garnish; if not, no worries \u2014 they\u2019re an expensive add-on!<br \/>\nTo make the salad, you will need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1\/2 pound thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into bite-sized pieces<\/li>\n<li>8 ounces packaged dried cheese or spinach tortellini<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 cup vegetable or olive oil<\/li>\n<li>Juice of 1 lemon, plus more for serving<\/li>\n<li>1 shallot, minced<\/li>\n<li>1 clove garlic, minced<\/li>\n<li>Handful of cherry or grape tomatoes, halved<\/li>\n<li>Handful of fresh arugula or spinach, optional<\/li>\n<li>Handful of chopped fresh basil or parsley, or combination<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese<\/li>\n<li>1\/4 cup toasted pine nuts, optional<\/li>\n<li>Red pepper flakes, for garnish, optional<br \/>\nBring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice water. Add asparagus to boiling water and cook until it\u2019s crisp-tender, about 60-90 seconds, depending on thickness. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately transfer to the ice bath. Let cool, then dry with a paper towel and set aside.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Fresh Strawberry Mousse<\/h2>\n<p>This seasonal, three-ingredient dessert comes together in less than 10 minutes. It\u2019s fresh and fantastic. To make the mousse, you will need:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1-pound container of strawberries<\/li>\n<li>1\/2 cup granulated sugar<\/li>\n<li>1 cup whole whipping cream, cold<br \/>\nRinse strawberries under running cold water, reserving 3 or 4 for garnish. Slice remaining strawberries, then place in a blender or food processor along with the sugar. Process until it is a smooth puree. Remove 1\/2 cup of puree and set aside. In a cold bowl, add cream and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently (gently!) fold in remaining puree. Divide reserved 1\/2 cup of puree between 4 small glasses or serving dishes. Spoon the strawberry mousse on top, then refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight, if desired.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Conclusion<\/h2>\n<p>This easy tortellini salad is not only delicious, but it\u2019s also easy on the pocketbook. With a total cost of just $14.22 for two with leftovers, it\u2019s a budget-friendly option for a weeknight dinner. The homemade focaccia and fresh strawberry mousse add a nice touch to the meal, and can be made with just a few simple ingredients.<\/p>\n<h2>FAQs<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>What is tortellini?<br \/>\nTortellini is a type of pasta that is stuffed with meat, cheese, or vegetables.<\/li>\n<li>How do I make homemade focaccia?<br \/>\nTo make homemade focaccia, you will need to combine flour, salt, yeast, and olive oil in a food processor. Let the dough rise for 2-3 hours, then punch it down and shape it into a ball. Let it rise again for 30-40 minutes, then bake it in the oven for 20-25 minutes.<\/li>\n<li>Can I use fresh tortellini instead of dried?<br \/>\nYes, you can use fresh tortellini instead of dried. However, keep in mind that fresh tortellini is typically more expensive than dried tortellini.<\/li>\n<li>How do I prevent the asparagus from overcooking?<br \/>\nTo prevent the asparagus from overcooking, plunge it into an ice bath after it has been blanched. This will stop the cooking process and help the asparagus retain its bright green color.<\/li>\n<li>Can I make the strawberry mousse ahead of time?<br \/>\nYes, you can make the strawberry mousse ahead of time. Simply refrigerate it for up to overnight, then serve it chilled.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction to Tortellini Tortellini is a winner when it comes to easy weeknight meals because it\u2019s quick to prepare and lends itself to so many different dishes. You can toss it with red sauce or pesto, or use the tiny dumplings to bulk up a savory broth. For heartier appetites, you can bake the pasta [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":16218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-16217","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-dining"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.sun-sentinel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/202506090400MCT_____PHOTO____FOOD-BUDGET-MEAL-PG-1.jpg?w=1400px&strip=all&w=1400&resize=1400,933&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16217"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16217"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16219,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16217\/revisions\/16219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/miami\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}