{"id":4849,"date":"2012-04-09T14:29:50","date_gmt":"2012-04-09T20:29:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/?p=4849"},"modified":"2012-04-09T14:29:50","modified_gmt":"2012-04-09T20:29:50","slug":"spring-tortellini-with-asparagus-peas-goat-cheese-pine-nuts-mint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2012\/04\/09\/spring-tortellini-with-asparagus-peas-goat-cheese-pine-nuts-mint\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring Tortellini with Asparagus, Peas, Goat Cheese, Pine Nuts & Mint"},"content":{"rendered":"

Do you think that’s a descriptive enough title? \u00a0Should I have also told you that it has salt in it? \u00a0Honestly though, I tried to shorten it, but I thought people needed to know what was in this perfect for springtime pasta right from the start. \u00a0So no need to read on for the recipe, just print it out, go to the store and make this for dinner.<\/p>\n

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I don’t get any cooking magazines other than Fine Cooking. \u00a0It isn’t loaded down with ads and is full of yummy recipes. \u00a0I bookmarked this one the first time I went through the issue. \u00a0It did not disappoint. \u00a0We ate it warm the first night and then a few days later as a cold pasta salad for lunch. \u00a0It was delicious each time. \u00a0The flavors are refreshing and light, a great option for a warmer weather pasta dinner. \u00a0It is a cinch to prepare since you use store bought tortellini. \u00a0The only work you have to do is cut the asparagus, mince the garlic, chop the mint and toast the pine nuts. \u00a0This meal came together incredibly fast. \u00a0So fast, in fact, that Carson wasn’t yet in bed by the time it was done so I had to let it sit for a while before we ate.<\/p>\n

The only things I changed from the original recipe were using a little less olive oil in the sauce, adding a few extra peas (I love peas), using 2 packages of tortellini totaling 18 ounces (just 2 ounces more than called for) I used 1 package of cheese and 1 of Italian sausage. \u00a0I also used closer to 3 ounces of goat cheese (I love goat cheese). \u00a0Make sure to reserve the pasta water! \u00a0It makes a lovely sauce on this dish.<\/p>\n

Spring Tortellini<\/h3>\n

From Fine Cooking Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
    \n
  • 1\/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil<\/li>\n
  • salt and pepper<\/li>\n
  • 2 medium cloves garlic, pressed or minced<\/li>\n
  • 1\/8 tsp. cayenne<\/li>\n
  • 1 lb. fresh cheese tortellini (or 2 9-ounce packages)<\/li>\n
  • 1 lb. asparagus, trimmed of tough, woody stems, and cut crosswise into 1\/2-inch pieces (leave the tips whole)<\/li>\n
  • 1 1\/2 cups shelled fresh peas (or thawed frozen peas)<\/li>\n
  • 1\/3 cup pine nuts, toasted<\/li>\n
  • 1\/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh mint<\/li>\n
  • 2-3 oz. fresh goat cheese, softened<\/li>\n
  • Freshly ground black pepper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
    Directions<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
      \n
    1. In a 6-quart covered pot, bring 3 quarts well-salted water to a boil over high heat.<\/li>\n
    2. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, garlic, cayenne, and 1\/2 tsp. salt.<\/li>\n
    3. Add the tortellini to the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes, then add the asparagus, and peas to the water and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes.<\/li>\n
    4. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, then drain the pasta and vegetables and toss with the garlic-oil mixture. Add\u00a0 the pine nuts, mint, and\u00a0 goat cheese and stir until the cheese melts into a sauce, adding cooking water as needed to moisten the pasta.<\/li>\n
    5. Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper and serve.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n