Nut-Free Tortellini with Pesto
Elevate your pasta night with this Nut-Free Tortellini with Pesto recipe—a quick, flavorful dish that's perfect for all pesto lovers, especially those with nut allergies. This luscious pesto is made with a combination of fresh basil, baby spinach, grated Parmesan, garlic, and a splash of zesty lemon juice, blended to creamy perfection without the use of nuts. Tossed with tender cheese tortellini and brought together with a touch of reserved pasta water, this dish is ready in just 25 minutes, making it an ideal weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing option for entertaining. Serve it warm with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan for a nut-free twist on a classic favorite that’s bursting with vibrant, herby flavor.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Cheese tortellini (store-bought or homemade)
- 2 cups Fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup Baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 units Garlic cloves (peeled)
- 0.5 cup Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Black pepper
- 0.25 cup Pasta cooking water
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
Add the cheese tortellini to the boiling water and cook according to the package instructions, typically about 7-9 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
While the tortellini cooks, prepare the nut-free pesto. In a blender or food processor, combine the fresh basil leaves, baby spinach, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic cloves, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper.
Blend the pesto mixture until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed. If the mixture is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of pasta cooking water until the desired consistency is achieved.
Reserve 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water, then drain the tortellini and return it to the pot or a large mixing bowl.
Pour the nut-free pesto over the warm tortellini and gently toss to coat the pasta evenly. Add the reserved pasta cooking water a little at a time to loosen the sauce if needed.
Serve immediately with an extra sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your nut-free tortellini with pesto!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
3120 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 216.5 g | 278% | |
| Saturated Fat | 79.3 g | 396% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 361 mg | 120% | |
| Sodium | 6179 mg | 269% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 155.9 g | 57% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 9.0 g | 32% | |
| Total Sugars | 7.7 g | ||
| Protein | 144.0 g | 288% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 3215 mg | 247% | |
| Iron | 8.9 mg | 49% | |
| Potassium | 1052 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
