Tortellini With Baby Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Kozmic Blues's Note:

This is a super quick, yet very tasty pasta supper. I didn't add any extra olive oil to my sauce, but rather used the oil that was clinging to the sundried tomatoes after they were drained. If your tomatoes are not canned or jarred with basil leaves like mine are, please feel free to add some more fresh basil according to your taste. Also, you may use 1 pound of your favorite tortellini. I use cheese filled to keep this vegetarian, but tri-colored or meat filled will make a nice substitution

• Total Time: 15 mins
• Prep Time: 5 mins
• Cook Time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 lb frozen cheese tortellini
• 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, crushed by hand or wooden spoon
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomato packed in oil, drained a bit, and chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed and chopped
• 5 ounces fresh baby spinach
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, roughly chopped
• salt and pepper
• fresh grated pecorino romano cheese, for serving

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
2. Heat a large deep skillet or saucepan over medium/medium high heat.
3. Add sun dried tomatoes and saute for about 30 seconds.
4. Next, add garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for about 45 more seconds, careful not to let the garlic burn.
5. Add tomatoes and stir together.
6. Let sauce come to a boil, reduce heat to low, then cover and let simmer while pasta water comes to a boil.
7. Boil pasta according to package directions (about 6-8 minutes).
8. While pasta finishes cooking, add spinach to the sauce.
9. I end up using about 1/2 of a 10 oz bag.
10. Give spinach leaves a stir and then place lid back on the sauce to let the leaves wilt slightly.
11. As pasta finishes cooking, ladle a couple scoops of sauce into serving bowl.
12. Drain tortellini, and add to bowl with a couple more ladles of sauce overtop.
13. Toss to combine.
14. I always have some sauce left over which I keep on the side for dunking in bread.
15. Top tortellini with grated cheese and serve!

Reviews

[C.Luna]

Very good and easy. Everyone enjoyed this and I am sure I will be making it again soon!

[Mindelicious]

This was sooo fast!! Basically just waiting on water to boil. I only made a couple changes as DH is picky about his tomatoes. Tomatoes will not be eaten without onions (added about 1/2 onion chopped with the sundried tomatoes) and tomatoes will not be eaten chunky (pulsed them a couple times in the food processor). Added tons of basil from the garden and this smelled amazing! Plated this in less than 20 minutes and DH absolutely love this. Served with garlic bread and wine. Thanks Kozmic Blues! Made for Veg*n Swap 23!