Tortellini Spinach Salad with Balsamic-Tomato Vinaigrette

Tortellini Spinach Salad with Balsamic-Tomato Vinaigrette puts crumbled feta cheese, diced red onion and balsamic vinegar at the center of a pasta recipe and finishes in about 25 minutes, enough for 6 servings.

• Yield 6 servings
• Ready in 25 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients

Salad

• 1 (20-ounce) package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 1 (14.5-ounce) can quartered artichokes
• 1 (9-ounce) bag fresh baby spinach
• 1 (3-ounce) bag sun dried tomatoes , or 1 (8-ounce jar) rinsed and drained
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup diced red onion

Dressing

• 9 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 3 cloves garlic , minced
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
• Salt and pepper to taste , about 1/8 teaspoon each
• ¾ cup olive oil

Instructions

1. Cook tortellini in boiling water until al dente. Drain and toss (carefully so the tortellini don’t break apart) with a teaspoon of olive oil to keep from sticking. Let cool in colander. In a large bowl, toss all the salad ingredients together after the pasta has cooled.
2. In a blender add all of the dressing ingredients except for the olive oil and process until smooth. Then, while the blender is running, slowly add the olive oil and blend until completely combined.
3. If serving the salad right away, immediately pour the dressing over the salad and toss well (you may not need all the dressing). Serve.

Dress it just before it goes to the table so the leaves stay crisp.