This pasta salad recipe requires more Italian ingredients than some other pasta salad recipes floating around. With the popularity of Italian foods, you most likely have all the necessary ingredients in your pantry and freezer. The use of tortellini makes this salad a favorite. Tortellini are ring-shaped and usually stuffed with cheese, although they can be stuffed with meat or mushrooms. We recommend sticking to the cheese-stuffed version for this recipe.
Another popular ingredient is the artichoke. Readily available in jars and cans, Spanish settlers brought this Mediterranean native to California in the 1600s. It did not, however, become popular in the U.S. until the 1920s.
Salad Ingredients:
1 package cheese tortellini
1 can artichoke hearts
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 cup broccoli florets
1 red pepper, sliced into strips
3 green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Dressing:
1 teaspoon minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon mustard
1/3 cup Balsamic vinegar
2/3 cup olive oil
1/4 teaspoon basil
Directions:
1. Mix all dressing ingredients together.
2. Cook the tortellini according to package directions.
3. Drain and rinse the artichoke hearts and cut them into quarters.
4. Add the remaining salad ingredients (except the Parmesan) and toss with the dressing.
5. Top with a generous sprinkling of parmesan and refrigerate.
Health Benefits of Artichoke
In this day and age, many people are concerned with what's in their food. They want to know all about the potential health benefits or ramifications. If you're curious about the potential health benefits of one of this salad's main ingredients, keep reading.
Artichoke is high in folate. Folate is especially important for pregnant women, since it plays a vital role in the development of a fetus. Artichokes also offer a nice amount of other important vitamins, like copper, magnesium, vitamin C, niacin, and riboflavin. By eating artichokes, you're giving yourself a wide array of nutrients to help keep your body strong.
Some studies have suggested that artichokes can help reduce cholesterol levels and regulate blood pressure. Since they have a good amount of fiber, artichokes can help keep your digestive system healthy. The good bacteria in our gut feed off of fiber. Without enough fiber in our diet, we can suffer from irregular bowel movements, bloating, and abdominal cramping.
As you can see, this salad's use of artichokes is part of why it's so healthy. By serving this delicious tortellini salad to your family, you can rest easy knowing that they're being provided with a lot of the nutrients they need. If you enjoyed this recipe, check out the other recipes we have on our site. We have dozens of incredible options for you to check out, including a lot more salad recipes!
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