Save A vibrant and crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring tender tortellini, aromatic pesto, and briny olives, all threaded onto skewers for easy serving.
This recipe became a family favorite after I served it at a summer party where everyone asked for seconds
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini: 24 tortellini fresh or refrigerated
- Basil pesto: 4 tablespoons homemade or store-bought
- Cherry tomatoes: 12 pieces
- Basil leaves: 12 fresh leaves
- Green olives: 12 pitted
- Black olives: 12 pitted
- Wooden appetizer skewers: 12 skewers 6-inch
Instructions
- Step 1:
- Cook the tortellini according to package instructions Drain and rinse under cold water to cool
- Step 2:
- In a medium bowl gently toss the cooled tortellini with 2 tablespoons of pesto until evenly coated
- Step 3:
- To assemble each skewer thread one cherry tomato one basil leaf (fold if large) one pesto-coated tortellini one green olive one more tortellini and one black olive in any order you like
- Step 4:
- Arrange skewers on a serving platter Drizzle the remaining pesto over the skewers just before serving if desired
Save My family especially enjoys this dish during summer gatherings when it’s served fresh and cool
Required Tools
Medium saucepan Colander Mixing bowl Wooden appetizer skewers
Allergen Information
Contains Wheat (tortellini) Milk (cheese in tortellini pesto if made with cheese) Tree nuts (traditional pesto contains pine nuts) Check pesto and tortellini labels for specific allergens or substitute a nut-free pesto if needed
Nutritional Information
Calories 95 Total Fat 5 g Carbohydrates 10 g Protein 3 g per serving/skewer
Save This appetizer is a must-try for any party It offers a perfect balance of savory flavors and ease of preparation
Common Questions
- → How should the tortellini be cooked?
Cook tortellini according to package instructions, then drain and rinse with cold water to cool before assembling.
- → Can I use store-bought pesto?
Yes, both homemade and store-bought basil pesto work well for coating the tortellini and adding flavor.
- → What type of olives are best for these skewers?
Use pitted green and black olives for balanced briny flavors and easy threading onto skewers.
- → Can these skewers be prepared in advance?
Yes, they can be made up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated; bring to room temperature before serving.
- → Are there suggested additions to enhance flavor?
Adding small mozzarella balls (bocconcini) or using sun-dried tomato pesto can enrich the flavor profile.