Save A vibrant and crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring tender tortellini, aromatic pesto, and briny olives, all threaded onto skewers for easy serving.
This recipe quickly became a favorite at my last party because guests loved the combination of fresh ingredients and easy-to-eat skewers.
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Ingredients
- Pasta & Cheese: 24 cheese tortellini (fresh or refrigerated)
- Pesto: 4 tablespoons basil pesto (homemade or store-bought)
- Vegetables: 12 cherry tomatoes, 12 fresh basil leaves
- Olives: 12 pitted green olives, 12 pitted black olives
- For Assembly: 12 wooden appetizer skewers (6-inch)
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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 loves gathering around these colorful skewers, making every event feel special and festive.
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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 labels and substitute a nut-free pesto if needed.
Nutritional Information
Calories: 95, Total Fat: 5 g, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Protein: 3 g per skewer
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These appetizer skewers bring a fresh and delightful touch to any party, made simply with quality ingredients.
Recipe FAQs
- → How should the tortellini be prepared for the skewers?
Cook tortellini according to package instructions, then drain and rinse under cold water to cool before assembling.
- → What type of pesto works best?
Basil pesto, either homemade or store-bought, complements the dish's flavors perfectly; sun-dried tomato pesto can add richness.
- → Can the skewers be assembled in advance?
Yes, they can be made up to 4 hours ahead and refrigerated; bring them to room temperature before serving for best taste.
- → What alternatives can enhance the skewers?
Adding small mozzarella balls (bocconcini) offers extra creaminess and flavor to the skewers.
- → What tools are recommended for assembly?
Use medium saucepan for cooking tortellini, a colander for draining, a mixing bowl to toss with pesto, and wooden skewers for threading ingredients.