Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Preparation
- Bring salted water to a boil, blanch tougher vegetables (asparagus, carrots) for 2-3 minutes, then add quicker-cooking vegetables (peas, snap peas) for 1 minute.
- Drain the blanched vegetables and immediately plunge them into an ice bath, then drain thoroughly.
- In the same pot of boiling water, cook tortellini according to package directions until al dente, then drain and reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Sauce and Assembly
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a simmer; if using, stir in heavy cream and warm it through.
- Add the cooked tortellini and blanched vegetables to the skillet and toss gently to combine.
- Stir in grated Parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley, and lemon zest; add reserved pasta water if needed for desired consistency, then season with salt and pepper.
- Divide among plates and serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese on top.
Notes
For extra freshness, a squeeze of fresh lemon juice at the end can brighten the flavors even more. Adjust spice levels by adding red pepper flakes to the garlic when sautéing.
