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A colorful bowl of Tortellini Primavera, brimming with fresh spring vegetables.

Speedy Spring Tortellini with Creamy Lemon-Parmesan Sauce

This Speedy Spring Tortellini offers a delightful blend of fresh vegetables and a creamy lemon-Parmesan sauce, perfect for a quick and flavorful meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb fresh or frozen cheese tortellini
  • 2 cups mixed spring vegetables asparagus, peas, snap peas, thinly sliced carrots
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup vegetable broth
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream optional
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 lemon Zest from 1/2 lemon

Equipment

  • Pot
  • Ice bath
  • Large skillet or Dutch oven

Method
 

Preparation
  1. 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.
  2. Drain the blanched vegetables and immediately plunge them into an ice bath, then drain thoroughly.
  3. 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
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.
  2. Pour in vegetable broth and bring to a simmer; if using, stir in heavy cream and warm it through.
  3. Add the cooked tortellini and blanched vegetables to the skillet and toss gently to combine.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.