Tuscan Tortellini Salad

Summer Salad……… Tuscan Tortellini Salad.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad

Summer salads are the best……cool, fresh veggies, in yummy, light dressings….makes my mouth water at the thought.

Pasta salads are some of my favs. I really like tortellini for summer pasta salads. Filled with cheese, or meats they are little packets bursting with flavor.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad

I like to use Barilla’s Cheese & Spinach tortellini, egg pasta folded around creamy Ricotta cheese and tender spinach, and pinched into a distinctive ring shape. And they are cute!!!

Tortellini……Italian………Tuscan……..I feel a flavor profile coming together.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad

Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, and sopressata.
Sopressata is similar to hard salami, and it can also be spicy!
Tim and I had sopressata on a pizza in Las Vegas at Wolf Gang Pucks restaurant. It was spicy and delicious.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad

I think the bocconcini mozzarella balls are the cutest little things. Bocconcini means little bites in Italian…….too cute!

A simple vinaigrette of olive oil, white balsamic vinegar…….I have been using this lately as it doesn’t discolor dishes like regular balsamic does…….a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper.

Tuscan Tortellini Salad
This salad is easy to make and can be kept for several days…….in my opinion, it was even better the next day. The flavors melded together soon nicely.

Pair the Tuscan Tortellini Salad with grilled meat, or add a nice loaf of your favorite Italian bread, and a glass of your favorite beverage and you have a summer salad thats sure to please……..

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Tuscan Tortellini Salad

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 6

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1- 13 ounce package Barilla cheese & spinach tortellini 1/4 cup Extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 ounces sopressata or other Italian style meat, chopped
  • 1 cup baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 8 ounce package of fresh mozzarella balls (bocconcini)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/4 c. Parmesan, shredded


Instructions

  1. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook tortellini according to package directions. Drain and transfer to large serving bowl.
  2. For the dressing: Whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper.
  3. To the tortellini in the bowl, add sopressata, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, basil, parsley, and dressing tossing until well combined.
  4. Garnish with Parmesan.

 

Salmon Cakes

Salmon Cakes or better know in some circles as Salmon Patties, were a staple dinner when we were kids.

Salmon Cakes

You remember, the canned salmon that you had to pick through to try and get rid of the bones and cartilage that was in with the salmon. I always though it was gross, but truth be told I was never a big salmon patty lover as a kid.

Turns out the bones and cartilage are edible and full of calcium……who knew? That still as a kid, would not have swayed me. I ate them, because anyone of a certain age knows, you ate what was in front of you or you went hungry. Beside they weren’t awful just not my fav.

Salmon Cakes

So, fast forward a few years….ok maybe more than a few, but I learned the love of real, honest to goodness salmon. Not from a can, but from the sea……such a big difference. If possible buy wild caught salmon, fresh is best.

Now, when I say fresh, I mean wild caught, not fresh in the meat case at the grocery store. Actually, don’t assume that fresh is always better than frozen fish. Sometimes frozen is better than fresh. Plenty of frozen fish is put on ice on boats right after it’s caught to preserve its freshness. I buy frozen frequently.

Salmon Cakes

It’s easy to like salmon, its tender, mild-tasting, and versatile. It’s even easy to cook—the fatty texture helps keep the fish tender and moist, so the perfect choice for Salmon Cakes. Plus its loaded with those all important Omega’s.

Using fresh salmon for these Salmon Cakes keeps them moist, as using canned can result in dry cakes. Some Miracle Whip, and as I always say…..mayo if you must…….I prefer Miracle Whip, grainy mustard, capers, dill, and green onions, plus panko crumbs ( I love these ) bind the fresh salmon together.

Salmon Cakes

I used my 1/3 cup measure as a measure and a form. The mixture pressed into the 1/3 cup measure makes the perfect cake.

A quick visit to the frying pan to brown them, and then into the oven to finish.The oven time is the perfect time to make the sauce.

Greek yogurt, lemon, juice, dill, green onion, and mustard make a beautiful sauce to slather over the Salmon cakes. Creamy, lemony, dilly = yummy!

Salmon Cakes

The salmon cakes need a bed to lay on and what better than spinach? Just a olive oil, lemon juice, mustard vinaigrette, tossed with the spinach make a pretty little bed for the Salmon Cakes.

To serve, place the dressing spinach on a plate or serving platter, depending if you are serving individual or family style. Then place the salmon cakes on the bed of spinach. Top each cake with the yogurt sauce, and garnish with extra dill and capers if you wish.

Pass the lemon wedges and dig in………

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Salmon Cakes

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star No reviews
  • Author: Marty Boyd
  • Yield: 4

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound fresh skinless, boneless salmon
  • 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons grainy mustard, divided
  • 2 tablespoons Miracle Whip or mayo
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped and divided
  • 3 green onions, finely chopped, keeping white and green parts separate
  • 2 teaspoons capers
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
  • 2 cups spinach, silvered
  • Lemon Wedges for serving.


Instructions

  1. Preheat oven ot 400*
  2. Cut salmon into small dice pieces and place in a large bowl. Stir in panko crumbs, 2 tablespoons mustard, Miracle Whip, 1 tablespoon dill, white part of green onions, and capers. Mix until well combined.
  3. Using a 1/3 cup measure scoop patties onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. The measuring cup forms a nice patty. You should have 8 patties. Place in refrigerator for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Over medium high heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil: cook patties until golden brown. Transfer patties to a clean baking sheet lined with parchment and place in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until cooked through..
  5. While patties are in the oven, in a small bowl combine yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard, 1/2 tablespoon dill, and green part of green onion. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
  6. In a small bowl place 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and remain 1/2 teaspoon mustard, whisk to combine well.
  7. Chopped spinach into slivers and place in a large bowl, toss with oil, lemon juice mustard mixture.
  8. To serve place a bed of spinach and two patties on each plate, top with yogurt sauce, and garnish with capers and dill if desired. Serve with extra lemon wedges.

 

Warm Shrimp White Bean Spinach Salad

Warm Shrimp White Bean Spinach Salad is reminiscent of a spinach salad with bacon dressing, only wayyyyy better!!

Warm Shrimp White Bean Spinach Salad 4

Even as a kid I loved shrimp! It was always a special treat when we were taken out to dinner (which wasn’t all that often) to have deep fried shrimp. As an adult, I still love any kind of shrimp dish.

So, when I came across this recipe on the Food and Wine website, I knew I had to try it. Continue reading “Warm Shrimp White Bean Spinach Salad”