Vegetables and Tortellini with Cream Sauce

It looks complicated but this is actually a quick and hearty meal of veggies, tortellini, and cream sauce. This recipe is great for entertaining because you can put it together ahead of time and throw it under the broiler just before serving.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Calories: 728 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups vegetable stock
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• cooking spray
• 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
• ½ cup shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• 1 (15 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
• 24 ounces frozen cheese tortellini
• 1 bunch asparagus, diced
• 1 pound fresh spinach, stemmed and chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler on high heat. Lightly spray a large casserole pan with cooking spray.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add tortellini and asparagus and cook in the boiling water until tortellini float to the top, 3 to 5 minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.

Step 3

Melt butter in a medium-sized pan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Whisk in stock and nutmeg and heat until bubbly, about 5 minutes. Add cream and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Heat until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly, about 3 minutes.

Step 4

Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add spinach and artichoke hearts. Cook and stir until heated through, about 5 minutes.

Step 5

Combine cooked tortellini-asparagus mixture and spinach mixture in the prepared casserole pan. Mix thoroughly but gently so tortellini don't get mashed. Pour white sauce over the mixture and top with Italian cheese blend.

Step 6

Cook under the broiler until cheese is melted and browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving.