Save to Pins A vibrant and crowd-pleasing appetizer featuring tender tortellini, aromatic pesto, and briny olives, all threaded onto skewers for easy serving.
This appetizer quickly became a favorite at my gatherings because it's colorful and simple to prepare.
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)
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 to Pins My family loves gathering around and sharing these skewers during warm evenings on the patio.
Required Tools
Medium saucepan, colander, mixing bowl, wooden appetizer skewers
Allergen Information
Contains wheat (tortellini), milk (cheese in tortellini and pesto if made with cheese), and tree nuts (traditional pesto contains pine nuts). Check pesto and tortellini labels for specific allergens or substitute a nut-free pesto if needed.
Nutritional Information
Approximately 95 calories, 5 g total fat, 10 g carbohydrates, and 3 g protein per serving/skewer.
Save to Pins This appetizer is a perfect blend of fresh ingredients and ease, making it an ideal choice for your next party.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → How should the tortellini be cooked for the skewers?
Cook tortellini according to package instructions, drain, and rinse under cold water to cool before assembling.
- → Can I use store-bought pesto for these skewers?
Yes, both homemade and store-bought basil pesto work well to coat the tortellini evenly.
- → What can I add for extra flavor on the skewers?
Small mozzarella balls (bocconcini) or sun-dried tomato pesto can enhance the flavor and richness.
- → Is it possible to prepare the skewers ahead of time?
Yes, they can be assembled and refrigerated up to four hours prior, then brought to room temperature before serving.
- → What types of olives are recommended here?
Both pitted green and black olives provide a nice balance of briny flavors and color contrast on the skewers.
- → Are these skewers suitable for vegetarian diets?
Yes, the combination of pasta, pesto, vegetables, and olives makes these skewers vegetarian-friendly.