Warm Tortellini and Roasted Vegetable Salad — Meatless Monday

Upgrade the usual pasta salad with the addition of sweet roasted vegetables.

Warm Tortellini with Roasted Vegetable Salad

Weeknight Cooking

Photo by: RYAN DAUSCH

RYAN DAUSCH

You know those pasta salads in which elbow macaroni are caked with gloopy mayonnaise and mixed with too-crunchy carrots and celery? This pasta salad isn't that — at all. Food Network Magazine reworked the traditional picnic side dish into a lighter, fresher alternative, and there's not a dollop of mayo in sight.

Get the Recipe: Warm Tortellini and Roasted Vegetable Salad from Food Network Magazine

In place of the usual tiny elbow macaroni, opt for tortellini as the main ingredient. Since they're filled with spinach or cheese, tortellini are heartier than the usual pasta, and when you start with a package of your favorite store-bought brand, they can be ready to eat in a hurry. The key to this recipe, though, is the vegetables. All it takes is a quick roast in the oven to turn colorful bell peppers, red onion and fennel into a tender, sweet mixture. Toss the just-cooked tortellini with baby kale to gently wilt the greens, and finish with a garlicky vinaigrette and fragrant basil to deliver bold flavor.

Meatless Monday, an international movement, encourages people everywhere to cut meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Browse more meat-free recipes.

Next Up

Frozen Veggie Burritos — Meatless Monday

Prep a batch of these cheesy beauties and keep them in the freezer for at-the-ready meals.

Vegetable Noodle Soup — Meatless Monday

Stick with Food Network Kitchen's quick-fix soup recipe for flavorful results every time.

Roasted Zucchini Flatbread — Meatless Monday

Learn how to make this Roasted Zucchini Flatbread for Meatless Monday.

Veggie Lover's Club Sandwich — Meatless Monday

Get the recipe for Food Network Kitchen's Veggie Lover's Club Sandwich, a vegetarian sandwich ideal for Meatless Monday lunch or dinner.

Rigatoni with Vegetable Bolognese — Meatless Monday

Giada opts for mushrooms in place of traditional ground meat to bulk up her fuss-free Bolognese sauce.

Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna — Meatless Monday

Make Food Network Magazine's Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna, a hearty pasta bake featuring seasonal vegetables and rich cheeses, for a Meatless Monday dinner.

Huevos “Ranch”eros — Meatless Monday

Cook up Food Network Magazine's Huevos "Ranch"eros with fried tortilla chips or an Extra-Veggie Frittata for this week's Meatless Monday dinner.

Skillet Lasagna — Meatless Monday

Prepare Food Network Magazine's lasagna on the stove and serve with Giada's Mixed Green Salad With Sherry Vinaigrette and Rachael's Garlic Bread.

Soup and Salad with a Twist — Meatless Monday

Food Network puts a twist on traditional soup and salad favorites using in-season ingredients and bold textures to ensure its recipes are anything but ordinary.

Minestrone with Gnocchi — Meatless Monday

Learn the secret to serving up Food Network Magazine's warming bowl in a hurry.