Lemony Tortellini Spinach Salad

This is a wonderful summertime dinner for those evenings that you don’t want to heat up the kitchen with a lot of cooking.  The recipe is a meatless salad, but I chose to add some shrimp.  This is great served with a nice bread on the side.  This makes 2 large salads.


 6. oz. tortellini
3 cups of fresh spinach
1/4 c. Diced or sliced red onion
10 cherry tomatoes
Italian salad dressing-store bought
1 lemon
1 c. Cheese—Parmesan or feta or your choice
10 large shrimp (optional)

Cook tortellini according to package directions.   If you are using dried tortellini you will put it in boiling water for 14-15 minutes.  Fresh will take less time.  Drain tortellini and rinse with cold water to cool and stop cooking.  Divide spinach into two bowls.  Divide tortellini and place on top of the spinach.  Sprinkle onions and cheese onto the salad.  Divide cherry tomatoes between the two bowls. Zest 1/2 of the lemon over one bowl, then zest the other half of the lemon over the other bowl.  Cut lemon in half and squeeze one half over each bowl.  Add shrimp if desired.