Pesto Tortellini With White Beans and Blistered Tomatoes
A comforting, easy pasta dinner pairing fresh cheese tortellini with creamy white beans and blistered cherry tomatoes. Tossed in basil pesto and finished with baby spinach, it perfectly balances satisfaction and nutrition.
Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
Makes
2 servings
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthDigestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
A steadier afternoon
Give your day a solid food foundation
Being properly fed cannot solve a hard day, but a substantial meal can remove hunger and an energy dip from the list of things you are juggling.
Notice: mood + energy later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
15 min
Total
20 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet
Time saver
Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When reheating, add a tiny splash of water to help the pesto sauce regain its creamy texture.
Do these three things first
- 1Prep cannellini beans (rinsed)
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
From Your Pantry
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 5 steps complete
Next: Bring a pot of water to a…
- 01
Bring a pot of water to a…
Bring a pot of water to a boil with a generous pinch of salt. Cook the fresh cheese tortellini according to the package directions (usually just 3 to 4 minutes). Drain, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the starchy pasta water.
Allow: 3 to 4 minutes
Tap card to mark done - 02
Heat the olive oil in a large…
While the water boils, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cherry tomatoes and cook until they begin to blister and burst, about 5 minutes.
Look for: they begin to blister and burst
Tap card to mark done - 03
Lower the heat to medium
Lower the heat to medium. Add the rinsed cannellini beans and fresh baby spinach to the skillet. Stir and cook until the spinach is just wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
Look for: the spinach is just wilted
Tap card to mark done - 04
Remove the skillet from the heat
Remove the skillet from the heat. Gently fold in the cooked tortellini, basil pesto, and the reserved pasta water. Stir until a silky sauce forms and coats the pasta evenly.
Look for: a silky sauce forms and coats the pasta evenly
Tap card to mark done - 05
Divide the tortellini into bowls
Divide the tortellini into bowls, top with grated parmesan cheese, and finish with a crack of fresh black pepper before serving.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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