Caesar salad is ok as an occasional meal, but it’s really quite plain. I don’t really love crunching lettuce leaves without much else (I’m a vegetarian, not a rabbit!). So when I saw this recipe for Tortellini Caesar Salad, I figured I’d give it a try!

The texture is definitely a little funky! But if you love pasta and dressing and don’t want to feel too bad about eating either, this is the dish for you.

Prep time: 15 min // Cook time: 15 min // Total time: 30 min

You’ll need:

For the dressing:

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 cloves garlic
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the salad:

• 1 package refrigerated cheese tortellini
• 5 cups chopped romaine lettuce
• 3 cups Caesar croutons
• 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Place the Greek yogurt, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, lemon juice and garlic in a blender or food processing. Pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate.
2. In a large salted pot of boiling water, cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and refrigerate.
3. Let items cool for at least 1 hour. Once items are chilled, remove from refrigerator. In a large bowl, mix the romaine lettuce, cooked tortellini, shaved Parmesan and croutons together. Toss with dressing. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Source: Adapted from a recipe by Two Peas and Their Pod