Recipe Box, Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad

the Painted Apron

12 years ago

I am participating in the Mystery Ingredient Club over at Rattlebridge Farm today. The mystery ingredient this time is chipotle.

Once I started looking around, I found chipotle in so many different things…I ultimately decided to try a pasta salad recipe from the Pioneer Woman. I did change a few things, if you want to see her version click here

Now I must confess, I am a huge wimp in the heat department ^^’ All my recipes tend to be on the mild side, so feel free to kick up the heat in this pasta if it suits you!

I chose to use Chipotle Gouda because I felt I could control the heat more easily with cheese rather than using the actual peppers

I paired it with some Smoked Gouda, which is in the original recipe

I also added some sauteed squash, do it quickly over medium high heat to get some color on it~but slow down before you try to take a picture of it 🙂

The dressing is just milk, mayo, vinegar and salt and pepper

Pour it over the cooked tortellini in a large bowl

Add tomatoes and cheese

toss in the squash

fresh basil is a perfect final touch~

Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword pasta salad, smokey Chipotle pasta salad, tortellini, tortellini salad

Prep Time 20

Servings 8

Ingredients

20 oz. cheese tortellini pasta [I used Buitoni fresh pasta from the dairy case]
1 pint grape tomatoes halved
2 oz. Chipotle Cheddar* cheese cubed
2 oz. Smoked Gouda* cheese cubed
1 medium zucchini sliced and quartered
1 large or 2 small yellow squash sliced and quartered
1 T olive oil
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup whole or 2% milk
4 T vinegar
salt and pepper
fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain well. Let cool.
Saute squash in olive oil over medium high heat cook and brown.
Mix mayonnaise with milk and vinegar and season with salt and pepper.
Place tortellini in a large bowl and toss with dressing. Add cheese, squash and tomatoes. Toss gently to combine. Refrigerate for several hours before serving. Garnish with basil leaves or chiffonade~

Notes

*adjust proportion of hot and smokey cheese to your preference or use all of one kind

for another printable version of Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad click here

Later this week I’ll show you the recipe for the Healthier Heart Tarts pictured with the Smokey Chipotle Pasta Salad

Be sure to check out all these amazing chipotle recipes! Just click on the blue frog and you will see all the entries! You can also link up right from here if you have a chipotle recipe you’d like to share!