Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach & Ham

Name: Brown Butter Tortellini with Spinach & Ham
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1 pkg (20 oz or 700 g) refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini; 1 pkg (6 oz/175 g) fresh baby spinach leaves (about 8 cups/2 L); 1 8-oz (250-g) piece cooked ham steak, diced; 1 large red bell pepper, diced; 1/4 cup (60 mL) butter; Coarsely ground black pepper (optional)

This simple pasta toss uses the method of draining the tortellini right over fresh spinach leaves to quickly wilt the spinach with the pasta cooking water.

Ingredients

1 pkg (20 oz or 700 g) refrigerated cheese-filled tortellini
1 pkg (6 oz/175 g) fresh baby spinach leaves (about 8 cups/2 L)
1 8-oz (250-g) piece cooked ham steak, diced
1 large red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup (60 mL) butter
Coarsely ground black pepper (optional)

Directions

To cook the tortellini, bring salted water to a boil in the 3-qt. (2.8-L) Stainless Steel Sauce Pan. Add the tortellini and cook according to package directions.
As the tortellini cooks, place spinach into a large colander. Drain the tortellini over the spinach in the colander.
Add the butter to the 4.5 qt. (4.3 L) Stainless Steel Saute Pan and heat over medium heat for 5-7 minutes or until the butter is a deep brown color, occasionally swirling the pan. Immediately add the bell pepper and reduce the heat to low.
Add the ham, tortellini and spinach. and gently toss to coat everything in the browned butter.
To serve, spoon the tortellini mixture onto serving plates. Sprinkle with black pepper, if desired.

Yield:

6 servings

Nutrients per serving:

Calories 380, Total Fat 13 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, Cholesterol 65 mg, Carbohydrate 48 g, Protein 19 g, Sodium 1050 mg, Fiber 5 g

Cook's Tips:

Getting the butter to brown evenly is easy if you melt the butter over moderate heat and swirl the pan occasionally. Adding finely diced red bell pepper to the butter as soon as it reaches a deep brown color cools the butter and prevents burning, preserving the delicate, nutty flavor.

A ham steak is a great way to savor all the flavor of a traditional bone-in ham without buying a whole ham. Ham steaks come from the center of the ham and are 94% lean, the leanest part of the ham.

Ravioli can be substituted for the tortellini, if desired.

Diced cooked chicken can be substituted for the ham, if desired.