Cheese Tortellini: Cooking Time And Perfecting The Pasta Dish

Tortellini is a classic Italian filled pasta, shaped like a ring and usually made with egg dough. They are often filled with cheese, meat, or vegetables like spinach. The name comes from the Italian word 'torta', meaning a round cake or pie. They can be cooked in broth or sauce, or even directly in the broth used for a recipe. Fresh tortellini is best cooked in around 6 minutes in gently boiling salted water, whereas dried tortellini can take up to 12 minutes.

How to cook cheese tortellini

Boiling cheese tortellini

Tortellini is a classic Italian noodle that can be purchased fresh, refrigerated, or frozen. It is a versatile pasta that can be boiled or baked and suits a variety of dishes.

To boil tortellini, first, fill a large pot with water and place it on a large burner on the stove. Turn the heat to the highest setting and wait for the water to reach a rapid boil, which should take 10-12 minutes.

Once the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt to the water to help the pasta cook quickly and evenly. Then, using a slotted spoon, gently lower the cheese tortellini into the water. Make sure the tortellini sits just below the surface of the water. You can also use a large wooden spoon or a spatula for this step.

Let the tortellini cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent them from sticking together. They are done when they float to the top of the water. To check if they are cooked to your liking, remove one tortellini with a slotted spoon and cut it with the side of a fork. It should cut easily and not taste raw or be too mushy.

Once the tortellini are cooked, turn off the heat and scoop them out of the water with a slotted spoon. Transfer them to a separate bowl and serve with your choice of broth or sauce.

Baked cheesy tortellini

For a baked tortellini dish, preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). While the oven is heating up, grease a 9 by 13 inches (23 by 33 cm) baking dish and spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom to prevent the pasta from sticking.

Next, spread a layer of uncooked cheese tortellini on top of the sauce and cover with another layer of sauce. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese evenly over the sauce and tortellini.

Repeat with another layer of tortellini, sauce, and cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes to make the cheese bubbly.

Let the dish cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

How to make cheese tortellini dough

Ingredients:

To make the dough, you will need just two simple ingredients: eggs and flour. For the filling, you will need ricotta, Parmesan, and fresh spinach. You can also add other ingredients such as olive oil, salt, nutmeg, and black pepper to taste.

Method:

• Start by making a mound of flour on your kitchen counter or in a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the middle and add the eggs, along with any other desired ingredients such as salt and olive oil.
• Using a fork, start beating the eggs, gradually incorporating a little flour with each movement. Use your other hand to prevent the liquid from spilling outside the flour mound.
• Once the eggs are no longer liquid, start adding a small amount of water. You can now begin to mix with your hands. Only add enough water for the dough to stick together and form a ball.
• Knead the dough with the palm of your hand for about 3 minutes until it feels smooth and is neither sticky nor dry.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap, making sure it is well-wrapped to prevent any areas from drying out. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes to let it rest.
• After the dough has rested, cut off a small piece (about 1/4) and shape it into a rectangle with your hands.
• Using a pasta machine or a rolling pin, roll out the dough. If using a pasta machine, start with the largest setting (usually setting 1) and run the dough through 2-3 times.
• Gradually move to the next narrowest setting and repeat the process. As the dough gets longer, help it out of the machine and spread it out so it doesn't stick to itself. Continue until you reach the narrowest setting and the dough is thin.
• Lay the dough on a floured surface and use a 2-inch (5 cm) cookie cutter to cut out circles. You can also use a drinking glass if you don't have a cookie cutter.
• Now you can start assembling your tortellini! Brush half of each circle with an egg wash.
• Spoon a small amount (about 1/4 teaspoon) of your ricotta mixture into the center of each circle.
• Fold the edge closest to you over the filling so that the edges meet. Press to seal the edge.
• Take the left and right corners and twist them around so that they meet. Use a dab of egg wash to stick them together. Congratulations, you've made your first tortellino!
• Repeat these steps until you've used up all your dough and filling.

Cooking and Storing:

Tortellini is boiled in water and is typically ready when it floats to the top, which should only take a few minutes if the pasta is fresh.

You can freeze tortellini to enjoy later. To prevent them from sticking together, lay them out on a baking sheet without touching and place them in the freezer for about an hour before transferring to a freezer bag or container.

Enjoy your delicious homemade cheese tortellini!

How to shape cheese tortellini

To shape cheese tortellini, you can either use round or square pasta wrappers. Roll your dough as thinly as possible and cut out the shapes. If you are using round wrappers, cut out circles with a 2-inch (5 cm) cookie cutter. Brush half of the edges with egg wash, add the filling, and fold the unbrushed half over the filling to meet the other side. Bring the corners around to meet at the bottom and stick them together with egg wash.

If you are using square wrappers, cut out squares that are roughly 3-inches by 3-inches. Place the filling in the middle and brush two edges with egg wash. Fold the square into a triangle, pressing the top together and then the sides. For the first method of shaping square tortellini, bring the bottom two corners of the triangle together to form a kerchief shape. For the second method, fold the pocket of filling upward toward the peak of the triangle and wrap the two corners around your finger. Press to seal the edges for both methods.

How to store cheese tortellini

The best way to store cheese tortellini depends on whether it is fresh, dried, or cooked.

Fresh Tortellini

Fresh, soft, and uncooked tortellini can be frozen and will keep for about 3 months. To avoid the tortellini sticking together, first, lay them out on a small baking sheet without touching, and place them in the freezer for 1 hour. Then transfer them to a zip-top bag or a freezer-safe container. You can cook frozen tortellini directly from the freezer; just increase the cooking time by a minute or two.

Dried Tortellini

Dried tortellini can be stored in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard or pantry, in its original packaging or a sealed container. It will keep for several months.

Cooked Tortellini

Cooked tortellini can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

The cooking time for cheese tortellini depends on whether it is fresh, dried, or frozen.

Fresh Tortellini

Fresh tortellini will take 2 to 3 minutes to cook. You will know it is done when it floats to the top of the water and has an internal temperature of 165°F.

Frozen Tortellini

Frozen tortellini will take 3 to 5 minutes to cook. It is done when it floats to the top of the water and has an internal temperature of 165°F.

Dried Tortellini

Dried tortellini will take around 10 to 11 minutes to cook, according to the package instructions. As with fresh and frozen tortellini, it is done when it floats to the top of the water and has an internal temperature of 165°F.

Cheese tortellini cooking times

The cooking time for cheese tortellini varies depending on whether it is dried, frozen, or fresh.

Dried Cheese Tortellini

Dried cheese tortellini will take the longest to cook. It should be boiled for around 10 to 11 minutes, according to the packet instructions.

Frozen Cheese Tortellini

Frozen tortellini will take around 3 to 5 minutes to cook. It is ready when it floats to the top of the water.

Fresh Cheese Tortellini

Fresh cheese tortellini only needs to be heated through, so it will take the least amount of time to cook. Simply add it to a simmering sauce for around 2 to 3 minutes.

Testing for Doneness

As a general rule, cheese tortellini is cooked when it floats to the top of the water. It should also have an internal temperature of 165°F. You can also taste one to check—it should be al dente, not mushy or stiff and raw-tasting.

Frequently asked questions