Andy Montoya
Cheese tortellini is a versatile dish that can be used in a variety of ways. It can be served as an appetizer, a main course, or even a side dish. It can be made with fresh, frozen, or dried pasta and can be stuffed with a variety of cheeses, meats, or vegetables. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of tortellini used, with fresh or refrigerated tortellini taking around 2-3 minutes to cook and dried tortellini taking around 10-11 minutes. Cheese tortellini can be served with a variety of sauces, such as garlic butter sauce, tomato cream sauce, or garlic white wine sauce. It can also be added to soups or salads for a more substantial meal.
How to use cheese tortellini
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pasta | Fresh, frozen, dried, refrigerated, or homemade |
| Dough ingredients | Flour, eggs, salt, olive oil, water |
| Filling | Ricotta, Parmesan, spinach, basil, nutmeg, black pepper, Romano, mozzarella, Asiago |
| Cooking method | Boiling, frying, baking |
| Cooking time | 2-3 minutes for fresh or refrigerated, 10-11 minutes for dried, 3-4 minutes for frozen |
| Sauce | Tomato, creamy, wine, broth, garlic butter, pesto |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, oregano, thyme, rosemary, sage, Italian seasoning |
| Sides | Salad, garlic bread, roasted asparagus |
| Storage | Refrigerated tortellini lasts 3-4 days, frozen tortellini lasts 3 months |
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What You'll Learn
How to make cheese tortellini dough
Homemade cheese tortellini is a fun and delicious meal to make from scratch. The dough is easy to make and only requires a few basic ingredients. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make the perfect cheese tortellini dough:
Ingredients
To make the dough, you will need flour, eggs, salt, olive oil, and water. You can also add mascarpone cheese for extra flavour. It is important to use all-purpose flour to ensure your dough is tender.
Method
Start by creating a mound with your flour on a clean work surface or in a large mixing bowl. Create a well in the middle and add your eggs, salt, and olive oil. Using a fork, beat the eggs and oil while slowly incorporating the flour from the inner rim of the mound. Be careful not to spill the liquid outside of the flour mound.
As the dough starts to come together, slowly add water to the mixture, a little at a time. You may not need to use all the water, just enough to make the dough moist and easy to handle. The dough should not be dry or sticky. Knead the dough with your hands for about 5 minutes until it forms a smooth ball.
Once the dough is ready, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to an hour. This will make it easier to roll out and handle. When you are ready to roll out the dough, lightly flour your work surface to prevent sticking.
Rolling and Cutting the Dough
Use a rolling pin or a pasta machine to roll out the dough to a thickness of about 1/16 of an inch. The dough should be nice and thin, soft, and elastic. Cut out circles or squares from the dough using a cookie cutter, drinking glass, or biscuit cutter.
Filling and Shaping the Tortellini
Add your desired filling to the centre of each dough cut-out. You can use a variety of fillings, such as ricotta cheese, spinach, Parmesan cheese, and vegetables. Use your finger to wet the edges of the dough with water. Fold the dough over the filling to enclose it, creating a half-moon or triangle shape. Press the edges together to seal in the filling.
Finally, bring the two corners of the dough together to form the classic tortellini shape, pressing tightly to seal. Place the shaped tortellini on a floured surface or baking sheet, and repeat the process until you have used up all your dough.
Now you have perfectly shaped cheese tortellini ready to be cooked and served with your favourite sauce!
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How to cook cheese tortellini
Cheese tortellini is a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways. It can be purchased fresh, frozen, or dried, and can be added to soups, casseroles, salads, or served with a sauce.
To cook dried cheese tortellini, fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add the tortellini to the pot and cook according to the package directions. Drain the tortellini and top with butter, sauce, or add it to your favourite recipe. You can also cook dried tortellini directly in a broth or sauce, but this will increase the cooking time.
To cook frozen tortellini, simply drop it into a pot of boiling water, adding a few minutes to the cooking time to account for it being frozen. Frozen tortellini can also be cooked directly in a broth or sauce.
Fresh cheese tortellini can be cooked in a similar way to dried tortellini. Bring a pot of salted water to a gentle boil, add the tortellini, and cook for around 6 minutes. Drain the tortellini and serve according to your recipe, or simply toss with butter or olive oil and parmesan cheese.
Cheese tortellini can be served with a variety of sauces, such as marinara sauce, alfredo sauce, pesto, or a creamy sauce made with butter, heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and nutmeg. It can also be added to recipes such as Chicken Pesto Tortellini with Cherry Tomatoes, Cheese Tortellini with Chicken and Mushrooms, or Tortellini with Asparagus and Shrimp.
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How to make cheese tortellini with garlic white wine sauce
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini (store-bought or homemade)
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Garlic
- Oregano
- Salt
- Black pepper
- White wine
- Tomatoes
- Spinach or arugula
- Heavy cream
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Parmesan
Method
To make this easy, delicious recipe, start by cooking the tortellini according to the package instructions. If you are using refrigerated tortellini, it should be boiled for 2-4 minutes, while frozen tortellini will take 3-5 minutes, and dried tortellini will take around 10-11 minutes. You can also make your own homemade cheese tortellini by creating a dough with eggs, flour, salt, olive oil, and water, filling it with ricotta, Parmesan, and spinach, and forming it into the desired shape.
Next, heat some butter and olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat until the butter melts. Add garlic, oregano, and a couple of pinches of salt and pepper, and cook for about a minute, stirring frequently.
Then, add the white wine and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the tomatoes and cook for another 3 minutes. If you want to include some vegetables, you can saute mushrooms and/or other veggies like broccoli or bell peppers in olive oil before adding them to the sauce.
At this point, you can also add some spinach or arugula, stirring until they wilt. Stir in the heavy cream, and then add the cooked tortellini. Toss everything together until the tortellini is evenly coated in the sauce.
Finally, season to taste with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley and Parmesan. Serve and enjoy!
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How to make cheese tortellini with tomato cream sauce
Ingredients
- Cheese tortellini (fresh, frozen, or dried)
- Tomato puree
- Garlic
- Basil
- Salt and pepper
- Milk
- Half and half
- Parmesan cheese
- Baby spinach
- Butter
- Flour
Method
To make the sauce, start by heating some tomato puree, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook and stir until the mixture begins to bubble. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, milk, and half and half, then add this to the saucepan along with the Parmesan cheese. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce thickens, which should take about 2 minutes.
Next, cook your tortellini according to the package instructions, which will differ depending on whether you are using fresh, frozen, or dried tortellini. Fresh or refrigerated tortellini should be cooked for 2 to 3 minutes, or until it floats. Frozen tortellini should be cooked for around 10 to 11 minutes. Drain the tortellini and add it to the saucepan with the sauce.
Finally, stir in the baby spinach and allow the heat to wilt the spinach slightly. Serve with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and some freshly chopped basil or parsley.
Tips and Variations
For a vegetarian version, you can substitute vegetable broth for the chicken broth. You can also add cooked shrimp, prosciutto, crispy bacon, or vegetables such as broccoli, bell peppers, or olives to make the dish more substantial. To make the sauce even richer, try stirring in some cream cheese and topping with mozzarella before baking the dish.
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How to make cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce
Homemade cheese tortellini is a delicious and rewarding endeavour, but it can be time-consuming. If you're short on time, you can use store-bought cheese tortellini and elevate it with a garlic butter sauce. This is a quick and easy recipe that can be made in one pot on the stovetop in 30 minutes or less.
Ingredients:
- Cheese tortellini (fresh, frozen, dried, or refrigerated)
- Butter (not unsalted)
- Garlic
- Basil (fresh or dried)
- Chicken broth (not low-sodium) or vegetable broth
- Cornstarch or all-purpose flour
- Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
Start by cooking the tortellini according to the package instructions. Fresh or refrigerated tortellini will take around 2-3 minutes to cook, while dried tortellini will take about 10-11 minutes. Be sure to cook the tortellini until it floats to the top of the water and reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Drain the tortellini and set it aside.
In a separate non-stick skillet or frying pan, melt the butter over medium heat until it foams. Add the garlic and basil, stirring for about 2 minutes to sauté the garlic. You can also add some red pepper flakes here if you like a spicy kick. Then, pour in the broth and cornstarch mixture and bring it to a boil. Simmer this mixture for about 2 minutes, or until it thickens.
Now, add the cooked tortellini to the skillet and gently toss it to coat each piece with the garlic butter sauce. If you're feeling adventurous, you can also add some mix-ins like cooked shrimp, prosciutto, crispy bacon, or vegetables such as broccoli, red bell pepper, olives, or artichokes. Just be sure to choose a variety of textures to make the dish more interesting.
Finally, pour the tortellini and sauce into a serving dish. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil or parsley. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips:
- For a vegetarian option, substitute vegetable broth for chicken broth.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, cook it uncovered on medium-high heat until it reaches your desired consistency.
- To make a lemon garlic sauce, add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest to the mixture.
- For a fuller meal, serve the tortellini with a side salad and garlic bread.
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Frequently asked questions
Here are some recipes for cheese tortellini:
- Cheese tortellini with garlic white wine sauce
- Cheese tortellini with tomato cream sauce
- Cheese tortellini with garlic butter sauce
- Chicken Marsala tortellini
To make the dough, you will need eggs, flour, salt, olive oil, and water. Make a mound with the flour and create a well in the middle. Add the eggs, salt, and olive oil to the well. Using a fork, beat the eggs and oil, and gradually incorporate the flour. Drizzle in water and knead the mixture into a smooth dough.
To make cheese tortellini from scratch, you will need to prepare the dough, the filling, and then assemble the tortellini. For the filling, mix ricotta cheese, egg, parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, fresh basil, black pepper, and nutmeg. Put 1 teaspoon of filling in the middle of each round of dough. Wet the edges of the dough with water, fold it in half, and press down the edges to seal the filling. Draw the two corners together to create the tortellini shape and press tightly to seal the dough.
The cooking time for cheese tortellini varies depending on the type of tortellini you are using. Fresh or refrigerated tortellini should be cooked for 2 to 4 minutes, while dried tortellini should be cooked according to the package instructions, which is usually about 10 to 11 minutes.
