Kamil Perry
A dish of cheese tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta that is typical of the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena. It is traditionally cooked and served in broth, with a variety of fillings and sauces. The appearance of the dish can vary depending on the ingredients used and the presentation, but it typically consists of small, stuffed pasta shapes in a bowl.
Characteristics of a dish of cheese tortellini
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Ingredients | Cheese tortellini, ricotta, Parmesan, fresh spinach, parsley, nutmeg, eggs, flour, salt, olive oil, water, broth, butter, garlic, basil, corn starch, chicken broth, mushrooms, white wine, heavy cream, pepper |
| Preparation | Mix eggs, flour, salt, olive oil, and water to make the dough. Beat the eggs and oil and begin to incorporate the flour. Knead the dough on a floured surface. Make the sauce by melting butter, adding garlic, broth, corn starch, and other ingredients. Boil the tortellini and drain. Add the cooked tortellini to the sauce and toss to coat. |
| Serving suggestions | Garnish with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Serve with a side salad and garlic bread. |
| Yield | This recipe can make 4 main course servings or 8 as an appetizer. |
| Storage | Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. |
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What You'll Learn
Cheese tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta
To make the dough for cheese tortellini, you will need eggs, flour, salt, and olive oil. Create a mound with the flour on a clean work surface or in a large mixing bowl and make a well in the middle. Add the eggs, salt, and olive oil to the well and beat with a fork, gradually incorporating the flour from the inner rim of the mound. Drizzle in water, a little at a time, until the dough is moist enough to come together in a ball. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is soft and smooth.
Once the dough is ready, it can be filled with the cheese and spinach mixture and shaped into the signature tortellini form. The tortellini can be cooked in salted water according to the package instructions, or in broth until they float to the top, indicating they are ready. They can also be stir-fried or cooked from frozen.
Cheese tortellini can be served with a variety of sauces, such as a creamy tomato sauce with Parmesan cheese and wilted baby spinach, a white wine sauce with garlic, mushrooms, and Parmesan, or a simple garlic butter sauce with basil. It can also be served with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.
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It is typically filled with ricotta, Parmesan, and spinach
A dish of cheese tortellini can be served in many ways, but it is typically filled with ricotta, Parmesan, and spinach. The dough is made with eggs and flour, and sometimes olive oil, and salt. The pasta is then stuffed with the ricotta, Parmesan, and spinach mixture and cooked.
Tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta that is typical of the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region. It is traditionally cooked and served in broth, although it can also be cooked in water or stir-fried. The filling of tortellini typically includes meat, such as pork loin, prosciutto, or mortadella, as well as cheese, egg, and nutmeg. However, there are many variations of tortellini fillings, and it can be made with just cheese or with other ingredients such as spinach.
When making cheese tortellini, the dough is first prepared and then stuffed with the filling. The tortellini is then cooked by boiling it in salted water or broth until it floats to the top, which typically takes about 3 minutes. It can be served as a main course or appetizer, and it goes well with a variety of sauces, such as garlic butter sauce, creamy tomato sauce, or a white wine sauce made with heavy cream, garlic, mushrooms, and Parmesan.
To make a garlic butter sauce for tortellini, melt butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and add garlic and basil. Cook for a few minutes, then add broth and cornstarch, stirring until the mixture thickens. Add the cooked tortellini to the skillet and toss to coat, garnishing with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil if desired. Alternatively, for a creamy tomato sauce, simmer tomato puree, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper with milk, half-and-half, and Parmesan until thick. Finally, fold in baby spinach at the end, as it wilts quickly, and serve with an additional sprinkle of Parmesan.
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It is cooked in salted water or broth
When cooking cheese tortellini, it is important to add salt to the water or broth. This is because the salt helps to bring out more flavour in the cheese tortellini. While tortellini is traditionally cooked and served in broth, it can also be cooked in salted water.
To cook cheese tortellini in salted water, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the tortellini and cook until tender, following the package instructions. Drain the tortellini and add to a saucepan with the sauce. If you are making a creamy wine sauce, for example, you would then add butter to a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat and stir until melted. You can then add mushrooms and garlic to the pan.
If you are cooking cheese tortellini in broth, you can follow a similar process. Bring the broth to a boil in a large pot, and add the cheese tortellini. Return to a boil and cook until the tortellini float to the top of the water. The internal temperature of the tortellini should be 165 degrees. Drain the tortellini and add to a serving dish.
Whether you cook your cheese tortellini in salted water or broth, you can add vegetables to the dish. Mushrooms, spinach, and garlic are popular choices, but you could also add cherry tomatoes, broccoli, red bell pepper, olives, or artichokes.
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It can be served with a creamy tomato sauce
Cheese tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta, typically filled with a mix of meat, cheese, or vegetables. It is a speciality of the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region. While traditionally served in broth, tortellini can also be cooked in water or stir-fried.
One popular way to serve cheese tortellini is with a creamy tomato sauce. This dish combines the cheese tortellini with a luscious, creamy tomato sauce, often including wilted spinach and various seasonings. The sauce is typically made by sautéing garlic in butter, then adding in tomato paste, tomato sauce, cream, and Italian seasoning. The tortellini is then stirred directly into the sauce and cooked until done. This one-pan dish is quick and easy to make, with minimal preparation and clean-up required.
To make the dish even more flavourful, some recipes suggest adding chicken stock, Parmesan cheese, and Italian chilli oil. The cream in the sauce is essential, as substitutes with lower fat content may curdle due to the acid in the tomatoes. However, coconut milk can be used as a dairy-free option. Fresh herbs like basil can also be added to enhance the flavour, and different varieties of tortellini can be used to suit individual tastes.
The sauce for this dish thickens quickly as the tortellini cooks and releases its starch. If the sauce becomes too thick, additional cream or chicken/vegetable broth can be added to thin it out. This creamy tomato tortellini dish is best served immediately, with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese on top. It can be paired with a slice of cheesy garlic bread or a leafy green salad for a complete meal.
Overall, cheese tortellini with creamy tomato sauce is a delicious and comforting dish that can be prepared in a single pan and is perfect for busy weeknights or when craving a quick, tasty Italian meal.
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It can be garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil
A dish of cheese tortellini can be garnished with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil. This is a very popular way to serve the pasta, with many recipes suggesting this combination. The Parmesan cheese adds a salty, sharp flavour to the dish, and its texture can vary from shredded to grated. It is often sprinkled on top of the tortellini, but it can also be mixed into the sauce to add flavour and creaminess. Parmesan is a traditional ingredient in tortellini, so it is a natural pairing.
Fresh basil is also a classic choice to garnish cheese tortellini. It adds a bright, fresh flavour to the dish and can be torn or chopped and sprinkled on top. It can also be cooked into the sauce, adding a more subtle flavour to the dish. The basil leaves can be left whole or chopped, depending on the desired intensity of flavour and presentation.
Both Parmesan and basil are common ingredients in Italian cuisine, so it is no surprise that they pair well with tortellini. The saltiness of the cheese and the freshness of the basil complement each other, and the tortellini itself. The garnishes add a final touch of colour and texture to the dish, making it even more inviting.
Some recipes suggest adding other ingredients to the dish, such as mushrooms, garlic, spinach, nutmeg, parsley, or a mix of meats, to create a fuller meal. The tortellini can be served as a main course or an appetizer, and it can be paired with a simple side salad and garlic bread.
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Frequently asked questions
Tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta, traditionally filled with a mix of meat, Parmesan cheese, egg, and nutmeg. It is typical of the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena, in the Emilia-Romagna region.
A dish of cheese tortellini can be served in many ways, depending on the sauce and ingredients used. It can be served with a creamy tomato sauce and spinach, with a creamy wine sauce and mushrooms, or with a garlic butter sauce and basil.
Cheese tortellini is typically a pale yellow colour due to the cheese and egg in the filling. The pasta dough itself is usually a light beige colour, made from a simple combination of eggs and flour.
Cheese tortellini has a rich, savoury flavour from the cheese and a soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture. When served with a sauce and other ingredients, it can take on additional flavours such as garlic, basil, spinach, or mushrooms.
