Taking You Through The Tortellini Trail

Amongst the more popular pasta shapes in the world, Tortelli is like a chunkier, bolder cousin of a ravioli and has a place of pride in Italian cuisine. With an origin story like no other, this stuffed pasta was said to have been first conceptualised and made by an innkeeper in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. Legend has it that he once peeped through the keyhole of a door and watched the navel of Venus, the Goddess of love, which inspired him to go on and create this pasta shape. Now it is quite debatable as multiple food historians question the presence of the Goddess of love at an Italian tavern in the sixteenth century.

Well, there is another, more believable explanation for this interesting invention from the region of Emilia. It states that this pasta’s creation was solely a matter of practicality. Tortelli came to life when a Nonna in Bologna decided to fold pasta dough around her fingertip to prevent the meat from spilling out while blanching and the rest as they say, is history. 

No matter what legend you choose to believe, this beloved-filled pasta type has managed to create a place in the hearts and plates of people across the world. Stuffed with different fillings like vegetables, meat and cheese, a well-made Tortellini is designed to create a burst of flavour in your mouth with each bite.

Wondering How to Make and Serve Tortellini? We come Bearing Answers

The tortellini is the crowning jewel in the culinary art and language in the Emilia Romagna region of Italy and is now enjoyed all over the world. Which is why we intend to bring a piece of Bologna straight to your kitchen with our range of Tortellini pasta. You can also try making them at home by using our Nonna-approved recipe that has won hundreds of hearts. Here are the ingredients that you need to make a classic Tortellini from scratch - 

• Flour, 400 gms

• Eggs, 4

• Olive oil

• Any filling of your choice (meat, veggies or cheese)

• Grated Nutmeg, a pinch

Firstly we recommend you start preparing your pasta dough. You can check out the recipe for making pasta dough here. Make sure you prepare the dough and swaddle it in plastic wrap so it can rest and hydrate. Meanwhile, you can get to making the filling.

Now, when it comes to Tortellini filling, the options are quite endless. You could stuff this pasta with anything from your favourite meats, veggies to a bunch of delicious cheeses - There really is no hard and fast rule about what you can stuff Tortellini with!  Once you're done prepping these two components, you can start shaping the tortellini, which honestly, is the most important part of making this pasta. Here are a few steps and tips to follow while making Tortellini. 

• Roll out the pasta dough evenly when it is soft and rested enough. Remember, rolling the sheets too thick will make the pasta difficult to fold and very thin sheets will cause the filling to tear through the dough. So be mindful of the thickness of the pasta

• Use a pasta cutter to cut out even circles in the dough.

• Take a spoonful of the filling and place it in the middle of the circular cut-out.

• Moisten the edges, so that they stick together. 

• Gently fold the pasta, smoothen out the air bubbles and seal the top.

• Take the corners of the tortellini pasta, fold it around your finger and bring the two edges together to seal it.

• Once your pasta is shaped, you could either freeze it for a couple of days or enjoy it fresh by blanching them in salted water and tossing it up in your favourite Sorrentina sauces.

A pro tip: If it is your first time making tortellini, you might wonder how to know if the pasta is perfectly cooked while blanching. Well, the minute your tortellinis rise to the top of the blanching water, is your sign to take them out and toss them in a sauce! 

This Italian Dish is Best Served Hot!

There are so many ways this navel-shaped pasta can be served and enjoyed! From the classic Italian way of tossing it with your favourite sauces to more delicious ways that are a result of exciting kitchen experiments, here are some of our favourites. 

• Pasta salads make great one-pot meals and when you use a stuffed pasta like Tortellini, you are guaranteed to be, well, quite stuffed at the end of it. Just toss in your blanched Tortellini with all your favourite salad ingredients and dressings to make a full meal out of it!

• Tortellini is also a brilliant addition to turn what would otherwise be a simple broth or soup into a grande Italian meal. You could make a flavour-packed base using our All Purpose Tomato Sauce, add in your favourite veggies and frozen Tortellini. Bring it to a rolling boil and serve alongside some crostini or garlic bread.

• Now for the good old version of making a Tortellini pasta - while there is no end to the kind of combinations you can explore with the tortellini fillings and sauce, one that we definitely recommend is our Wild Garlic and Chive Tortellini in a Truffle Mushroom Sauce. It's made in minutes and is delizioso in every bite! 

You can also browse our website for more recipes made with Tortellini. For instance, you can try out our Cacio e Pepe Tortellini in Basil Emulsion recipe to enjoy the burst of that fresh flavour of basil in your mouth.

Invite your friends over for a meal and maybe you could boast your knowledge of the legend behind tortellini and perhaps your skills of whipping up a delizioso meal!?

You can also follow us on Instagram at sorrentina_honestlyitalian for more such honestly Italian recipes and interesting facts about Italy.