The tortelloni couldn’t be tastier with a tomato and cream sauce! The rich, flavorful sauce pairs perfectly with fluffy pasta pillows.
do you have tortelloni This delicious pasta is often confused with tortellini, but it’s quite simply the best of the cousin pasta shapes. The larger of the two is deliciously tender and has a generous gooey filling. This is how we like to serve them: with a spicy tomato and garlic sauce, with a hint of cream. It’s a great way to make a delicious vegetarian dinner or an easy side dish. This was a huge hit with all the friends and family we serve it to!
What are tortellini?
What are tortellini? It’s easy to grab a packet and mistake it for the smaller pasta shape. What is tortelloni vs tortellini?
- tortellini is a larger pasta shape than tortellini with a filled center. Tortellini are smaller and ring-shaped, with a hole in the middle. In traditional Italian cuisine, the tortellini filling is vegetarian, while tortellini often contain meat. Tortellini are also often served in broth, while tortellini are served with creamy sauces.
- Where to find it Tortelloni are easy to find in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. It is not generally available dried or frozen (although there are dried and frozen tortellini).
- How do you quickly tell the difference? Tortellini have a hole in the middle, tortellini have a firm core that encloses the filling.
Ways to serve tortelloni
Tortellini are our favorite over tortellini because they’re bigger and heartier. It is ideal for serving with creamy sauces while allowing the smaller pasta shape to be lost. Here are some of the best ways to eat tortelloni:
Prepare tomato cream: some tips!
This tomato and cream sauce is our favorite way to serve tortelloni. It’s similar to a vodka sauce, but instead of slow-cooking it for hours, you can make it in just 30 minutes. Here are some notes on the process:
- Find the best canned tomatoes. The quality of the tomatoes makes the sauce. Our top pick is Roast Beef if you can find it: the flavor is smooth and develops right out of the box. Or look for the San Marzano, an Italian tomato variety with a sweet taste. If you can’t find either, just find the best canned tomatoes you can find.
- The secret ingredient? fennel seeds. The fennel adds a hearty, meaty flavor that can’t be duplicated. Don’t leave it aside!
- Let simmer until thickened. This should take between 20 and 30 minutes depending on the tomato brand. The longer the better if you have the time!
Make it a meal: side dishes for tortelloni
Prepare a casserole of these tortelloni and you’re on your way to a delicious meal! You can serve it as a meatless main course or as an accompaniment to a larger spread. We served it as an accompaniment to salmon during an al fresco meal and all our guests loved it! Here are some ideas for turning it into a meal:
Give it a try in these tortellini recipes
Can you use tortellini in this tortellini recipe? Absolutely! These types of pasta are easy to swap out. You can also use tortellini in these delicious tortellini recipes:
This tortellini recipe is…
Vegetarian. For gluten-free, use gluten-free tortelloni.
The description
The tortelloni couldn’t be tastier with a tomato and cream sauce! The rich, flavorful sauce pairs perfectly with fluffy pasta pillows.
- 18 ounces chilled cheese tortelloni*
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 Garlic cloves, chopped
- ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
- 28 ounces Passed tomatoes (preferably grilled over fire)
- 1½ tablespoons (double concentrate) tomato paste or 3 tablespoons regular tomato paste
- 6 tablespoons whipped cream
- 1/2 yellow onion, peeled
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Freshly ground black pepper
- To serve: parmesan, fresh basil (optional)
- Prepare sauce: Chop the garlic. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and fennel seeds and cook until fragrant and the garlic is golden (do not brown), about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, ¼ cup heavy cream, half an onion, and salt. Simmer for 20 to 30 minutes until the sauce thickens. Once thickened, remove half the onion and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons heavy cream.
- Cook pasta: Boil a large pot of well-salted water. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente (usually about 2 minutes).
- Surcharge: When the sauce is cooked, add the noodles to the pan. Garnish with Parmesan shavings and fresh basil, if you like.
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: Italian inspired
- Diet: vegetarian
