What is tortellini?

Question

What is the best way to eat it?

Answer 1

Its kind of doughnut-shaped, filled pasta. Usually filled with cheese. You pour a sauce over it, like pesto sauce and serve warm or serve cold in a pasta salad with large vegetable chunks or us it in soup.

Answer 2

It is a filled pasta: it can be cheese, spinach, or meat.

There are several ways to eat it, but my favorite way is with a quick tomato sauce.

Quick Sauce

Brown up a teaspoon of garlic in 2 tbl of extra virgin olive oil. (Be careful not to burn the garlic, keep the heat on medium. You'll know the oil is hot enough when a drop of water sizzles on top of the oil.)

To a Medium size sauce pan add (1) 28 oz can of diced tomatoes, (1) 28 oz can of tomato sauce, (1) 6 oz can of tomato paste, 1 Tan of basil, 1 tsp of oregano, 1 tsp of Italian seasoning, 1 tsp of salt, a 1/4 cup of cooking wine, and 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.

Bring the sauce to a boil, and then simmer (low heat) for 20 minutes.

Prepare tortellini according to package directions.

Good eating.

Answer 3

Tortellini is a ring-shaped pasta; they are typically stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, prosciutto crudo, mortadella) and parmesan cheese, although other stuffings are popular in the Po Valley. Originally from the Italian region of Emilia (in particular Bologna and Modena), they are usually served in broth, with cream, or with a ragù or similar sauce. Traditionally, the most serious restaurant in Bologna as well "La Confraternita del Tortellino" agree that the only real Tortellino is served only in home made broth. Tortellino with cream is widely accepted in Bologna but criticized by some. Tortellino with ragù, although it can be found, is considered by the vast majority of Bolognesi to be non-authentic.

Tortelloni is a larger version of tortellini, and is usually stuffed with Ricotta cheese and leaf vegetables, such as spinach. Many lesser, "exotic" variants exist where the vegetables are replaced with stronger ingredients such as porcini or walnuts. Another common filling for tortelloni is a paste made mainly of pumpkin pulp. Tortelloni are usually served either with ragù or with melted butter and sage leaves.

You can find packed refrigerated or frozen tortellini and tortelloni everywhere in the world, especially where Italian communities have a certain relief. Tortellini and tortelloni are made in special industrial lines supplied, all over the world, by Italian companies such as Arienti & Cattaneo, Ima, Ostoni, Zamboni, etc.; "fresh" packed tortellini and tortelloni have usually 7 weeks of shelf-life.

The origin of tortellini is surrounded by several legends.

One says that this dish is born in Castelfranco Emilia (province of Modena). One night during a trip, Lucrezia Borgia checked into an Inn in the small town. The host was captivated by her beauty and couldn't resist the urge to peek into her room through the keyhole. The light inside the bedroom was only made by a few candles and so he could only see her navel. This pure and innocent vision was enough to send him into an ecstacy that inspired him to create the tortellino that night.

For some the shape of tortellini represents the bellybutton of Venus, the Goddess of Love in Roman mythology (Aphrodite in Greek mythology).

As one legend goes, Venus and Jupiter were to meet one night. After Venus had checked into the inn, she waited for him on the bed. The chef found out, went to her room and peeked through the keyhole, where he saw her lying only partially covered on her back. Overcome at seeing her navel, the chef was so inspired that he created a stuffed pasta resembling her navel.

Tortellini Picture:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0c/Tortelliniinbrodo.jpg

Answer 4

Pastas such as tortellini and ravioli are "wrapped pastas" meaning they are filled with something. You can eat it with a tomato sauce or with a cream sauce (my favorite is a tomato and cream sauce, the best of both worlds...)

Answer 5

Tortellini is a stuffed pasta that is like a small tube filled with cheese or meat and then formed into a ring. it's good with some type of sauce on it. marinara, or meat sauce, or cheese sauce.

Answer 6

Tortellini is similar to ravioli but it has more or a crecent shape to it. And you eat with mainly some type of marinara sauce of your choice or even alfredo.

Answer 7

Tortellini is a pasta stuffed with something, such as meat, mushrooms, etc. and then usually served with a sauce on it. My favorite is veal stuffed with a red sauce.

Answer 8

Tortellini is ringed stuffed pasta. Can be served with a 'spaghetti' type sauce or alfredo sauce or pesto!! Enjoy!!!

Answer 9

It's Small Parcels of pasta Stuffed with Cheese,Ham,Mushrooms etc. Boiled Lightly then served with Fresh Shavings of Parmesan Cheese.
I Use a Spoon to eat mine!

Answer 10

A small filled pasta akin to bellybuttons. I just posted a bunch of links & recipes under Spinach and Cheese question. Personally, I wouldn't use a heavy sauce like alfredo, because of the size. You can add it to soup or add in veggies, mozzarella, tomatoes & caesar or Italian dressing - as a salad.