Cooking web notes

Tortellini in Mushroom Tomato Sauce

Pasta Italiana

Riccardo Marcialis

Although researchers believe pasta originated in China and was taken to Italy by Marco Polo in the 13^th century, there is no mistaking that Italian cooks transformed it to the versatile dish we enjoy today.

Pasta comes in so many different shapes; no one is sure how many, not even the Italians.  I just know that I’m a fan of most of them with tortellini being at the top of the pasta scale.  Tortellinis are small rings usually stuffed with meat, cheese, herbs or greens and resemble cappelletti.

I love, love tortellini; however, I have not gotten up the nerve to make it myself.  So I take the easy way out ~ I select a package from the refrigerated section of the local grocery store and then prepare it with whatever sauce I choose.  It is delicious and perfect any time of the year with a salad. 

The spicy blend of ingredients in this recipe is mellowed by a little white wine, making it one of our favorite ways to enjoy tortellini!

Tortellini in Mushroom Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, sliced

8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 bay leaf

½ teaspoon dried basil

¼ teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and pepper, to taste

Pinch of red pepper flakes

3 tablespoons tomato paste

1/3 cup dry white wine

1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes

¼ teaspoons sugar

½ to ¾ pound cheese tortellini, or your favorite

Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Method:

Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat.

Add onion and garlic, cook until golden, 1-2 minutes.

Add remaining ingredients, except tortellini.

Stir mixture well and simmer for about 20 minutes, until sauce is thickened.

Meanwhile, cook tortellini per package directions.

Drain pasta well.

Add pasta to sauce.

Heat thoroughly.

Serve with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese.

Serves 4

Now that’s Italian!  That’s amore!

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 4:35 AM and is filed under Entree, Garlic, Italian, Mushrooms, Onions, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pasta, Sauces/Marinades, Tomatoes, Tortellini, Vegetables, Wine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response.