How to Cook Tortellini

Isabella Cannon

| 2 min read

Tortellini is an Italian stuffed pasta made with a thin, egg pasta dough filled with cheese, meat or vegetables. Tortellini pairs well with a variety of sauces from marina to pesto. It is also often added to dishes such as soup, casseroles or pasta salad. Tortellini is ring shaped in contrast to other similar stuffed pastas. It can be cooked from scratch or cooked from a package dry or frozen at the grocery store. Fresh tortellini cook much faster than dried tortellini. 

How To Cook Fresh Tortellini

After making your pasta base out of flour, eggs and salt, cut out the dough into rounds using a roll-cutter. Place about 1 teaspoon of filling in the middle of each round of pasta and fold the dough over to form a half-moon, bring the two corners together to form a rounded ring-shape and press on the edges to seal.

Total Time:

25 minutes

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cooking Difficulty:

Medium

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • 3 cups flour

  • 4 eggs

  • 1 tsp. salt

  • 3 cups filling of choice

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat.

  • Step 2

    Once boiling, add salt, then spoon or ladle the tortellini slowly into the water. Add salt to the water according to preference and health needs.

  • Step 3

    Stir gently to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Fresh pasta might be done and floating in 2-3 minutes, depending on the filling and amount. It should not take more than 5 minutes for fresh tortellini to fully cook.

  • Step 4

    Cook the tortellini until it is al dente. It should be tender and still have a slight bite to it, but not mushy.

  • Step 5

    Drain the water and serve tortellini or use in a recipe as desired.

How to Cook Dry Tortellini

Total Time:

15 minutes

Prep Time:

5 minutes

Cooking Difficulty:

Easy

Serving Amount
Ingredients

  • water

  • 1 package of dry tortellini

  • salt, if desired

Instructions
  • Step 1

    Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rapid boil over high heat.

  • Step 2

    Once boiling, add salt, then spoon or ladle the tortellini slowly into the water.

  • Step 3

    Add salt to the water according to preference and health needs. Cook the tortellini for 5 to 8 minutes or until the pasta is floating. Stir gently to prevent the pasta from sticking together. Dry pasta takes a little longer than fresh pasta depending on the filling and amount. It can take as long as 10 to 12 minutes depending on the time but check it at 5 minutes and then again at 8. The pasta is done when it floats to the top.

  • Step 4

    Cook the tortellini until it is al dente. It should be tender and still have a slight bite to it, but not mushy.

  • Step 5

    Drain the water and serve tortellini or use in a recipe as desired.

How to Store Tortellini

If you are not cooking the fresh tortellini immediately, freeze them on a sheet pan and transfer to a freezer-safe container once solid. Tortellini will keep for about three months. Cook directly from frozen but increase the cooking time by a minute or two.
Cooked tortellini should not sit out for longer than two hours. Once pasta is cooled, store in a container with a tight-fitting lid and a little bit of oil or butter. Toss well to make sure the pasta is lightly coated and not sticking together. Cooked tortellini should last three to five days stored in the refrigerator. You can also freeze cooked tortellini, and it will last up to three months in the freezer. Pasta has a high-water content, which is why it is best to thaw the pasta in the refrigerator for a few hours before using it again.
Image: Getty Images
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