Tortellini
Encyclopedia
Tortellini are ring-shaped pasta
. They are typically stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, prosciutto
) or cheese. Originally from the Italian
region of Emilia
(in particular Bologna
and Modena
), they are usually served in broth
, meat broth, either of beef, chicken, or both. Tortellini are now commonly found all around the world.
Packed, refrigerated or frozen, tortellini and tortelloni
(similar but larger and with vegetable stuffing) appear in many locations around the world, especially where there are large Italian communities. 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 usually have 7 weeks of shelf-life.
Similar foods in other cultures include uszka
in Poland, the German Maultasche
, the Ukrainian Christmas food "vushka" , Chinese wonton
and jiaozi
, and Turkish mantı
.
One says that this dish was born in Castelfranco Emilia
(province of Modena
). One night during a trip, Lucrezia Borgia
checked into an inn in the small town. Over the course of the night the host became so captivated by Lucrezia's beauty that he could not resist the urge to peek into her room through the keyhole. The bedroom was only lit by a few candles, and so he could barely see her navel
. This pure and innocent vision was enough to send him into an ecstasy that inspired him to create the tortellini that night.
Another separate but similar legend, originating in medieval Italy, tells how Venus
and Jupiter
arrived at a tavern on the outskirts of Bologna
one night, weary from their involvement in a battle between Modena
and Bologna. After much food and drink, they shared a room. The innkeeper, captivated by the two, followed them and peeked through the keyhole. All he could see was Venus's navel. Spellbound, he rushed to the kitchen and created tortellini in its image.
Finally the third and most widely believed explanation is that they are based on the shape of a turtle in an effort to replicate the famous architectural features of Modena, where many 17th-century buildings bear the turtle motif.
is pasta in the same shape, but larger, typically 5 g, vs. 2 g for tortellini. Although either can be filled with a wide variety of foods, meat-based filling is less common in tortelloni. Tortellini may be served with sauce or in a broth; tortelloni are rarely served in a broth.
Pasta
Pasta is a staple food of traditional Italian cuisine, now of worldwide renown. It takes the form of unleavened dough, made in Italy, mostly of durum wheat , water and sometimes eggs. Pasta comes in a variety of different shapes that serve for both decoration and to act as a carrier for the...
. They are typically stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, prosciutto
Prosciutto
Prosciutto |ham]]) or Parma ham is a dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked; this style is called prosciutto crudo in Italian and is distinguished from cooked ham, prosciutto cotto....
) or cheese. Originally from the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
region of Emilia
Emilia (region of Italy)
Emilia is a historical region of northern Italy which approximately corresponds to the western and north-eastern portions of today’s Emilia-Romagna region...
(in particular Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
), they are usually served in broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
, meat broth, either of beef, chicken, or both. Tortellini are now commonly found all around the world.
Packed, refrigerated or frozen, tortellini and tortelloni
Tortelloni
Tortelloni are stuffed pasta, the same shape as tortellini, but larger. They are usually stuffed with Ricotta cheese and leaf vegetables, such as spinach. Many variants exist where the vegetables are replaced with stronger ingredients such as porcini or walnuts...
(similar but larger and with vegetable stuffing) appear in many locations around the world, especially where there are large Italian communities. Tortellini and tortelloni are made in special industrial lines supplied all over the world by Italian companies such as Arienti & Cattaneo, Ima, Ostoni
Ostoni
Ostoni is a manufacturer of plants, machines, dies, accessories and spare parts used in pasta production operations. The company produces, refurbishes and sells new and second-hand equipment world wide and is known especially for its machines for filled products...
, Zamboni, etc.; "fresh" packed tortellini usually have 7 weeks of shelf-life.
Similar foods in other cultures include uszka
Uszka
Uszka, , are small dumplings usually filled with flavoursome wild forest mushrooms and/or minced meat. They are usually served with barszcz, though they can be eaten simply with melted butter and herbs sprinkled over...
in Poland, the German Maultasche
Maultasche
Maultaschen are a Swabian specialty food, consisting of an outer layer of pasta dough with a filling traditionally made of minced meat, smoked meat, spinach, bread crumbs and onions and flavored with various herbs and spices...
, the Ukrainian Christmas food "vushka" , Chinese wonton
Wonton
Not to be confused with WantonA wonton is a type of dumpling commonly found in a number of Chinese cuisines.-Filling:...
and jiaozi
Jiaozi
Jiǎozi 餃子 or 饺子 , bánh bột luộc , gyōza , Mo:Mo: or Momocha म:म: or ममचा , or pot sticker is a Chinese dumpling widely spread to Japan, Eastern and Western Asia.Jiaozi typically consist of a ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into...
, and Turkish mantı
Manti
Mantu are a type of dumpling in Turkish and various Central Asian and Northwest China and Caucasian cuisines, closely related to the east Asian mantou, baozi, and mandu and the Nepali momo. Manti dumplings archetypically consist of a spiced meat mixture, usually lamb or ground beef, in a dough...
.
Origins
The origin of tortellini is surrounded by several legends.One says that this dish was born in Castelfranco Emilia
Castelfranco Emilia
Castelfranco Emilia is a town and comune in Italy in the province of Modena, region of Emilia-Romagna. The town lies c. 25 km northwest of Bologna....
(province of Modena
Province of Modena
The Province of Modena is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Modena.It has an area of 2,689 km², and a total population of 659,925 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Modena.At May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population...
). One night during a trip, Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
checked into an inn in the small town. Over the course of the night the host became so captivated by Lucrezia's beauty that he could not resist the urge to peek into her room through the keyhole. The bedroom was only lit by a few candles, and so he could barely see her navel
Navel
The navel is a scar on the abdomen caused when the umbilical cord is removed from a newborn baby...
. This pure and innocent vision was enough to send him into an ecstasy that inspired him to create the tortellini that night.
Another separate but similar legend, originating in medieval Italy, tells how Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
and Jupiter
Jupiter (mythology)
In ancient Roman religion and myth, Jupiter or Jove is the king of the gods, and the god of the sky and thunder. He is the equivalent of Zeus in the Greek pantheon....
arrived at a tavern on the outskirts of Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
one night, weary from their involvement in a battle between Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
and Bologna. After much food and drink, they shared a room. The innkeeper, captivated by the two, followed them and peeked through the keyhole. All he could see was Venus's navel. Spellbound, he rushed to the kitchen and created tortellini in its image.
Finally the third and most widely believed explanation is that they are based on the shape of a turtle in an effort to replicate the famous architectural features of Modena, where many 17th-century buildings bear the turtle motif.
Comparison to tortelloni
TortelloniTortelloni
Tortelloni are stuffed pasta, the same shape as tortellini, but larger. They are usually stuffed with Ricotta cheese and leaf vegetables, such as spinach. Many variants exist where the vegetables are replaced with stronger ingredients such as porcini or walnuts...
is pasta in the same shape, but larger, typically 5 g, vs. 2 g for tortellini. Although either can be filled with a wide variety of foods, meat-based filling is less common in tortelloni. Tortellini may be served with sauce or in a broth; tortelloni are rarely served in a broth.