This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Tortellini with ham and peas is a extremely popular creamy pasta recipe each right here in Italy, and in different international locations. It’s fast and simple to make and beloved by youngsters and adults alike. Good for after college meals and household lunches.
Aside from the pasta, ham and peas all you’ll want to make this Italian traditional is cream, an onion, some broth, olive oil to fry the onion, seasoning and grated Parmigiano to sprinkle over the plated parts. If utilizing recent ready-made tortellini, you may have this dish on the desk in round half-hour!
Historical past.
The mixture of tortellini with ham and peas and cream dates again to the Nineteen Eighties. Presently, Italian delicacies embraced the creaminess of cream as a key ingredient in lots of dishes. It was an period by which cream, along with ham and peas, grew to become a well-liked flavour trinity that dominated household and restaurant tables.
Nonetheless, the origins of this recipe could be present in Emilia Romagna, residence to the primary tortellini, which legend tells us was impressed by Venus’ navel! I child you not.
Though there’s no precise date for the invention of this crammed egg pasta, by 1550 tortellini served in broth had change into a well known and well-liked dish. In Bologna, they known as it ‘minestra dei torteleti’
The pasta filling was largely pork loin which they marinated with rosemary, salt, pepper and garlic for two days. They then cooked the pork with just a little butter, mortadella, cured ham, parmesan, nutmeg and egg. Similar to the meat filling of tortellini at present.
These days, Italians nonetheless serve tortellini in broth. It is a very conventional vacation recipe. However, recipes with cream (tortellini alla panna) and this tortellini with ham and peas are additionally extraordinarily well-liked!
Principal components on this tortellini recipe.
The tortellini: This recipe is best when made with ready-made recent tortellini. These days, we are able to purchase recent tortellini with a wide range of scrumptious fillings. I used ricotta and spinach tortellini, however you need to use whichever sort you favor. You too can make this recipe with dried or frozen crammed pasta. Nonetheless, cooking instances can be longer.
The broth: Italians usually cook dinner tortellini in broth even when not serving the pasta within the broth. The standard sort of broth can be capon. I used a ready-made natural vegetable broth, a few of which I added to the pan to cook dinner peas in. You too can cook dinner the tortellini in salted water as a substitute. However just a little broth is required for the peas.
The ham: This tortellini recipe requires Italian cooked ham. It has a fragile flavour and received’t overpower the style of the opposite components. The ham must be reduce into small cubes, so it’s finest to make use of unsliced ham. This dish can be nice with leftover baked or roasted vacation ham!
The peas: When they’re in season, I prefer to make this recipe with recent peas from my backyard. This time I used frozen peas. Canned peas would work too. Contemporary peas require longer cooking.
The onion: Each shallots and candy onions work nicely on this recipe. I typically use shallots. This time I went with a yellow onion.
The cream: You should utilize recent single cream or heavy cream in your tortellini with ham and peas. Contemporary cream requires longer cooking. Italians usually use lengthy life ‘panna da cucina’ which is bought in small cartons and is a sort of heavy cream.
Different components.
The cheese: Because it comes from Emilia-Romagna too, Parmigiano Reggiano is the grated cheese of alternative to make use of with tortellini. Nonetheless, Grana can be good! Each cheeses style higher when freshly grated.
Nonetheless, some Italian cooks say that this dish doesn’t want cheese because it’s wealthy sufficient by itself. So, the cheese is non-compulsory.
Step by Step directions.
This recipe requires little or no prep. After you have gathered your components simply reduce the ham into small cubes and peel and finely chop the onion.
First sauté the onion in olive oil till it begins to melt. Then add the peas and cook dinner them with the onion for a few minutes.
Subsequent add 2-3 ladles of broth and let the peas simmer for round 10 minutes.
Then, add the cubed ham and proceed cooking for a minute or two. Add salt and pepper to style.
Now, pour within the cream and let it simmer on a low warmth for about 5-10 minutes or till the liquid has thickened.
Whereas the ham, peas and cream are cooking convey the broth to a simmer and add the tortellini. When the pasta rises to the floor take away it with a slotted spoon and add it to the sauce.
Combine the tortellini nicely with the ham, peas and cream. Serve with grated Parmigiano if required.
What to do with leftovers.
You may hold your leftover tortellini with ham and peas in a sealed container within the fridge for 1-3 days. I don’t like freezing cream sauces, so I wouldn’t suggest it. Leftovers could be heated within the microwave or in a pan with just a little extra liquid similar to broth added. I additionally prefer to bake leftover tortellini with ham and peas with some grated cheese sprinkled on prime.
Pin for later.
FAQ.
Sure, to make this tortellini recipe vegetarian simply omit the ham and use a vegetarian parmesan when serving in order for you cheese.
You may exchange the cooked ham with Italian prosciutto crudo, pancetta or bacon. I’d counsel frying these meats with the onions earlier than including the peas. As an alternative of meat, add some greens similar to mushrooms.
This recipe could be ready with completely different sizes and styles of tortellini similar to cappelletti or anolini. You too can use ravioli with meat filling, or with ricotta and spinach. Alternatively, should you do not like stuffed pasta, the cream, ham and peas sauce is actually good on pasta tubes like penne, or farfalle or with spaghetti.
Let me know what you suppose.
This creamy tortellini with ham and peas is a traditional Italian pasta recipe that’s fairly straightforward to make, doesn’t take plenty of time or require plenty of components. It’s a favorite with Italian youngsters and households. I’m positive that after your loved ones have tried it, it’ll change into their favorite too!
In the event you do do this creamy tortellini with ham and peas, please let me know what you suppose! Write a remark right here on the weblog or publish a touch upon the Pasta Venture Fb web page.
Different Italian crammed pasta recipes value making.
- Tortellini Bolognese pie
- Home made meat ravioli
- Ligurian potato and mint ravioli.
- Coronary heart-shaped chocolate ravioli.
If you’re fascinated about studying the right way to make do-it-yourself pasta and various kinds of gnocchi, try my store web page for some nice video on-line programs from my mates in Rome! Nothing beats studying to make pasta from Italians! Plus whilst you’re there why not order a replica of one in all my pasta recipe cookbooks or some pasta making instruments? They make nice prezzies for pasta lovers.
Reader Interactions