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Creamy Tortellini with Ham and Cheese

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This creamy tortellini dish combines tender pasta filled with savory ham and melting cheese, all enveloped in a rich, creamy sauce. It’s a comforting meal that brings back nostalgic memories of home-cooked goodness.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 80 g diced ham
  • 2 tsp tomato paste
  • 200 ml cream
  • 70 g grated cheese (e.g. Gouda)
  • 1 tbsp oil or butter
  • Salt & pepper (to taste)
  • Fresh parsley (for garnish)
  • 250 g fresh tortellini

Instructions

  1. Prepare the onion and garlic: Peel the small onion and garlic clove. Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic. This takes about 2 minutes.
  2. Sauté: Heat 1 tbsp of oil or butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until soft and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn it.
  3. Add garlic: Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
  4. Add ham and tomato paste: Add 80 g of diced ham and 2 tsp of tomato paste. Sauté everything together for about 2 minutes until the ham is lightly browned and the tomato paste is well distributed.
  5. Stir in cream: Pour 200 ml of cream into the pan and stir well. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly and the flavors meld.
  6. Add cheese: Add 70 g of grated cheese and stir until fully melted. The sauce should now be creamy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Cook tortellini: While the sauce simmers, cook 250 g of fresh tortellini in a large pot of salted water according to package instructions (about 3-4 minutes). They are done when they float to the surface.
  8. Drain tortellini: Drain the tortellini and let them drain briefly. Be sure to reserve some pasta water in case you want to thin the sauce later.
  9. Combine tortellini and sauce: Add the cooked tortellini to the pan with the sauce and mix everything well, ensuring the tortellini are fully coated with the sauce. Let it warm for 1-2 minutes.
  10. Serve: Serve the creamy tortellini in deep plates and garnish with fresh parsley. Enjoy your dish immediately!

Nutrition

Keywords: Be careful not to overcook the tortellini as they can become mushy. Use a large pan with high sides to easily stir the sauce and add the tortellini without spilling. For a thicker sauce, you can reduce the cream by 50 ml and add some pasta water to achieve the desired consistency.

Find it online: https://chefwatermelon.com/cremige-tortellini-mit-schinken-und-kase/