Tortellini with Saffron Cream and Pancetta | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

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by Kylie PerrottiPosted on July 23, 2020November 11, 2021

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This tortellini with saffron cream and pancetta is one of the most beautiful meals I’ve ever made. The golden, creamy sauce works perfectly with tortellini.

We added peas and parsley at the end of cooking for a bit of a brighter flavor to offset the richness of the saffron cream.

You’re going to to love this tortellini with saffron cream and pancetta. It combines all the best flavors in the world. Rich, salty, with a touch of the subtle aroma of saffron. Combine that with the richness of tortellini, and that’s a winning dinner!

How to Make Tortellini with Saffron Cream and Pancetta:

Making this recipe is a cinch!

First, you’ll fry the pancetta. Make sure you render out all that delicious salty fat. Leave the rendered fat in the skillet –it’s the base for your sauce!

Next, you’ll cook up your aromatics and then add your sauce base. The sauce base is tomatoes, white wine, and chicken stock.

Finally, cook your tortellini! To the simmering sauce, you’ll add heavy cream, saffron, peas, and parsley. All you have to do is cook it until the peas are bright green.

I serve it up by dividing the tortellini between shallow bowls. I love ladling the beautiful golden broth over the tortellini. The final garnish is that delicious, crispy pancetta. What an incredible meal!

Are you feeling hungry yet? I am. This recipe is one of my all time favorites. The combination of creamy, salty, and slightly acidic is unbelievably delicious. Add the soft saffron flavors and you’ll be in heaven after you eat this tortellini with saffron cream!

Looking for more pasta recipes? Check my archives!

If you made this recipe, please rate the recipe below. Leave a comment to tell me how you liked it! If you take a picture of it, please tag me on Instagram so I can feature you in my feed.

Tortellini with Saffron Cream and Pancetta | Tried and True Recipes (1)

This tortellini with saffron cream and pancetta is one of the most beautiful meals I’ve ever made. The golden, creamy sauce works perfectly with tortellini.

4.28 from 11 votes

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Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

7.43

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces fresh tortellini
  • 5 ounces pancetta diced
  • 2 teaspoons oil if needed
  • 2 shallots peeled and minced
  • 6 cloves garlic peeled and minced
  • 10 ounces San Marzano tomatoes halved
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper plus more to taste, if desired
  • ½ cup white wine or stock
  • 3-4 cups chicken stock more if needed
  • 1 pinch saffron threads
  • ½ cup heavy cream plus more to taste
  • 8 ounces fresh green peas or frozen
  • ½ cup freshly minced parsley divided

Instructions

Fry the Pancetta:

  • In a wide pot, add the diced pancetta and turn the heat to medium. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes until the pancetta is browned and crispy and the fat has rendered. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a paper towel lined plate.

Cook the Aromatics:

  • If the pot seems too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons of the oil. Turn the heat to medium and add the shallot. Cook, stirring regularly, for 4-5 minutes until the shallot begins to soften. Add the garlic and cook for 45 seconds.

Prepare the Broth:

  • Add the tomatoes and season everything with salt, pepper, and the crushed red pepper. Cook for 2 minutes more.

  • Pour in the white wine and scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Taste and season with salt, pepper, and more crushed red pepper to taste. Add the saffron threads and stir to incorporate them. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Boil the Tortellini:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the tortellini according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.

Finish the Saffron Cream Broth:

  • Add the heavy cream, peas, and half the parsley to the broth and bring to a very low boil. If you’d like a brothy dish, add more chicken stock now. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the peas are bright green and tender, but not overcooked. Taste and season again to your preferences. Turn off the heat.

To Serve:

  • Divide the cooked tortellini between bowls and ladle the saffron cream broth on top. Garnish with the crispy pancetta and the remaining minced parsley. Enjoy!

Tried this recipe?Mention @triedandtruerecipes or tag #triedandtruerecipes so I can feature you in my feed!

Tortellini with Saffron Cream and Pancetta | Tried and True Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to serve tortellini? ›

Depending on the filling, tortellini are delicious with everything from cream-based sauces to red marinara-type sauces, browned butter, pesto, and even walnut sauce. They remind me of ravioli, so if you'd eat it with ravioli, you can eat with tortellini.

How to make tortellini in advance? ›

Just form the tortellini and freeze in a single layer until solid. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag until you're ready to cook, and you can cook them frozen.

Is tortellini a dish? ›

Tortellini is a type of stuffed pasta typical of the Italian cities of Bologna and Modena. Traditionally it is stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, raw prosciutto, mortadella), Parmesan cheese, egg and nutmeg and served in capon broth (in brodo di cappone). In the area of origin it is usually sold fresh or home-made.

Is tortellini boiled? ›

Just add the Tortellini to boiling water and let it cook for 10 to 11 minutes. To finish, you can add sauce or simply drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and grate some fresh Parmesan on top to create a delicious, authentic Italian dish.

Should you cover tortellini when cooking? ›

Up next: how long to bake tortellini. Cover tightly with foil and bake until bubbling, about 35 minutes. Remove the foil and turn on the broiler. Broil until the cheese is lightly browned.

How do Italians eat tortellini? ›

In Italy, meat tortellini are traditionally served in broth, but they are enjoyed with other toppings, too: cheese sauce, cream sauce, pesto or tomato sauce. There are also cheese versions of tortellini. Tortellini are also eaten for dessert!

Should I rinse tortellini after cooking? ›

No, in almost every case, you should not rinse pasta after it's cooked. It's true that rinsing noodles or pasta after cooking halts the cooking process. “This is also known as shocking,” Tiess says. But rinsing also removes the starch water after the noodles are strained, which is what helps adhere sauce to noodles.

Do you cook tortellini until it floats? ›

Fold back around your finger and turn down the edge to form a tortellini. In half a gallon of rapidly boiling salted water add the tortellini in batches. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, or until they float to the surface.

What is the best flour for tortellini? ›

Semolina: Coarse Durum Wheat Flour

One of the most popular flours for making pasta is semolina flour, which is a coarsely ground flour made from a particularly hard variety of wheat called durum. In fact, the word durum means hard (as in the word "durable"), in reference to the amount of force it takes to grind it.

How to make store-bought tortellini taste better? ›

Simple Tortellini Soup

Chicken broth and canned diced tomatoes create a flavorful base for the cheese-filled ring pasta to swim in. Add white kidney beans for a punch of protein. Sliced zucchini adds texture and flavor. Sprinkle grated Parm cheese on top of the steaming soup and serve.

What is traditionally served with tortellini? ›

But the traditional way to serve tortellini is to serve it with a bowl of rich, flavorful chicken or beef broth. The meat broth enhances the flavor of the seasoned meat in the pasta. It makes the delicate seasonings in the filling pop and creates a wonderful layered flavor.

What is a nickname for tortellini? ›

The many alternative names of tortellini — ranging from “navel” to “love knot” — reflect the folk tales and mythologies surrounding this unassuming pasta.

What is the best way to eat tortellini? ›

Once your tortellini is cooked, savour by itself, toss with a fresh sauce, or use it in a delicious recipe. If you prefer chicken, shrimp or vegetables, tortellini are perfect for an elevated yet simple meal that the entire family will enjoy.

How to tell if tortellini is done? ›

When they float and hang out at the top of your pot! spoon! Enjoy!

Is it OK to eat tortellini raw? ›

Well, there's nothing in pasta that is harmful if eaten raw. Cooking pasta does not transform the food from harmful to helpful. It's not animal flesh! Uncooked pasta is going to be like most starches: harder to digest because the long polymer chains of starch are difficult to break down.

How is cheese tortellini traditionally served? ›

It is a traditional pasta in the Bologna region of Italy and is often served in broth. In Italy, it is traditional to serve tortellini this way on Christmas Eve. Tortellini is also good with cream and butter, or in a tomato cream sauce.

Do you eat tortellini with spoon? ›

Tortellini in brodo are not a pastasciutta. You are supposed to use a spoon with any minestra in bordo (soup), you are supposed to use the fork only with any minestra asciutta: pasta, risotto or polenta alike.

Is tortellini stuffed with anything? ›

Hailing originally from the Italian region of Emilia, tortellini are also traditionally stuffed with ricotta cheese. But history has shown a willingness for Italian cooks to go well beyond cheese, with various meats like prosciutto, mortadella, and pork loin finding a home inside of the ring-shaped pasta.

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