tortellini
Tortellini is a type of ring-shaped pasta originally from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Often described as "navel-shaped," these small parcels are typically stuffed with a mixture of meat, cheese, or vegetables and are traditionally served in a rich broth or with a creamy sauce. The word is a plural noun, though it is often used as a mass noun in casual conversation. It carries a sense of comfort and home-cooked warmth. It is frequently associated with celebratory family meals or quick, hearty dinners, and it is almost always used in a culinary context.
In conversation
Planning dinner
Should we make tortellini for dinner tonight?
Should we make tortellini for dinner tonight?
That sounds great, I'll pick up some fresh pesto on my way home.
That sounds great, I'll pick up some fresh pesto on my way home.
Used here as a simple, quick meal option.
At a restaurant
The special today is cheese-filled tortellini in a sage butter sauce.
The special today is cheese-filled tortellini in a sage butter sauce.
That sounds delicious, I'll take that.
That sounds delicious, I'll take that.
Standard menu terminology for a pasta dish.
Examples
I boiled some tortellini for lunch.
I boiled some tortellini for lunch.
She served the tortellini in a light chicken broth.
She served the tortellini in a light chicken broth.
The chef hand-folded each piece of tortellini to ensure the filling stayed perfectly sealed.
The chef hand-folded each piece of tortellini to ensure the filling stayed perfectly sealed.
