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The Recipe · No.319 · Tortellini

Tortellini, and where to source it

Tortellini — 5best2buy.com 5BEST2BUY.COM Tortellini Italian 5best2buy.com

Cut the squares small, around an inch and a half, because tortellini are meant to be tiny and a big one folds clumsy and cooks unevenly. Keep the sheets under a towel while you work, since fresh pasta dries out in minutes and cracks when you try to fold it.

By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026

Prep1 hr
Cook15 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineItalian
Cost$$$
Contains  dairy · eggs · gluten
Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free pasta or noodle (check the other labels too).
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for 4 servings
Fresh pasta dough
Thin egg dough that folds without cracking is essential for small tortellini.
1 lb (about 3 cups flour)
Ground pork
Cooked and finely chopped for the savory core of the filling; pasture-raised pork has real flavor.
8 oz
Prosciutto
Finely minced into the filling for a salty, cured backbone.
3 oz
Parmigiano-Reggiano
Grated into the filling and shaved over the finished bowl.
3/4 cup grated
Eggs and nutmeg
One egg binds the filling with a grate of nutmeg; a light brodo carries them.
1 egg, pinch nutmeg

Using ground pork? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown
Greedometer ●●●● Squeaky clean
About as virtuous as dinner gets.
EffortSome doing
Cook it with
Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot
The Method
  1. Make fillingCook the pork, cool, and pulse with prosciutto, Parmesan, egg, and nutmeg into a fine paste. Chill firm.
  2. Roll and cutRoll the dough nearly translucent and cut into 1.5-inch squares, keeping the rest covered.
  3. FoldDot filling on each square, fold into a triangle sealing out air, then wrap the two points around a fingertip and pinch.
  4. Cook in brodoSimmer in a light chicken brodo 3 to 4 minutes until they float and the pasta is tender. Serve in the broth with grated Parmesan.
The Toolkit

Pasta roller · Bench scraper · Fluted cutter · Food processor

Straight Answers
Can you make Tortellini in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Tortellini? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Tortellini ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Tortellini gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in a gluten-free pasta or noodle (check the other labels too).

Is Tortellini vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.319

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