Like ravioli, the filling for these can be anything from meat to seafood or vegetables. This filling is really a cheat’s version — it’s super quick, easy to make and deliciously tasty. It can be prepared a day in advance and kept in the fridge along with the sauce and the pasta dough. This creamy sauce has a wonderful flavour and texture. Taking the basil out before the sauce is pureed keeps the pure colour and keeps the basil a surprise. Here's how to go about the recipe:
Make egg pasta
Ingredients
3 eggs
2 tsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
300g flour
1 Whisk eggs with oil and salt.
2 For the time-saving method, place flour in a food processor with egg mix then blend until a dough starts to form. Tip out on to the bench and knead aggressively by hand until firm, smooth and slightly silky and elastic to the touch; add a little flour if too sticky. Divide in two, flatten dough as much as possible then wrap tightly in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. For the handmade method, tip flour on the bench, make a well then pour in egg mix. Using clean hands work the flour into the eggs until a dough begins to form. Continue to knead as above. Get the recipe
Make your tortellini Serves 4
Tortellini filling
400g gourmet pork sausages
1 Tbsp chopped parsley
¼ cup finely diced onion
½ tsp sweet smoked paprika
Fresh egg pasta dough (recipe above)
Tomato creme sauce
2 Tbsp olive oil
½ cup finely diced onion
½ tsp crushed garlic
400g can chopped tomatoes
½ tsp sugar
1 cup picked basil leaves
¼ cup cream
½ cup grated parmigiano reggiano
1 For the filling, remove skin from the sausages and place in a bowl with parsley, onion, paprika, and some salt and pepper. Mix well.
2 Roll sheets of pasta, lightly flour then use a 7cm cookie cutter or a metal ring cutter to make discs.
3 Place a teaspoon of sausage filling in the centre of each disc. Lightly brush half of the outer edge of the disc with the tiniest amount of water.
4 Fold the edges together then pinch tightly closed to ensure no filling comes out during cooking.
5 Bring the two "pointed corners" of the dough together and pinch tight. Place the tortellini on a lightly floured tray lined with baking paper
6 For the sauce, heat the olive oil in a saucepan and cook onion on a gentle heat for 10 minutes. Add garlic, tomatoes and sugar. Bring to the boil then turn down to a gentle simmer. Add half the basil and cook for 15 minutes. Pick out and remove the leaves. Add cream and some salt and pepper then puree until smooth and velvety.
7 Use two large pots of boiling salted water to gently cook tortellini for 6-7 minutes until al dente. Spoon hot sauce into warm bowls, serve tortellini on top. Drizzle with extra sauce then sprinkle generously with parmigiano reggiano and garnish with remaining fresh basil leaves. Get the recipe
