tortellini

The distinctive shape of tortellini.

Tortellini of Modena.

Tortellini served with meat sauce.

Tortellini are ring-shaped pasta, sometimes described too as "navel shaped", hence their alternative name of "belly button" (umbellico)^[1]. They are typically stuffed with a mix of meat (pork loin, prosciutto) or cheese. Originally from the Italian region of Emilia (in particular Bologna and Modena), they are usually served in broth, either of beef, chicken, or both.^[2] Tortellini are now commonly found all around the world.

Packed, refrigerated or frozen, tortellini and tortelloni (similar but larger and with vegetable stuffing) appear in many locations around the world, especially where there are large Italian communities. Tortellini and tortelloni are made in special industrial lines supplied all over the world by Italian companies such as Arienti & Cattaneo, Ima, Ostoni, Zamboni, etc.; "fresh" packed tortellini usually have 7 weeks of shelf-life.

Similar foods in other cultures include uszka in Poland, the German Maultasche, Chinese wonton and jiaozi, and Turkish mantı.

Origins

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

The origin of tortellini is obscure although many legends lay claim to the origins of it. A strong local tradition has it that this dish was born in Castelfranco Emilia (province of Modena).^{[citation needed]} One night during a trip, Lucrezia Borgia checked into an inn in the small town and during the night the host became so captivated by Lucrezia's beauty that he could not resist the urge to peek into her room through the keyhole. The bedroom was only lit by a few candles, and so he could barely see her navel. This pure and innocent vision was enough to send him into an ecstasy that inspired him to create the tortellini that night.

Another distinct but similar in theme legend, originated in medieval Italy and tells how Venus and Jupiter arrived at a tavern on the outskirts of Bologna one night, weary from their involvement in a battle between Modena and Bologna.^{[citation needed]} After much food and drink, they shared a room. The innkeeper, captivated by the two, followed them and peeked through the keyhole. All he could see was Venus's navel. Spellbound, he rushed to the kitchen and created tortellini in its image.

Finally a third, more plausible explanation claims that the tortellini reproduce the shape of a turtle in an effort to replicate the famous architectural features of Modena, where many 17th-century buildings allude to the turtle motif.

Comparison to tortelloni

Tortelloni is pasta in the same shape, but larger, typically 5 g, vs. 2 g for tortellini.^[3] Although either can be filled with a wide variety of foods, meat-based filling is less common in tortelloni. Tortellini may be served with sauce or in a broth; tortelloni are rarely served in a broth.

See also

• Tortelloni
• Mantı
• Tortel Dols di Colorno

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tortellini

• Tortellini production video