I'll be honest, I get triggered by 'National Men Make Dinner Day.' There are a lot of us that spend every night in the kitchen cranking it out for our partners. Plus there are a lot of ladies who don't cook...no judgement!
Besides, if you're the one in the relationship that doesn't cook, you should attempt to do it more than ONCE A YEAR...C'mon!
Ok, rant over.
I realize there are a ton of people that don't enjoy cooking as much as I do and I'm here to help! This tortellini recipe was one of the first ones I was able to nail consistently and was comfortable cooking for other people.
PRO TIPS:
- Make sure to salt your pasta water. 2-3 big pinches will do. This will go a long way in seasoning your pasta
- DON'T rinse your pasta after it's done cooking. You want that leftover pasta water on there. It will help your sauce stick.
- Take the time to break apart your sausage into small chunks. You want them to be manageable for your guest to eat.
- DON"T cook your onions on too much heat and make sure you don't add your garlic till about 30 seconds before you add your sauce back to the pan.
- Don't skimp on the pasta sauce. If you aren't making your own, get the good stuff!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1-2 Italian Sausage (about 1/2 lb)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 jar of your favorite red pasta sauce. Here's mine. Or use my recipe and make your own.
- 1 package of fresh tortellini (check the refrigeration isle at your grocery store). I like mine stuffed with cheese.
- 1/4 cup white wine
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving.
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat a large frypan over medium to medium-high heat. As your pan warms up, add olive oil.
- Slice your sausage open lengthwise and squeeze into your pan. With a metal spatula or spoon, break apart your sausage as it cooks into the smallest pieces possible. When the sausage is done browning, remove it to a bowl and set aside.
- Add onions and cook until they are translucent (about 5-7 minutes). If they are cooking too hot, they may start to burn so watch your heat. Add garlic and cook about 30-60 seconds until it starts becoming fragrant.
- Add the sausage back to the pan, lower the heat to medium low and add your jar sauce. Make sure you don't add the sauce when the pan is too hot or it may splatter and burn you.
- If there is any sauce left in your jar, add the white wine to the jar and shake with the lid on. Pour that into your pan with the sauce. No waste!
- Lower the sauce to a simmer and let it cook for about 10 mins to burn off the alcohol and thicken up a bit.
- Stir in the 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. This will add a saltiness and depth of flavor.
- Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Meanwhile: boil 6-8 cups of water in a large pot or dutch oven(set on high and then pull back to medium-medium high if it starts boiling over and blow on the bubbles...no joke...it works). Add 2-3 pinches of salt to your water.
- Add your tortellini and cook using the directions on the package. Typically it takes 4-5 minutes. Be sure to taste periodically and cook them to your liking.
- Drain your pasta in a colander and DO NOT RINSE. Take your pasta pot off the burner and add your pasta back to the pot.
- Pour your sace into the pot with the pasta and stir.
- Serve with extra parm cheese and some crusty bread.
Enjoy!