Meat, Italy
Tortellini in chicken broth
Tortellini in chicken broth is an Italian dish for 4 people, ready in 1h10, easy to make, for about €2.80 per person. Chicken and vegetables simmer gently to build a clear broth, then the tortellini cook right in it to soak up its flavor. Success comes down to keeping the broth at a bare simmer, never a rolling boil.
It's cold out, so I'm making you tortellini in a steaming chicken broth, the comfort of Emilia in a bowl.
- Total time
- 1 h 10
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Cost per person
- €2.80
- Calories per person
- 540 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
- Season
- Winter, Fall
- The kids
- They generally like it
A chicken broth simmering gently, tortellini plumping up inside it as they soak up its flavor, a bit of shredded chicken and parmesan melting on top. It's a gentle dish, far from heavy sauces, where every element keeps its own texture, the tender pasta, the soft carrot, the clear fragrant broth.
This is the dinner for cold evenings when you come home chilled and want a bowl that warms you without weighing you down. Kids love fishing the tortellini out with a spoon, adults appreciate a dish that needs few steps but a bit of patience. A quiet Sunday or a weeknight where the broth simmers while you handle other things.
The ingredients
Butcher
- Chicken thighs 3
Fruits and vegetables
- Carrots 2
- Onion 1
- Celery stalk 1
- Parsley 4 sprigs
Pantry
- Wateroften in the pantry 1.5 l
- Cloveoften in the pantry 1
- Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
- Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch
Dairy
- Meat tortellini 400 g
- Parmesan 60 g
Allergens Gluten, Eggs, Lactose, Celery
The step by step recipe
-
Put the chicken thighs, carrots, the onion studded with the clove, and the celery into cold water.
Always start with cold water, the meat gives all its flavor to the broth that way.
-
Bring slowly to a simmer and skim, then let it cook covered. 45 min
Skim off the foam with a skimmer at the start, your broth will come out clear.
-
Remove the chicken, strain the broth and shred the meat, keeping the carrots sliced.
Taste the broth and adjust the salt only at the end, since it reduces as it cooks.
-
Bring the broth back to a boil and drop the tortellini in. 4 min
Cook the tortellini directly in the broth, they soak up its flavor that way.
-
Serve in bowls with a bit of shredded chicken, the carrots, grated parmesan and chopped parsley.
Save the parmesan rind, drop it into the broth to flavor it.
Our tips to get it right
- Make the broth the day before if you can, it's easier to skim the fat off once cold and the flavor concentrates overnight.
- Don't salt too early, the broth reduces as it cooks and gets saltier naturally, so you risk oversalting if you season at the start.
- Add the tortellini only right before serving if you're not eating immediately, they soften fast if left sitting in hot broth.
The variations
- Swap the chicken thighs for half a whole chicken if you want more meat to shred and a richer broth.
- For a vegetarian version, make a vegetable broth with leek, carrot and celery, and pick cheese or spinach and ricotta tortellini.
- For a quicker version with kids, use ready made chicken broth and focus on just cooking the tortellini, about 20 minutes instead of 70.
What to serve it with
- Toasted country bread
- A simple green salad
- A glass of dry white wine
Storage
The broth keeps for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and freezes well for up to 3 months. Keep the tortellini separate if they'll wait, and reheat everything gently at a simmer without letting it boil.
Questions about this dish
Can you use fresh or frozen tortellini?
Both work well in this recipe. Frozen tortellini need one or two extra minutes of cooking, check that they float to the surface before serving.
How do you get a really clear broth?
Always start with cold water and skim it regularly at the beginning of cooking. The trick is keeping it at a gentle simmer, never a hard boil, which clouds the broth.
Can you make the broth ahead of time?
Yes, it's actually recommended. Make the broth and shred the chicken the day before, then reheat and add the tortellini just before serving.
What cheese can you use instead of parmesan?
Pecorino works well and brings a sharper, saltier flavor. You can also use grana padano, which is milder, in a similar amount.
How long does it take to make a bowl of tortellini in chicken broth?
Count 1 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.
How many calories are in a bowl of tortellini in chicken broth?
About 540 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.
How much does a bowl of tortellini in chicken broth cost?
About €2.80 per serving, or €11.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.
What allergens does this recipe contain?
This recipe contains gluten, eggs, lactose, celery. Always check the labels of the products you buy.
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