This week, pictures from my visit to Emilia-Romagna have been popping up in my photo feed. Since I got back from that visit to Italy, I’ve tried to recreate several of the dishes I had there. One of them is Tortellini in Brodo. Traditional Tortellini in Brodo is simple – handmade tortellini simmered in homemade chicken broth. Simple and delicious. My attempts were good, but the store-bought cheese tortellini just isn’t the same as the traditional Emilia-Romagna version. In Emilia-Romagna they fill it with mortadella, Parmesan, and other goodies. One day I will attempt making it, but not today. If I was going to use store-bought tortellini I needed to find a way to kick it up a notch.
As luck would have it, this year I have had an abundance of peppers from the garden. I have been looking for ways to use them. The peppers, planted next to the Thai basil, gave me an idea. I decided to add sliced hot peppers, Thai basil, and cherry tomatoes to my tortellini in brodo to give it a Thai spin. This was just the kick that the store-bought tortellini needed! As a bonus, it is quick and easy to make, too! Pair it with a salad or sandwich for an easy lunch or weeknight dinner.
Skip to substitutions or detailed instructions.
Thai Tortellini in Brodo
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 c. chicken broth (preferably homemade)
- 3/4 to 1 c. cherry tomatoes,
- 1-2 hot peppers (jalapeno or similar)
- 4 sprigs of Thai basil
- 10 oz fresh cheese tortellini
Directions
- Step 1 In a pot over medium heat, bring chicken broth to a simmer. While the broth heats, slice the peppers into rings and slice the tomatoes in half.
- Step 2 Simmer the tortellini in the chicken stock for the amount of time indicated on the package.
- Step 3 While tortellini cooks, get 4 serving bowls. In each bowl put 1/4 of tomatoes, 4-5 Thai basil leaves, and 2-3 slices of pepper (depending on your heat preference).
- Step 4 When tortellini has cooked, ladle the tortellini and broth into the bowls. Let sit and steep for 3-4 minutes before serving. Serve with a piece of sourdough toast or your favorite bread.
Substitutions
If you can’t find Thai basil, you could substitute cilantro or Italian basil