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Cheese Tortellini Alfredo

Cheese Tortellini Alfredo
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Giangi Townsend
 An excellent cream sauce surrounds delightful cheese-filled pasta. It does not get any better than this.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta Cheese Tortellini
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • ground pepper, fresh
  • nutmeg, a few grinds
US - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large pot of salted water cook the tortellini according to the package directions.
  • Drain the tortellini and return them to the pot. Fold in the butter until melted.
  • Add the Parmiggiano and the heavy cream. Stir until the tortellini absorbs the cream. Add a dash of nutmeg and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Add more parmesan cheese and serve hot.

Notes

 
Substitutes and additions
While the traditional Alfredo sauce is inimitable, there are several alternatives you can consider to cater to different dietary requirements or preferences.
  1. Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce: For those who are lactose intolerant or follow a vegan lifestyle, you can substitute the heavy cream with unsweetened almond milk or soy milk. Instead of butter, use a dairy-free butter substitute or olive oil. Vegan parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast can replace the conventional parmesan cheese.
  2. Gluten-Free Pasta: If you are gluten-sensitive, replace the traditional tortellini with a gluten-free variant. Many gluten-free pastas are available on the market now, made from various ingredients like brown rice, corn, and quinoa.
  3. Low-Fat Alfredo Sauce: For a healthier, lower-fat version, use low-fat milk instead of heavy cream. You can also consider using Neufchatel cheese or light cream cheese instead of butter for a lower fat but still creamy texture.
Additions
  • Of course, you can use your favorite pasta, but fettuccine is the original choice.
  • Chicken Tortellini Alfredo is a wonderful recipe that can be created by just adding leftover chicken that is chopped up in small dice and added to the pasta. If you wish, you can warm it up by sauteing it in butter to warm it up for a couple of minutes.
  • Sautee mild Italian sausage and add it to your sauce, making another option for your tortellini recipes.
  •  If you feel adventurous, consider adding vegetables to your sauce. Broccoli florets or peas can take this dish to the next level and provide a much-needed nutritional boost.
  • You can make a garlicky Alfredo sauce with fresh tortellini or even cheese-filled tortellini by adding minced garlic cloves.

Nutrition

Calories: 622kcal | Carbohydrates: 85g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 286mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Calcium: 191mg | Iron: 1.6mg

Giangi's Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.