Description
Creamy Italian “Tortellini Carbonara” blends classic Roman pasta traditions with rich, silky sauce. Crispy pancetta and perfectly cooked cheese-filled pasta create a luxurious dinner you’ll savor with each comforting bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 9 ounces (255 grams) refrigerated cheese tortellini
- 8 strips bacon, finely chopped
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- 1 cup (100 grams) Parmesan cheese, grated
Aromatics and Herbs:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup (15 grams) fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Fill a spacious pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil at high heat. Submerge tortellini and cook precisely per package guidelines until perfectly tender, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Drain pasta in a colander, carefully preserving a small quantity of starchy cooking liquid for potential sauce adjustment.
- Position a large skillet over medium flame and introduce bacon pieces. Render fat and crisp bacon, stirring intermittently until golden brown and crunchy, roughly 5-6 minutes.
- Extract crisp bacon with a slotted spoon, transferring to a paper towel, while maintaining approximately one tablespoon of rendering in the skillet.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and introduce minced garlic. Sauté swiftly, preventing scorching, until aromatic – approximately 30-45 seconds.
- Stream heavy cream into the skillet, allowing gentle simmer while occasionally stirring to prevent scorching.
- Gradually incorporate grated Parmesan, whisking until cheese melts completely and sauce thickens to a luxurious consistency.
- Fold in crispy bacon fragments and chopped parsley, reserving some for elegant garnishing.
- Introduce cooked tortellini directly into the creamy sauce, gently tumbling to ensure complete coating. If sauce appears too dense, incrementally introduce reserved pasta water.
- Warm through for an additional 1-2 minutes, permitting pasta to absorb rich flavors.
- Plate immediately, embellishing with reserved bacon bits and fresh parsley. Serve piping hot for maximum enjoyment.
Notes
- Select high-quality tortellini with a filling that complements the rich carbonara sauce, such as cheese or spinach varieties.
- Crisp the bacon slowly to develop a deep, smoky flavor and ensure even browning without burning.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for maximum melting and flavor integration into the creamy sauce.
- Adjust pasta water addition carefully to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or watery.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg