Tortellini pasta with Broccoli and Basil Pesto (from scratch)

I love eating pasta ...who doesnt?I always wondered how are pastas made and can they be made with hands in our homes.??

And the answer is a big yes and So I will be sharing with you the steps to make a healthier eggless tortellini pasta without any authentic pasta maker or tools.Also there is no preservative which makes it way healthier than the storebought ones.Right?? You can make them in a large batch and freeze them ..Isnt it exciting...??

Lets see what shape it is....Tortellini is a ring shaped pasta originally from the Italian region of Emilia.They are also called belly button and strongly resemble wonton.These cute shaped pastas can be made either round shape or square shaped and  usually filled with a plain cheese filling /spinach cheese/herbed cheese whatever you choose.

So this recipe includes making the dough, preparing a cheese filling,shaping the tortellinis, cooking them in boiled water, making basil pesto ,making the pasta sauce and incorporating pasta into the sauce. These pastas are made with just 3 ingredients that are usually available easily.So lets dig in the recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

For Pasta Dough-

Semolina Flour 2 cups

Salt 1/4 tsp

Water to knead a stiff dough

For Pasta filling-

Grated Parmesan cheese 1/3 cup

Grated Mozarella cheese 1/3 cup

Basil leaves chopped 2-3

Black pepper 1/4 tsp

Italian dried herbs seasoning 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

For Basil Pesto-

Basil leaves 1 cup

Grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup

Roasted Pine nuts/ walnuts 1/4 cup

Extra virgin Olive oil/Avacoado oil 1/4 cup

Garlic cloves 2

Salt 1/4 tsp

Ground Black pepper as per taste

For Boiling Pasta 

Water 2 litres

Salt 2 tsp

For Pasta Sauce

Basil pesto 

Boiled Pasta water 1/2 cup

Broccoli florets 1/4 cup

For Garnish

Ground black pepper 

Red chilli flakes

Basil leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

1.Lets make the stiff dough for making tortellinis.In a bowl,add Semolina flour ,salt and spoon by spoon water to make a stiff dough.

2.Make a stiff dough by kneading it well for 20 minutes and keep it aside covered with a damp cloth for 20 minutes.Make sure it is covered as it dries up quickly.

3.Lets make the filling, On a plate or bowl,add all the ingredients mentioned under Pasta filling Ingredients.

4.Now mix thoroughly to make a smooth mixture.Keep aside.

3.Now lets make the basil pesto,Add all the ingredients mentioned under Basil pesto ingredients above in a blender jar.

4.Blend into a course paste.Keep aside.cover with a lid.

5.Now the interesting part.Lets make the pasta shape.Divide the dough into 3 or 4 parts.

6.Take one part on a floured surface and knead a few times to make a smooth ball ready to roll.Roll it with a rolling pin few times to make a big circle.Roll it as thin as possible.

7.Now with the help of pasta cutter/ cookie cutter ,cut out crinkled rounds /rounds of the pasta spacing the rounds as close together as possible.Gather the scraps together to make a ball again to re roll later.Keep it covered aside.

8.Now place 1 teaspoon of filling In the middle of each  round of pasta.

9.Dip your finger in the bowl of water and run it along the edge of the round to moisten.Fold the dough over to form a half moon, then fold over again,then draw the two corners together to form a rounded bonnet shape.Press tightly to seal.

10.Now continue with all other rounds and place them on a floured dusted plate /baking sheet and cover with a damp cloth.

11.Meanwhile, Keep a big vessel filled with water to boil and add some salt.Finish making tortellinis using all other portions of the dough.

12.Once the water starts boiling ,add the tortellinis in to the water and lower them few times with a slotted spoon.Stir occasionally and cook untill all have bobbed to the surface of the water, about 5 minutes.

13.Once cooked, transfer the tortellinis in a strainer.Keep aside some pasta water for the pasta sauce.

14.Now in same boiling water, blanch your broccoli florets for 2 minutes and remove them  keep aside.

15.Now lets make the pasta sauce.Heat a pan ,add boiled pasta water, basil pesto and broccoli florets...boil for some time.And the pasta sauce is ready. 

16.Add the cooked pasta in the sauce ...garnish with black pepper powder,red chilli flakes, basil and relish delicious pasta !!

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