For a full Christmas menu including classic dishes, you certainly shouldn’t miss out on making ‘cappelletti’ stuffed pasta parcels in broth: it is a traditional Italian recipe that many families have been eating for years, both for Christmas lunch and other special occasions. The broth can be made with the meat you favour so as to accommodate your palate and that of your guests. Today the recipe is prepared all over Italy, although it must be stressed that these stuffed pasta specifically are intimately linked to the gastronomy of Emilia Romagna. A special feature that distinguishes ‘cappelletti’ in this area is that they are rather small, while the size tends to increase as you move towards the Po. Try making them yourself, following our chef’s instructions, and you will see that is really quite easy to serve this exceptionally tasty and healthy dish!
* approximate values per serving
Prepare the pasta dough following our basic recipe. Cook the meat in a frying pan with plenty of butter. Once cooked, blitz with an electric blender together with the ricotta, mortadella, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Mix together until smooth, then add a good quantity of grated Parmesan cheese. Roll out the dough with a pasta maker as in our recipes for ravioli. Cut squares of pasta about 3cm x 3cm and put a little ball of filling in the centre. Stick the two corners together, squeezing a bit around the filling, and then gently seal the two flaps to the side of the filling, leaving a triangle protruding from the other side, facing upwards. You'll have something that looks a little like a baby’s belly button! Make some meat stock, and when ready cook the pasta parcels in it until they come to the surface. Serve with grated Parmesan.
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For the filling you also need mortadella
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Prepare the filling by blending together the meat cooked in butter, ricotta, parmesan and flavour well with nutmeg, salt and pepper
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Make a broth and cook the pasta in it until they float to the surface
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The stuffed pasta in broth are ready
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Fold over the pasta squares into a triangle shape
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Seal the two flaps, pressing down around the filling
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The stuffed pasta are ready for cooking
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Roll out the egg pasta sheets and place plenty of little balls on one sheet at intervals, until you have as many as you want
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The Cappelletti in Brodo can be enriched with different types of meat, but one of the most appreciated variations is the one that uses veal and mortadella. To prepare this delicious version, start by cooking the veal chops in plenty of butter until tender. Then, chop them together with the mortadella, ricotta, and Parmigiano Reggiano, creating a creamy and flavorful filling. This combination of ingredients gives the cappelletti an intense flavor, perfect for being served in a hot and savory broth. This variant is ideal for special occasions, where the hot broth accompanies a rich and substantial dish, capable of satisfying even the most discerning palates.
In the culinary tradition of Emilia Romagna, the Cappelletti in Brodo Romagnola Style represents a fundamental dish during the holidays. Unlike other variations, this preparation is distinguished by the use of a rich and flavorful meat broth, usually obtained from a combination of beef, chicken, and pork. The meat is slowly cooked for several hours, extracting all its juices and aromas. The cappelletti, filled with a mix of ricotta, mortadella, and Parmigiano, are then immersed in the hot broth, creating a dish that celebrates the local gastronomic tradition. Served with a sprinkle of grated Parmigiano, the cappelletti Romagnola Style are true comfort food, perfect for family dinners during the winter.
For those looking for a lighter version of the classic Cappelletti in Brodo, it is possible to prepare a variant without butter and with a filling based on ricotta. In this preparation, you can replace the butter with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, which will make the dish lighter and more digestible. Use fresh ricotta and add aromatic herbs like parsley and basil to give freshness to the filling. The broth can also be prepared using only lean meat, such as chicken breast, to keep the dish light. This version is ideal for those who want to enjoy the cappelletti without feeling heavy, while maintaining the flavors and tradition of the original recipe.
The Cappelletti in Brodo offer several nutritional benefits thanks to the ingredients used. Ricotta, for example, is a source of protein and calcium, essential for bone health. Lean meats, such as chicken and veal, provide high biological value proteins, fundamental for growth and maintenance of muscle mass. Additionally, the broth, prepared with meat and bones, is rich in collagen, which is beneficial for skin and joints. In terms of calories, a serving of Cappelletti in Brodo can contain about 350-400 calories, depending on the ingredients used and the amount of broth served. This dish, therefore, can be enjoyed even within a balanced diet, if consumed in moderation.
Yes, Cappelletti in Brodo can be frozen, but it is important to follow some precautions to preserve their quality. Before freezing, make sure the broth is completely cooled and that the cappelletti have been cooked al dente. You can freeze them separately from the broth, so you can use them in different preparations. When you are ready to eat them, thaw them in the refrigerator and then reheat them in the hot broth. This method ensures that the cappelletti maintain their texture and flavor. Keep in mind that, although they can be frozen, it is preferable to consume them fresh to fully enjoy the flavors and freshness of the ingredients.