4 Different types of stuffed pasta and their story

If you clicked on this article, you know Italian stuffed pasta are one of a kind, and especially very delicious! But did you know there’s more stuffed pasta than you can think about? Italian stuffed pasta isn’t just about raviolis, you can find and cook tons of different pasta. Discover in this article the 6 most popular Italian stuffed pasta and their story.

What is Italian stuffed pasta?

Stuffed pasta is a type of pasta that is typically filled with a variety of different ingredients. Some of the most popular types of stuffed pasta include ravioli, tortellini, and cannelloni.

Stuffed pasta is a popular dish in many different cultures. In Italy, and more commonly in Europe, ravioli is a popular type of stuffed pasta. In the United States, tortellini and cannelloni are both popular types of stuffed pasta. But what are the different kinds of stuffed pasta you can eat, and what can you expect from them? Let’s dig that a little bit more.

What are the most popular raviolis fillings?

The most popular ravioli fillings include cheese, meat, vegetables, and even fruit.

The most common types of cheese that are used to stuff ravioli include: ricotta, mozzarella, gorgonzola and parmesan. They are usually stuffed with other ingredients like spinach or tomato, but sometimes, they are mixed altogether like in the Quattro Formaggi (4 cheese) stuffed pasta. The recipe of the 4 Cheese pasta vary, but it generally includes ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella and gorgonzola.

Besides of cheese, it’s common to cook and eat meat stuffed pasta. The most common fillings in this case are beef, ham, pork or chicken. If you’re more a seafood person, you can also find salmon stuffed pasta, or lobster fillings for the more gourmet recipes.

Looking for a veggie option? Don’t worry, stuffed pasta offer plenty of options for vegetarians with for instance spinach, mushrooms, butternut squash or zucchini fillings.

Fruit fillings for ravioli are not as common, but some people do stuff their ravioli with apples or pears.

Ravioli, the star of Italian stuffed pasta

It’s impossible not to think about ravioli when talking about stuffed pasta. Ravioli is the most popular kind of stuffed pasta there is, and you can usually recognize it by its typical square or rectangular shape.

Ravioli comes from the Italian word “raviolo,” which means “to stuff.” It was first cooked in the 14th century in Italy! The earliest known mention of ravioli appears in the personal letters of Francesco di Marco Datini, a merchant of Prato in the 14th century.

Ravioli can be made from a variety of different doughs, including wheat flour, semolina flour, egg pasta dough, and even potato dough. The most common fillings for ravioli is ricotta cheese, spinach, nutmeg and black pepper, which was already the most popular recipe in Antique Rome!

Discover what makes the Tortellini so special

Tortellini is let’s say, the second most common Italian stuffed pasta. You usually recognise it with its small and circular in shape. Tortellini come from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and the most common fillings for tortellini include cheese, meat, and vegetables.

Tortellini dough is typically made from wheat flour and eggs, and the dough is rolled out very thin. Once the dough is rolled out, small pieces of filling are placed in the center of each circle. The dough is then folded over the filling to form a half-moon shape and then sealed.

Italians usually eat tortellinis as a first course, and the dish is typically served with a broth or cream sauce.

Mezzelune, a typical stuffed pasta you should absolutely know about

Mezzelune is also a type of pasta that is typically half-moon shaped. Instead of being “twisted” like the tortellini, it has more of a flat dimension like the ravioli, but in a crescent shape.

Mezzelunes come from the area of South Tyrol in Italy, but it is also a typical dish in Austria (where it is known as schlutzkrapfen). Common fillings include ingredients such as cheese, mushrooms, potatoes, meat, or spinach.

It is usually eaten as a first course, and paired with sauces like pesto, or ingredients like sausage or seafood.

Is Cannelloni a kind of stuffed pasta?

Cannelloni isn’t the typical Italian stuffed pasta, but by the way it is cooked – always with a sauce inside – you can consider it a cousin of typical stuffed pasta.

Indeed, the large and tube shape of the cannelloni allows it to be filled easily with a variety of different ingredients. Cannellonis come from the Campania region of Italy, and the most common fillings for cannelloni include cheese like parmesan or ricotta and meat like beef.

Cannellonis are usually baked with a tomato or cream sauce, and the dish is typically garnished with cheese and herbs.

In conclusion…

If you’re looking for a delicious and hearty dish, look no further than ravioli, tortellini, or mezzelune. These popular types of stuffed pasta are sure to please everyone at the table. And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not try cannelloni? No matter what type of stuffed pasta you choose, you’re in for a treat!