Tortellini en Brodo

What is Tortellini en Brodo? 

Tortellini en brodo is a traditional Italian recipe originating in the Emilia-Romagna region. A type of soup, it features tortellini, typically filled with a mixture of meats such as pork loin, mortadella, and prosciutto, along with Parmesan cheese. They're cooked in a rich, meat broth. Then, the dish is finished with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. 

My family enjoys it on cold days with Savory Braided Pesto Bread and an Easy Italian Arugula Salad. Ready in 10 minutes, all the ingredients come together in one pot for a quick meal I always know I can rely on when life gets busy. 

Key Ingredients and Notes

• Chicken Stock - I use my Homemade Chicken Stock. Homemade Beef Stock also works well. Or, if I don't have any on hand, I use low-sodium store-bought stock. 
• Tortellini - Frozen cheese tortellini is my go-to, but I've also used meat-filled tortellini and veggie-filled tortellini. It all tastes great! If you have the time, feel free to use a pasta machine to make a simple homemade pasta dough with flour, eggs, salt, and olive oil. Keep extra on hand to make Tortellini alla Panna and Baked Tortellini Alfredo!
• Parmesan or Parmigiano Reggiano - I always use both shredded Parmesan cheese and the Parmesan rind. It infuses so much salty, savory flavor into the broth. 

Possible Variations

• Chicken - Add a whole chicken before the tortellini. Let it boil and cook. Then remove the chicken from the pot, shred the meat with a fork, and add it back to the soup. Save the chicken bones to make more stock! 
• Vegetables - Sauté garlic, onions, carrots, or celery before simmering the broth to add more flavor to the soup.  Or, stir in massaged kale or spinach just before serving. 
• Seasonings - Add depth to the broth with a pinch of salt, black pepper, or nutmeg. 

How to Make Tortellini en Brodo Soup

Cook the tortellini - Bring the stock to a boil in a large pot, add the frozen tortellini and Parmesan rind, and cook the tortellini just to al dente according to the package instructions. 

Serve - Remove the Parmesan rind, and ladle the soup into bowls. Serve warm, topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

How to Store

To prevent the tortellini from becoming mushy, I store it separately from the broth. The cooked tortellini will stay fresh in the fridge for 1-2 days, and the broth will keep for up to 5 days. If I'm planning on having leftovers, I make an extra batch of broth and store it in the fridge. Then, I cook fresh tortellini just before serving. 

To reheat, I warm the broth and pasta on the stovetop over medium heat. In a pinch, you can heat individual bowls in the microwave in 30-second intervals, but it makes the tortellini a little too soft for my liking. 

More Easy Soup Recipes 

If you love this Tortellini en Brodo Recipe, add these easy soups to your dinner rotation, too!

• Easy Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup - A hands-off vegetarian dinner chock full of pasta, beans, and zucchini. 
• Creamy Sausage Tortellini Soup - Flavor-packed and ready in 30 minutes. 
• Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup - A from-scratch comfort food with protein, veggies, and pasta! 
• Easy Italian Wedding Soup Recipe - A hearty, wintertime favorite ready in 40 minutes.