BUTTERNUT SQUASH BACON

TORTELLINI

“I LOVE to make tortellini. They are the Italian dumpling! They are so versatile and so freaking tasty. You can make them simple, and you can make them super complex. I try to keep mine pretty simple, but with a lot of great fat to give it loads of flavor. This is not a meal to be eaten lightly. But during these times of quarantine this is the best kind of comfort food you could ask for!”

FILLING INGREDIENTS (per person):

  • 1 butternut squash (cubed

  • 1/2 onion (sliced)

  • 4-5 cloves garlic (whole)

  • 3-4 pieces of bacon (diced)

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

  • Salt and pepper to taste

OTHER INGREDIENTS:

  • ~50 wraps (either wonton wraps or handmade pasta)

  • pot of water

  • 1/2 stick of butter

  • Sage or other Italian spices

  • Cast iron skillet

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees

  2. Cook your bacon in a cast iron skillet until the pieces are browned

  3. Remove the bacon, but leave the fat in the skillet.

  4. Add in the squash, onion and garlic to the skillet in the bacon fat, and bake for about 35 minutes or until tender

  5. PUT THE SQUASH, ONION AND GARLIC INTO FOOD PROCESSOR AND BLEND INTO A PUREE

  6. MIX IN THE RICOTTA, PARMESAN AND BACON

  7. NOW IT’S TIME TO FOLD, YOU WILL TAKE ABOUT A SPOONFUL OF FILLING AND PLACE IT IN THE MIDDLE. PUT WATER TWO SIDES OF THE WRAP AND FOLD IT DIAGONALLY

  8. POINT THE FOLDED TIP UP, AND TAKE THE ENDS AND PULL THEM TOGETHER AND CROSS THEM AND PRESS THEM TOGETHER (FOR MORE SPECIFICS ON THE FOLD CHECK OUT MY VIDEO TUTORIAL!)

  9. CONTINUE UNTILL ALL THE FILLING IS FOLDED !

  10. BOIL A POT OF WATER IN THE MEANTIME

  11. PLACE THE DUMPLINGS IN THE WATER, TRY NOT TO LET THEM STICK TO THE BOTTOM

  12. AS SOON AS THEY START TO FLOAT, POUR A BIT OF COLD WATER OVER THEM TO STOP THEM COOKING

  13. AS SOON AS THE WATER STARTS BOILING AGAIN, PULL THEM OUT

  14. IN THE SKILLET, MELT YOUR BUTTER AND ADD SEASONING, COOK UNTIL THE BUTTER STARTS TO BROWN

  15. TOSS THE COOKED TORTELLINI/DUMPLINGS IN THE BUTTER AND ENJOY!