Tortelloni
Tortelloni are stuffed pasta, common in Northern Italy, with a similar shape as tortellini, but larger and with the extremities closed differently. They are traditionally stuffed with ricotta cheese and leaf vegetables, such as parsley and/or spinach.
Many variants exist where the vegetables are replaced with stronger ingredients such as porcini or walnuts. Another common filling for tortelloni, especially in the provinces of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio Emilia, is a paste made mainly of pumpkin pulp and amaretti biscuits.
Tortelloni made with ricotta and herbs are usually stir-fried with melted butter and sage leaves. As one of the few Northern Italian pasta dishes with no meat content, they are a traditional dish for Christmas eve.
