Description
Creamy Gorgonzola Tortellini Casserole brings Italian comfort to dinner tables with its rich, nutty blend of pasta and cheese. Walnuts add crunch while melted Gorgonzola creates a luxurious sauce that promises pure culinary satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) fresh/refrigerated tortellini (cooked half the time stated on the package)
- 1 cup gorgonzola cheese, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend)
Dairy and Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- Butter (for greasing the dish)
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 large handful spinach
- ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Warm the oven to a toasty 400°F, creating an ideal environment for baking the creamy casserole.
- Generously coat the baking vessel with a thin layer of butter, ensuring no surface is left unprotected.
- Cook the tortellini briefly, submerging them in rapidly boiling water for approximately half their recommended cooking time, then carefully drain.
- Construct the first foundation layer by spreading a generous portion of tortellini across the buttered dish’s bottom.
- Scatter fresh spinach leaves over the pasta, creating a vibrant green landscape.
- Distribute a handful of crunchy walnuts, providing textural contrast to the soft pasta.
- Sprinkle both gorgonzola and mozzarella cheeses, allowing their rich flavors to meld and intermingle.
- Repeat the layering process, building a second identical stratum of tortellini, spinach, walnuts, and cheeses.
- Delicately pour heavy cream across the entire dish, ensuring each pasta pocket receives a luxurious coating.
- Position the casserole in the oven’s center, allowing even heat distribution for approximately 30 minutes.
- Remove when the top transforms into a golden, bubbly landscape of melted cheese.
- Let the dish rest momentarily before serving, accompanied by a crisp side salad for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Partially cook tortellini to prevent overcooking during baking, maintaining perfect al dente texture.
- Toast walnuts briefly before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create a delightful crunch in the casserole.
- Swap spinach with kale or Swiss chard for a different nutritional profile and slightly earthier taste.
- Use gluten-free tortellini and replace cream with plant-based alternatives to make the dish cel
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg