Description
Comfort meets elegance in this French onion tortellini, blending classic French flavors with Italian pasta perfection. Caramelized onions, rich broth, and melted gruyère create a luxurious dish you’ll crave on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 package (20 ounces / 567 grams) cheese tortellini
- 3 large yellow onions (thinly sliced)
- 1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Cooking Liquids and Fats:
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup beef broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian version)
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
Herbs, Spices, and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat butter and olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium temperature until butter melts completely.
- Add sliced onions and cook slowly, stirring intermittently for 35-40 minutes, allowing them to transform into a deep golden-brown caramel color with rich, complex flavor.
- Introduce minced garlic and thyme, sautéing for approximately 60 seconds until aromatic and fragrant.
- Dust flour across caramelized onions, continuously stirring for 1-2 minutes to create a smooth base for the sauce.
- Gradually stream beef broth and white wine into the pot, whisking consistently to prevent clumping, then simmer for 5 minutes until sauce slightly thickens.
- Simultaneously, prepare tortellini in a separate pot of salted water, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm, then drain and reserve.
- Gently fold cooked tortellini into the onion sauce, ensuring each pasta piece gets evenly coated with the rich mixture.
- Transfer entire contents to a spacious oven-safe skillet, spreading evenly across the surface.
- Generously sprinkle Gruyère and Parmesan cheeses over the top, creating a comprehensive cheese layer.
- Position under broiler for 2-3 minutes, monitoring closely to achieve a perfectly melted, golden-brown cheese crust without burning.
- Allow dish to rest momentarily after removing from oven, then garnish with fresh parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Caramelize onions slowly and patiently to develop deep, rich flavor without burning them.
- Use a heavy-bottomed pot to ensure even heat distribution and prevent scorching during long cooking process.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular tortellini with gluten-free pasta and use cornstarch instead of flour as thickening agent.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Broiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 568
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg