Tortellini in Brodo

What is that magical smell coming from the kitchen? What's cooking? It's an exquisite meat broth: one of the basic preparations in the Italian kitchen (together with the vegetable broth).

Nonna Maria, as a good Milanese, discovered the secret for the perfect broth, and now I am delighted to pass on my version of the recipe!

Just imagine how convenient it is to have a meat broth always ready to be used to prepare your favorite winter dishes: ravioli, cappeletti, passatelli; or to cook extraordinary risotti. In fact, the broth in your recipes makes the difference, when homemade. Thanks to the use of genuine ingredients, aromas, and the slow cooking, the broth has a whole different flavor.

Once ready, you can also use the slick meat to create other delicious meals. Ask us how!

Ingredients:

- 500 gr beef shoulder

- 400 gr beef ribs

- 400 gr beef bones

- 60 gr celery

- 100 gr carrots

- 100 gr golden onions

- 150 gr coppery tomatoes

- 4 liters water

- 40 gr extra virgin olive oil

- 2 cloves

- a pinch of salt and pepper

- 500 gr tortellini di carne (filled with meat)

Directions:

1. Begin by washing and drying the vegetables. Peel and chop the carrots, and peel and chop the celery. Cut the tomato in half.

2. Peel the onion and cut in half. Simmer it for about 4 minutes in a pan on its own and make sure to flip the pieces to prevent burning.

3. In another pot, add all the vegetables with the olive oil and flavor them with pepper and the cloves.

4. In the same pot, add the bones and the meat. Fill it with 3 liters of water and cook at a medium high heat on the stove for about 2 hours, so that the water reduces to about half of the original portion.

5. At this point, add the remaining liter of water and leave it cooking for another hour at low heat. As the fat begins to rise to the surface, remove it with a sieve.

6. Once the cooking is done, sieve the broth in order to separate the liquid from the meat and vegetables. Then pour the broth back in the pot and add a pinch of salt. At this point, your meat broth is ready to be used for your tortellini in brodo.

7. Bring the broth to a boil and add your tortellini. Cook for 5-8 minutes, or 2-3 minutes after the tortellini float to the top.

Serve hot, and sprinkle some freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Watch how to serve your tortellini here!

Buon appetito!