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Tortelli caramelle

Tortelli caramelle

Pasta filled with wild greens and beetroot

“Caramelle (named for its resemblence to lollies) is a dish made for Sunday lunch or special celebrations. It is a tradition of Parma and Piacenza, and each family’s recipe has its own secret or variation. Seasonal wild greens (erbette – which can include edible greens from the fields such as nettle and cress) can be used instead of spinach.”

Tortelli caramelle

Serves 6
Cooking Time Prep time 30 mins, cook 15 mins (plus resting)
100 gm   butter, coarsely chopped
¼ bunch   sage leaves
To serve:   finely grated parmesan
Pasta dough
200 gm   plain flour
2   eggs
Ricotta and spinach filling
75 gm   each of English spinach leaves and wild greens
100 gm   ricotta
20 gm   (1/3 cup) finely grated parmesan
1   egg yolk
To taste:   finely grated nutmeg
Beetroot filling
200 gm   roasted beetroot, puréed
100 gm   goat’s cheese
50 gm   ricotta
20 gm   finely grated parmesan


1 For the pasta dough, mound the flour and a pinch of salt onto a work surface and make a well in the middle. Add eggs and 1 tbsp of water to the well. Using a fork, beat the eggs and gradually incorporate the flour from the sides of the well. Knead, then using a pasta machine, start at the widest setting and feed dough through the rollers, reducing settings notch by notch and feeding and rolling until dough is translucent. Cut pasta into 5cm x 8cm rectangles using a fluted pastry wheel, then place onto lightly floured trays and cover with a damp cloth to prevent drying out.
2 For ricotta and spinach filling, steam spinach and wild greens until wilted, then drain and squeeze out water. Finely chop and transfer to a bowl. Add ricotta, parmesan, egg yolk and season to taste with nutmeg, sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
3 For beetroot filling, combine all ingredients in a bowl and season to taste.
4 Place a tablespoon of each, alternating the ricotta and wild greens and beetroot fillings, among each piece of pasta. Delicately roll the long edge of the pasta over the filling and gently pinch the ends so it looks like a lolly or bonbon.
5 Bring a saucepan of salted water to boil, add pasta and cook in batches until al dente (3-4 minutes). Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a warm, lightly oiled bowl.
6 Meanwhile, melt butter in a large frying pan over low-medium heat, add sage and cook for 2 minutes. Add drained pasta and cook until pasta and butter are browned (2-3 minutes). Serve immediately, with parmesan.


Drink Suggestion Ortrugo or pinot grigio.

RECIPE Anna Maria Eoclidi PHOTOGRAPHY Ben Dearnley STYLING Emma Knowles


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