Tortellaci is just a very large tortellini, about 5 square inches and 1mm thick. A Macaroni Grill knockoff, I put this recipe together using my Grandma’s recipes and the help of The Food Network, Chef David, a former Macaroni Grill Chef and other internet searches. Go ahead and experiment adding or reducing based on your and your guests tastes. Prepared as written, this tortellaci is not real strong in garlic or butter.
Note: I used pre-made tortellaci from the grocery store. If you want to make your own from scratch follow the recipe from Chef David.
Featured Image Source is from one of my darling readers, Janine, who graciously allowed me to replace my sorry image with her own. Thank you Janine!
Try this 4 Cheese Stuffed Shells for more pasta dishes.
Butternut Asiago Tortellaci
A Macaroni Grill knockoff as described by Chef David. I used premade pasta and alfredo sauce and also deleted the demiglace.
Prep Time40 mins
Cook Time35 mins
Total Time1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 430kcal
Ingredients
Scratch Tortellaci:
- 3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 4 extra-large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup parmesan
- 1 cup grated asiago
- 1 cup romano
- 1/2 cup ricotta
Alfredo Sauce:
- Original recipe makes 4 servings
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
Squash:
- 2 butternut squash cut into bite size cubes
- 4 Tbs olive oil or butter
- crispy bacon to crumble as desired about 8 pices
- pumpkin seeds to garnish as desired 1/4 cup
Demi Glace:
- Store bought is just as good!
Instructions
Tortellaci:
- Mound the flour in the center of a large wooden cutting board. Make a well in the middle of the flour, add the eggs. Using a fork, beat together the eggs and begin to incorporate the flour starting with the inner rim of the well. As you incorporate the eggs, keep pushing the flour up to retain the well shape (do not worry if it looks messy). The dough will come together in a shaggy mass when about half of the flour is incorporated.
- Start kneading the dough with both hands, primarily using the palms of your hands. Add more flour, in 1/2-cup increments, if the dough is too sticky. Once the dough is a cohesive mass, remove the dough from the board and scrape up any left over dry bits. Lightly flour the board and continue kneading for 3 more minutes. The dough should be elastic and a little sticky. Continue to knead for another 3 minutes, remembering to dust your board with flour when necessary. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and set aside for 20 minutes at room temperature. Roll and form as desired.
- Note: Do not skip the kneading or resting portion of this recipe, they are essential for a light pasta.
- Place your cheeses (parmesan, asiago, romano, ricotta) onto the center, and fold it. When they are folded, they are ready to boil. They will only take about 5 minutes to boil, since it is fresh pasta.
Sauce:
- I just make alfredo, which is about the same thing as an asiago cream sauce, but a little stronger (which is good).
- For the sauce used at Macaroni Grill, sweat a few cloves of minced or pureed garlic into 4 tbsp butter, and a few pinches of salt (just melt the butter, and let the garlic fry in it for a few minutes, and be careful not to burn it). Add about 1 or 1 1/2 cups of either heavy whipping creme, or milk & flour of the same consistency. Once that is simmering, add your cheeses (parmesan, asiago, romano, ricotta). let them melt, and taste to see if you want more cheese.
Squash Filling:
- Mix together all ingredients. Roast until golden brown, about 25 min at 400F.
- Plate the sauce first, add the pasta, then add the other ingredients to complete the dish.
Notes
Featured Image Source is from one of my darling readers, Janine, who graciously allowed me to replace my sorry image with her own. Thank you Janine!
©MARILYN'S TREATS. All images are copyright protected.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 430kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 110mg | Potassium: 0mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 0% | Vitamin C: 0% | Calcium: 0% | Iron: 0%
I had this dish last month at Macaroni Grill and IMMEDIATELY went home and tried to google the recipe. I found the one you referenced by the former chef from there but when I found yours I was so excited because you gave a full ingredient list and that was very helpful. I’m eating leftovers right now and it’s even better than yesterday. I could not for the life of me find a pre-made Demi glacé sauce at the store so I used a quick cheater version I found on Pinterest and I even cheated that one a little too lol. Also, my extremely picky 1 year old who hates to eat is doing his baby sign language to me to give him more! He loves it! A success story! Thank you!
I am so happy to hear this! I could not find a single recipe other than that comment from the chef. I was accused here of pasting the directions but I believe mine are more specific and the ingredients also more inclusive. I am glad you found the recipe as well as made it. I can just see your little one putting up a fist (backwards) and opening and closing fingers stained with the pasta. LOL. I did make more than a few cheats of my own. I dont spend all day in the kitchen. No need to reinvent fire. Enjoy!
I’m excited to try making this, but it’s unfortunate that it seems most of these instructions were copy/pasted directly from the thread on this post, rather than being uniquely created. Please credit the original chef (David) who shared these tips!
Thank you for the link. I have updated this recipe with the link and also added some more notes of my own version. Thanks for commenting.
It taste almost just like the macaroni grill dish!! Thank you so much. I had been wanting to duplicate this dish for a while now.
Changes I made:
I made the sauce with mostly asiago and less of the other cheeses.
I kinda caramelized the squash in brown sugar and butter before adding it to the sauce.
Used store bought stuffed tortellini
I am so glad you let me know you made this dish Syd! I love the changes you made and will be trying those soon. I also frequently use store bought filled pastas too. I am thrilled to hear it reminded you of macaroni grill. I had a tough time finding a recipe for this dish. You would think there would be a zillion! Have a lovely week.
Please add the four cheeses for the tortellaci to the ingredient list. I got home from the grocery store and was so excited about making this. Then, whoops! I’m missing four ingredients. Thanks for pulling this together though. Our store didn’t have pumpkin seeds, so I’m going to try pine nuts. I hope that works! 🙂
I am sorry Janine! I had that in my recipe box but never added it here. I have fixed it now as well as added nutritional information. (I am updating my recipes). The pine nuts sound delicious! I hope you enjoy!
Wonderful!! There are no Macaroni Grills near us, and it’s my favorite place. I was SO excited to find your recipe. I’m making this today. Wish me luck!!
i got your photo and your dish looks yummy! My husband asked me to let you know he is coming for dinner. LOL. I am so glad it worked so well for you. Enjoy!
Had this for dinner tonight at Macaroni Grill and holy moly, it was absolutely delicious!!! I will be trying your recipe very soon!!! Will probably just use frozen ravioli though to save time.
We also enjoyed this at a local restaurant which is why I had to find a recipe. It took me 4-5 recipes together to get this one! it was so good and as I rarely spend this much effort it has become a favorite for special occasions. Thanks so much for stopping to share your thoughts! Have a good weekend.
I’ve never dared making fresh pasta from scratch and that well thing always confuses me and never works for me. I just wind up mixing it all up without forming a well. Looks yummy!
I like to use pillsbury Grands when I am in a hurry. I flatten it in a square, put the mixture in then roll up the corners to the middle. Any dough type biscuit or pizza dough will work. Thanks Ana!