Tortellini di Valeggio

Tortellini di Valeggio is a special type of tortellini from Valeggio sul Mincio, a town near Verona in Italy’s Veneto region. Known for its paper-thin pasta dough, these tortellini are filled with a mixture of meats—typically veal, pork, beef and chicken—and additional ingredients like Grana Padano or Parmigiano Reggiano and herbs. The dough is so thin it’s almost transparent, earning it the nickname “love knot” (nodo d’amore) due to a local legend. The legend tells of a water nymph and a soldier who fell in love; before fleeing together, they tied a knot in a yellow silk handkerchief, symbolizing their love. In honor of this story, Valeggio’s tortellini are often knotted or twisted in a way that resembles a small love knot. These tortellini are traditionally served in a simple broth or with melted butter and sage to highlight the flavor of the filling without overpowering it. Tortellini di Valeggio is highly regarded and celebrated each year at a festival in Valeggio sul Mincio, where long tables are set up across the town’s Visconteo Bridge to serve this beloved dish.