Recipe - Tortelli Di Zucca (Pumpkin Tortelli)

1 Three fourths pound Yellow pumpkin or
Hubbard squash (or Acorn)
One fourth pound Mostarda di Cremona (fruit
pickled in mustard),
finely chopped
2 ounce Amaretti cookies, finely
ground
ParmigianoReggiano cheese
Nutmeg
Salt, pepper
One half to 1 tsp. dried mustard,
optional
2 tablespoon Bread crumbs, optional
2 One fourth cup Allpurpose flour
3 Eggs, beaten well
One fourth cup Unsalted butter
Typed by Manny Rothstein

(This recipe is from Dal Pescatore, just north of Parma, Italy,"considered
by many to be the best restaurant in the entire country" sez the Times, so
it must be true.)MR

This filling takes some adjusting to resemble the stuff the Santinis
brought from home. Their Mostarda, which they make themselves every year,
had a mustardy bite that nearly brought tears to our eyes. The stuff we
bought here, in an Italian specialty store, was much sweeter, so we added a
bit of dried mustard to crank up the heat. Also, since we could find
neither yellow pumpkin nor Hubbbard squash on the day we shopped for
testing materials, we used acorn squash. It worked fairly well but required
some additional bread crumbs to become firm enough to hold together
properly. When it's done, the flavors are explosive and almost medieval,
combining sweet squash with mustardy hot mostarda and rich cheese and
butter.
Prepare filling up to 2 days in advance, but definitely before pasta is
rolled out. Cut pumpkin or squash in sections, remove seeds. In pan bake at
350 degrees until tender. Pass through food mill into large bowl. Add
Mostarda, amaretti, 2 tablespoon cheese and dash of ground nutmeg. Season to taste
with salt and pepper. Mix well and taste. Filling should have definite
mustardheat. If not, add up to 1 teaspoon dried mustard. Filling should also be
fairly firm and loosly hold together when formed in ball. If not, add up to
2 tablespoon bread crumbs.
In bowl mix flour and eggs. Knead into smooth ball and wrap in plastic
wrap. Set aside at least One half hour. Devide in quarters and work with 1
portion at a time, keeping rest tightly wrapped in plastic wrap. Knead and
roll out on pasta machine to nexttothinnest setting. Cut into long strip
and cut strip at 2inch intervals into squares.
Place ball of stuffing slightly smaller than walnut in center of each
rectangle. Diagonally fold over 1 corner of rectangle to meet opposite
corner. Press to seal. Fold base of triangle over to form "paper hat" shape
and prell sides to seal. Set aside on floured kitchen towel and repeat
until all dough is used up.
Sprinkle heated serving dish with 1 One half tablespoon cheese. Melt butter in
saucepan. Cook tortelli in abundant boiling, salted water 4 to 5 minutes,
until pasta is cooked. Remove with slotted spoon, working carefully to
avoid breaking pasta. Place tortelli over cheese in serving dish. Sprinkle
with another 1 One half tablespoon cheese. Pour melted butter over. Toss gently. Makes 8
servings.

Each serving contains about: 274 calories; 115 mg sodium; 105 mg
cholesterol; 11 grams fat; 37 grams carbs.; 8 grams protein; 1.44 grams
fiber.

(MR notes: Ratio of egg to flour may need to be juggled to get right
texture, depending on flour used. If filling needs more heat, consider
using Japanese horseradish.) L A Times, 3/17/94.