The Unique Ingredient Tucked Away In Aldi Tortelloni

Some of the best products to buy at Aldi come from the discount grocer's sizable selection of private-label pasta. One such item that's garnered a lot of attention on social media for its quick-and-easy weeknight dinner potential is the Priano Cheese Tortelloni. These unassuming pasta pockets enrobe a creamy filling of ricotta, provolone, and gorgonzola cheeses, but there's a surprising ingredient to the filling that we definitely didn't expect to see: breadcrumbs. What are they doing there?

Believe it or not, adding breadcrumbs to filled pasta is a traditional Italian method to thicken the filling. When using ricotta, which can be a watery cheese, there needs to be some binder ingredients to protect the structure of the tortelloni and keep it from leaking out instantly when bitten. Reviews of the Aldi tortelloni specifically mention the luscious filling as a major plus, so the store is clearly on to something with this recipe.

The great thing about the Aldi Priano Tortelloni is that you can use it in multiple ways to whip up a fast and yummy lunch or dinner. You could simply boil it up and smother it with your favorite brand of store-bought pasta sauce and some grated cheese, but why stop there? Reddit suggests sautéing the tortelloni in butter with onions, similar to pierogi. You could also cool the cooked pasta and dress it with pesto, lemon, and fresh veggies for a satisfying pasta salad. Or sub the filled pasta for ziti in a cheesy deep-dish bake. Considering that the tortelloni cost less than $3 per package, they are hard to match in terms of price and flexibility.

The thing to remember, no matter how you choose to dress up your tortelloni, is that you have to cook it before eating, even if it's going in a cold preparation. Keep in mind that you should let water come to a boil before adding pasta, but waiting for your pot to boil will be the longest part of the process. As per the package, the cheese tortelloni only has to cook for eight minutes, at which time the pasta will be tender and the cheese-breadcrumb filling will be hot.