Tortellini in Frizzled Onion Broth

By Zaynab Issa

Updated April 1, 2026

  • David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell.
Media 1 of 1
Ready In
30 min
Rating
5(268)
Comments
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Tortellini in brodo is a classic Northern Italian dish that translates to tortellini in broth. Borrowing from the concept of stuffed pasta served in a warm, savory broth, this version takes inspiration from French onion soup, while employing a few time-saving techniques. Instead of slowly caramelizing onions until soft and sweet, the base of the broth uses frizzled onions — cooked hard and fast until deeply browned, resulting in a more assertive, oniony flavor. Combined with garlic, mushrooms, a good, drinkable broth and a generous splash of sherry vinegar, it makes for an umami-forward soup that tastes like it took much longer to make. All that’s left to do is quickly cook some premade tortellini directly in it.

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Ingredients

Yield:2 to 3 servings

For the soup

  • 2 tablespoons salted butter 

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 

  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed 

  • 2 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, thinly sliced 

  • Kosher salt 

  • Coarsely ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar 

  • 4 cups good-quality chicken, beef, or vegetable broth

  • 10 ounces cheese tortellini

Optional toppings

  • Thinly sliced chives

  • Finely grated Parmesan or pecorino Romano

  • Crusty bread or sourdough croutons

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (2 to 3 servings)

114 grams carbs; 66 milligrams cholesterol; 866 calories; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 32 grams fat; 9 grams fiber; 1493 milligrams sodium; 32 grams protein; 11 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

    1. Step 1

      Heat a medium pot over medium-high. Add butter and once beginning to foam, add olive oil. Swirl to combine, then add onion, garlic and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until onions are deeply browned (nearly burned), 12 to 15 minutes. 

    2. Step 2

      Add the vinegar to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits. Add stock (and, for a brothier bowl, 1 cup water), increase heat to high and bring to a boil. Taste and season with salt as needed. 

    3. Step 3

      Add the tortellini, stir to ensure they don’t stick and cook to the lower time range of the package directions or until just shy of al dente. 

    4. Step 4

      Divide soup between bowls and top with chives and Parmesan, if using, and more freshly ground black pepper. Serve with crusty bread or sourdough croutons if desired. 

Tip

  • Soup (without the tortellini) can be made and stored in the refrigerator up to 2 days in advance. Bring to a boil, and cook tortellini just before serving.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
268 user ratings
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Comments

Kev the Cook

There's a lot of versatility in this recipe. Cutting the salt would be one of them. Any cheese filled pasta works is another. Mushrooms of any kind works. Red wine vinegar is good enough.

Laura W.

I added spinach for some greenery!

Apron Only

To make promote the mushroom and onion flavor fry the onion and mushroom on higher heat for five minutes until crispy but not softened. Remove to paper towels. Add garlic to pan with heat just before deglazing. Continue as directed in recipe and add back the crispy onion and mushroom just before serving.

Kathryn Agrell

I absolutely love this soup! It is so easy to make and so umami delicious. One of my absolute go-to soups when time is short. The only substitutions I have made is to use white or baby bella mushrooms---easier on the pocketbook---and a wonderful fresh spinach and cheese tortellini.

Mac

I think chicken bone broth is the move and some croutons to top and I used whatever mushrooms I had in my fridge. Had some leftover rye bread which worked great for croutons. My two year old loved it and so did I!

Lesley

I have made this twice now because I adore it, so flavorful. The first time I made it, I made it to the written recipe, which is good; however, for me, tortellini is just too heavy, and for me as a soup lover, makes it too heavy, but still good. It's better if you make your own stock, but you can use a good quality purchased version, I recommend beef. The second time I made it I cut the pasta and used a lot more mushroom and onion. Shitake, but also bella and white. Deglazed with white vinegar.

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