Tortellini with Garlic and Sage Butter

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Had I seen this recipe anywhere else, I suspect I would have dismissed it out of hand. I haven't had great luck with five ingredient recipes, so I don't spend a lot of time searching them out. This one, however, was in Food and Wine Magazine and it caught my eye because of the sauce it creates. I really like their recipes, so I put this one aside for a busy day. Today was that day. The dish utilizes frozen tortellini or ravioli and a quick version of a sage and brown butter sauce that I'm really fond of. This is a quick and easy meal from start to finish, and that finish makes for some very nice eating. The sauce in this version is made with ground sage, and while shortcuts and substitutions usually come at the expense of flavor, that's not the case here. If you are concerned about fat or calories, some of the butter can be replaced with pasta water, but don't be overly zealous about this. A tablespoon or two is fine, but it makes no sense to go further than that. This is a nice recipe to use when you are pressed for time, and I think those of you who try it will really enjoy it. Here's the recipe.

Tortellini with Garlic Sage Butter Sauce...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Food and Wine Magazine

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons butter

6 cloves garlic, smashed

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

1 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper

1 pound fresh or frozen meat-filled tortellini

2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley

Directions:

1) Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2) Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium frying pan set over low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until it is soft and golden, about 10 to 12 minutes. Mash garlic with a fork or spoon as it softens. Stir in sage, salt and pepper. Set aside.

3) Cook tortellini until just done, about 4 minutes for fresh and 12 minutes for frozen. Drain pasta and return to the pot.

4) Add butter and parsley and toss over low heat until pasta is thoroughly coated with butter, about 1 minute. Yield: 4 servings.