Tortelli di zucca is the traditional Italian stuffed pasta from Mantua filled with pumpkin, amaretti, and Parmesan.
The dish is associated especially with Mantua, in Lombardy, where sweet and savory flavors are combined in the filling. Cooked pumpkin is mixed with crushed amaretti biscuits and grated cheese, commonly Parmesan; some versions also use nutmeg, mustard-flavored fruit preserve, or breadcrumbs.
The filling is enclosed in sheets of fresh egg pasta, which are cut into square or rectangular parcels and boiled. They are commonly served with melted butter and sage, although regional recipes vary. The amaretti are part of the distinctive Mantuan style, rather than a universal ingredient in all Italian tortelli.
Tortelli di zucca is sometimes confused with other Italian filled pastas, including tortellini and ravioli. Its name identifies the pasta family and its pumpkin filling, while the Mantuan recipe is distinguished by the sweet notes of amaretti alongside the savory cheese.