Mangia Bene Pasta
Ravioli Recipes
The dough and filling recipes that follow will make approximately 24 ravioli that are 3-inches in diameter.
Quick and Easy Egg Pasta Dough
(Makes about 1 pound)
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3 eggs
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 to 3 tablespoon lukewarm water
Put the flour, eggs, salt and olive oil in a food processor.
Pulse several times to blend the ingredients.
Add the water,1 tablespoon at a time, just until dough starts to come together.
Avoid adding too much water or the dough will be too sticky to roll.
It may still look dry but can be gathered into a ball.
Gather the dough into a ball and place on a floured surface.
Knead lightly, just until the dough is smooth.
Divide in half and keep one-half covered while you work with the other.
Quick and Easy Ravioli Dough (Plain)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup boiling water
Put the flour and salt in a food processor.
Add the butter and pulse until the flour has the texture of rough cornmeal.
With the machine running, slowly add the water.
Gather the dough into a ball and place on a floured surface.
Knead lightly, just until the dough is smooth.
Divide in half and keep one-half covered while you work with the other.
To Form the Ravioli:
Dough may be rolled out with a rolling pin or pasta machine
Method 1:
On a well floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
Using a 3-inch round cutter cut out dough rounds.
Using a tablespoon, place mounds of filling on 1/2 of the dough rounds.
Place an unfilled round on top of the filling and press the edges of the dough together firmly between thumb and forefinger.
Moisten edges with a little water if they are not sealing properly.
Place rounds on a surface that has been dusted with cornmeal.
Cover with a towel or plastic wrap. Repeat procedure with the remaining half of dough.
Method 2:
Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness into strips about 4 inches wide.
Using a tablespoon, place mounds of filling 1-1/2 to 2-inches apart down the center of the dough.
Brush a little water across the top and bottom of the strip and between the mounds of filling.
Place another 4-inch wide strip of dough over the top.
Press the dough down around the mounds of filling to seal.
Cut the ravioli into rounds or squares using a ravioli cutter, pastry cutter, or a knife.
Completed ravioli can be refrigerated for a few hours before cooking.
They can also be frozen by placing them on a cookie sheet and freezing until firm and then storing in a plastic bag for 2-3 months.
Cook ravioli in salted water until they rise to the top, 3-4 minutes for fresh ravioli or 9-10 minutes for frozen.
CHEESE RAVIOLI FILLING
1 (8 ounce.) container ricotta cheese
4 ounce mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg
1/2 tablespoon parsley, chopped
Pinch of nutmeg
Salt and pepper
Combine ingredients in a bowl. Fill rounds of ravioli dough.
Serve with your favorite sauce.
SPINACH RAVIOLI FILLING
Use the recipe for cheese ravioli.
Omit the parsley and add 1 cup chopped fresh spinach or frozen spinach
that has been thawed and squeezed dry.
MEAT RAVIOLI FILLING
*Combine any 2 meats to equal 1/2 pound
(pork and chicken, beef and ham, pork and veal,
chicken and mortadella, chicken and prosciutto)
1/2 pound meat diced *
1 tablespoon butter
1-1/2 tablespoons onion, finely chopped
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
Pinch of nutmeg
Sauté onion in butter over medium heat 1-2 minutes. Add meat and cook until meat loses its raw red or pink color.
Transfer to a food processor and pulse a few times to chop. Don't allow it to puree.
Put mixture in a bowl and add remaining ingredients. Combine well and fill ravioli.
CRABMEAT RAVIOLI FILLING
1/2 shallot, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 (6 ounce) can lump crabmeat
1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
2-3 tablespoons goat cheese
Salt and pepper
Sauté shallot and garlic in butter and olive oil. 1-2 minutes. Add crabmeat and basil. Stir to combine.
Remove from heat. Stir in goat cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Fill ravioli.
ARTICHOKE RAVIOLI FILLING
8 ounces frozen or canned artichoke hearts, finely chopped
1 cup ricotta cheese
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1/4 cup asiago cheese, grated
3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons parsley
1 egg
Combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and fill ravioli.
CHICKEN RAVIOLI FILLING
2 tablespoons butter
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 small onion, finely chopped
8 ounces boneless chicken breast, cubed
2 tablespoons Marsala wine
1 egg yolk
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Salt and pepper
Sauté celery, carrot, and onion in butter about 3 minutes. Add chicken and sauté 3-4 minutes, until chicken starts to brown.
Add Marsala wine and cook additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Put chicken mixture in a food processor and pulse to chop. Add egg yolk, cheese, salt and pepper. Fill ravioli.
EGGPLANT RAVIOLI FILLING
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1 small eggplant, diced
2 teaspoons dried basil or oregano
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons asiago cheese, grated
1 egg yolk
Salt and pepper
Sauté garlic in olive oil over low heat about 2 minutes. Add eggplant and dried herb, cover and cook 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, cool, and pulse in food processor to chop finely. Add remaining ingredients and fill ravioli.
POTATO AND GARLIC RAVIOLI FILLING
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cups potatoes, cubed and cooked
4-5 garlic cloves, cut in half
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 egg
Salt and pepper
Sauté onion in olive oil and butter over low heat 2-3 minutes.
In another small saucepan, heat the garlic cloves in milk over low heat about 15 minutes.
Put cooked potatoes in a bowl, pour onion mixture and garlic with milk over them. Mash well.
Add remaining ingredients and fill ravioli.
MUSHROOM RAVIOLI FILLING
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
1/4 cup prosciutto, chopped
4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
2 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 egg
Salt and pepper
Saute onion and garlic in butter 2-3 minutes. Add mushrooms and sauté until brown and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Add prosciutto and cook 1 more minute just to heat through.
Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients. Fill ravioli.
PEAR AND PECORINO RAVIOLI
Pear and pecorino ravioli have a very delicate texture and flavor.
Serve them with melted butter and lots of black pepper.
Pass additional grated pecorino cheese for sprinkling on top.
8 ounces firm ripe pear
8 ounces pecorino Romano, shredded
1-1/2 tablespoons cream cheese
Peel and core the pear.
Shred it on the large holes of a box grater.
Combine the pear with the pecorino and cream cheese.
Fill ravioli.
POTATO, LEEK, AND BACON RAVIOLI
Serve with a Butter and Sage Sauce or Traditional Tomato Sauce thinned slightly with chicken broth.
12 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes (about 3 small potatoes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
5 ounces bacon, coarsely chopped
2 medium leeks, finely chopped (about 1-1/2 cups)
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Peel and cube the potatoes.
Cook in boiling water until cooked through.
Drain and mash the potatoes with a fork.
Set aside.
Heat the oil and bacon in a skillet over medium heat.
Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the bacon has rendered its fat but is not crisp.
Add the leeks and cook another 3 minutes until the leeks are wilted.
Add the bacon and leek mixture to the potatoes.
Season with salt and pepper
Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir to combine all the ingredients.