Indulge in a culinary adventure with our delightful Ricotta-Filled Ravioli (Ravioli di Ricotta) recipe, a timeless Italian classic that combines delicate pasta with a creamy, succulent ricotta filling. This comprehensive guide provides step-by-step instructions for crafting homemade ravioli from scratch, guiding you through the entire process, from preparing the dough to shaping and cooking the ravioli.
Discover the secrets to achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures, creating a dish that tantalizes your taste buds with every bite. Along with the classic ricotta filling, we also present a collection of creative and flavorful variations, including spinach and ricotta, pumpkin and ricotta, and even a unique dessert version filled with sweet ricotta and chocolate chips.
Whether you're a seasoned pasta enthusiast or a home cook seeking a new culinary challenge, our Ricotta-Filled Ravioli recipe is sure to impress. With detailed instructions, helpful tips, and a variety of filling options, this guide equips you with the knowledge and skills to create this authentic Italian dish in the comfort of your own kitchen.
HOMEMADE RICOTTA RAVIOLI RECIPE
Classic homemade ricotta ravioli gets some tang from Parmesan cheese, a tart squeeze of lemon juice, and a subtle hit of nutmeg. All it needs is a splash of olive oil and it's ready to serve.
Provided by Niki Achitoff-Gray
Categories Mains
Time 1h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Lay a clean kitchen towel or a triple layer of lint-free paper towels on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread ricotta evenly over surface of towels. Top with a second clean kitchen towel or triple layer of paper towels. Press with hands or a second rimmed baking sheet and let rest 5 minutes. Transfer ricotta to a medium bowl (it should come right off the towels).
- Add Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, and lemon juice to ricotta. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Meanwhile, divide dough into 4 even sections. Working one section at a time, with remaining sections tightly wrapped in plastic, roll dough through machine until sheet is just under 1/16 of an inch thick (typically second-to-last setting). Cut sheet in half to create 2 pieces of dough roughly 15 inches long and 5 inches across.
- To cook ravioli, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook ravioli by submerging in boiling water and cooking for 3 minutes (ravioli should float). Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Return ravioli and the cooking liquid to the pot. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and cook on high heat, stirring gently until oil and pasta water emulsify into a creamy sauce, about 1 minute. Serve immediately, drizzling with more extra-virgin olive oil at the table.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 360 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Cholesterol 88 mg, Fiber 0 g, Protein 20 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Sodium 524 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 21 g, ServingSize Serves 4 to 6, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
RICOTTA-FILLED RAVIOLI (RAVIOLI DI RICOTTA)
This recipe is part of the Epicurious Online Cooking School, in partnership with the Culinary Institute of America. To watch it being made, and to learn how to make other Italian classics, check out the videos.
Provided by Gianni Scappin
Categories Pasta Maker Egg Kid-Friendly Parmesan Ricotta Boil Small Plates
Yield Makes 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- To make the ravioli filling:
- 1. In a large bowl combine the ricotta, nutmeg, lemon zest, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 egg. Season to taste with salt and pepper, stir well, and set aside.
- To make the ravioli dough:
- 1. Mound the flour on a clean work surface and create a well in the center. Place the eggs, egg yolks, and oil (if using) in the center. Using a fork, whisk the eggs and oil together and slowly start dragging the flour into the egg mixture. Knead by hand until all the ingredients are well combined and the dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. (Alternatively, place all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. With the mixer on medium speed, knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.) Wrap the dough in plastic wrap or place it in a covered bowl and let it rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes.
- 2. Set up a pasta machine and turn it to the largest opening. Cut off pieces of dough about the size of an egg. Working with one piece of dough at a time, roll the dough into sheets about 1/8-inch thick.
- 3. Lay 1 pasta sheet flat on a lightly floured work surface and determine approximately where the halfway point is lengthwise. Use a pastry brush to lightly wet one half of the dough with the remaining egg lightly beaten with water. Spoon mounds of the filling, about 2 teaspoons each, onto half of the wet side of the dough, leaving about a 1/2 inch between the mounds. Fold the dry half of the sheet over lengthwise to cover the filling. Press the pasta sheets together to seal the edges around the filling, and press out any excess air. Use a pastry cutter or knife to cut individual ravioli. As you cut out the ravioli, place them on a plate or baking sheet sprinkled with flour to keep them from sticking. Repeat with the remaining pasta and filling.
- 4. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ravioli all at once and stir a few times to submerge and separate them. Cook, uncovered, at a gentle boil until the pasta is just tender to the bite, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the ravioli thoroughly and serve with a desired sauce or cheese.
HOMEMADE RAVIOLI WITH RICOTTA CHEESE FILLING
Steps:
- In an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook, add eggs, 1 at a time, and mix. Continue mixing and add all the flour and water; continue mixing until it forms a ball. Sprinkle some flour on work surface, and knead the dough until elastic and smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for about 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
- Cut the ball of dough in half, cover and reserve the dough you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out. Dust the counter and dough with flour. Form the dough into a rectangle and roll it through the pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at its widest setting. Guide the sheet of dough with the palm of your hand as it emerges from the rollers. Reduce the setting and crank the dough through again, 2 or 3 times. Continue until the machine is at its narrowest setting. The dough should be paper-thin, about 1/8-inch thick.
- Dust the counter and dough with flour, and lay out the long sheet of pasta. Brush the top surface of dough with egg wash. Drop 1 tablespoon of cooled filling about 2 inches apart on half the sheet of pasta. Fold the unfilled half over the filling. With an espresso cup or finger, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling and form a seal. Use a crimper to cut each pillow into squares. Check to make sure the crimped edges are well sealed before cooking. If making ravioli in advance, dust with cornmeal to prevent them from sticking.
- Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Ravioli will float to the top when cooked so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Lift the ravioli from water with a large strainer or slotted spoon. Plate the pasta, top with your favorite pasta sauce and grated cheese before serving.
- In a mixing bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients. Chill in the refrigerator a few minutes to firm up the filling.
MEYER LEMON-RICOTTA RAVIOLI
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, pastas, main course
Time 1h20m
Yield 6 servings
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Put flour and salt in a large bowl. Add yolks, and use a fork to mix them into the flour. Turn dough out onto a floured surface, and knead for about 8 minutes or until dough is smooth. If dough seems sticky, add up to 2 tablespoons more flour. Knead dough a few times by hand to form an elastic ball, wrap it in plastic, and let rest for a half-hour.
- Stir together all ingredients for filling.
- Set up a pasta roller, and spread a large work surface with kitchen towels. Divide dough in thirds, and pass each through widest setting twice. Reduce roller width one setting, and again run each piece of dough through twice. Continue through each setting until all three pieces of dough have gone through rollers at narrowest setting (No. 7 on most pasta machines). As you work lay sheets of pasta on towels, covering them with more towels to keep them moist.
- To fill ravioli, place a teaspoonful of filling at 1 1/2-inch intervals about 1 inch from edge of one length of dough. Dip a pastry brush in water, and brush dough around filling, moistening all the way to edges. Fold dough lengthwise over filling, and press around each scoop, pushing out any air and sealing ravioli. Use a crimped pasta wheel cutter (or press down with blade of a serrated knife) to slice through dough halfway between each scoop of filling, then trim edges to create 2-inch squares. Press edges to seal completely. Dust finished ravioli with semolina or cornmeal. Cover with a kitchen towel and refrigerate for up to 1 day if not using immediately.
- For sauce, melt butter in a large skillet with lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste.
- To cook ravioli, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ravioli and cook just until very al dente, about 2 to 3 minutes. Use a slotted spoon or skimmer to scoop ravioli into a colander. Measure 2/3 cup pasta cooking water and gradually whisk it into butter sauce until it is smooth and creamy. Add ravioli, toss to coat with sauce, and simmer for 1 minute. Serve immediately, passing more Parmesan cheese at the table.
Tips:
- For the perfect pasta dough, use a combination of all-purpose flour and semolina flour. Semolina flour adds a slightly nutty flavor and a bit of texture to the pasta.
- Make sure the pasta dough is well-rested before rolling it out. This will help the pasta to be more elastic and less likely to tear.
- When filling the ravioli, be sure to use a light touch. Overfilling the ravioli will make them difficult to seal and they may burst during cooking.
- To prevent the ravioli from sticking together, dust them with a little flour before placing them in the boiling water.
- Cook the ravioli in batches so that they have enough room to float freely in the water. This will help to ensure that they cook evenly.
- Once the ravioli are cooked, drain them well and then transfer them to a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking process. This will also help to prevent the ravioli from sticking together.
- Serve the ravioli immediately with your favorite sauce. A simple tomato sauce or a creamy Alfredo sauce are both great choices.
Conclusion:
Ricotta-filled ravioli is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover ricotta cheese, and it can be served with a variety of sauces. Whether you are making it from scratch or using store-bought pasta dough, this dish is sure to be a hit at your next gathering.
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