Are you looking for a fun and rewarding culinary experience? Look no further than our comprehensive guide to making delicious spinach fillings for a variety of Italian pasta dishes. In this article, we will take you on a delectable journey through the art of crafting mouthwatering fillings for cannelloni, ravioli, and tortellini.
From the delicate flavors of the classic spinach ricotta filling to the creative twists of spinach pesto and spinach and mozzarella, we have recipes that cater to every taste and skill level. Whether you're a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to impress your family and friends, our recipes will provide you with the inspiration and step-by-step instructions you need to create unforgettable meals.
Our spinach filling recipes are not only delicious but also versatile. You can use them to create a wide range of dishes, from traditional Italian pasta dishes to modern fusion creations. With our recipes, you'll be able to explore the endless possibilities of spinach fillings and create dishes that will tantalize your taste buds.
So, gather your ingredients, prepare your kitchen, and let's embark on a culinary adventure. Together, we'll discover the secrets of making perfect spinach fillings that will transform your homemade pasta dishes into culinary masterpieces. Are you ready to indulge in a world of flavors? Let's get started!
SPINACH, FETA, AND PINE NUT RAVIOLI FILLING
A delicious ravioli filling for fresh pasta.
Provided by Matthew Valleau
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h15m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the spinach until fully wilted, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then squeeze the spinach to remove as much liquid as you can.
- Combine the cooked spinach, feta, and pine nuts in a blender or food processor and pulse until it is the consistency of a fine paste. Beat the egg and water together in a small bowl.
- To assemble the ravioli, brush the egg over a sheet of pasta. Drop the filling mixture on the dough by teaspoonfuls about one inch apart. Cover the filling with the top sheet of pasta, pressing out the air from around each portion of filling. Press firmly around the filling in whatever shape you wish (circles, squares) and then cut them apart. Press the tines of a fork around the edges of the pasta to seal each raviolo.
- Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, add the ravioli, stir gently, and return to a boil. Cook uncovered until the ravioli float to the top and the filling is hot, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 382.9 calories, Carbohydrate 31 g, Cholesterol 76.3 mg, Fat 22.4 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 17.7 g, SaturatedFat 8.2 g, Sodium 499 mg, Sugar 2.9 g
CREAMY SPINACH TORTELLINI
Delicious tortellini is dressed up with tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and a rich creamy sauce. A favorite pasta dish in our family!
Provided by JENNIFERVAN77
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 35m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Cook tortellini according to package directions.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion; cook until soft and translucent. Mix in cream cheese, parmesan, milk, mushrooms, and spinach.
- Gently mix in tortellini and cherry tomatoes with skillet contents; warm through, and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 546 calories, Carbohydrate 40.2 g, Cholesterol 116.2 mg, Fat 35 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 21.8 g, SaturatedFat 20.9 g, Sodium 670.6 mg, Sugar 4.8 g
TORTELLINI WITH SPINACH-RICOTTA FILLING AND PARMESAN SAUCE
James demonstrates making tortellini from round dough, then switches gears and makes his favorite tortellini variation, cappelletti, from square dough.
Provided by James Briscione
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings; 30 to 36 tortellini
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat the butter and garlic a large saute pan over medium-high heat. When the garlic is lightly browned, about 1 minute, stir in the spinach, season with salt and pepper and continue cooking until wilted. Transfer the cooked spinach to a colander to drain and cool, about 15 minutes. When cooled, gently squeeze the spinach dry, chop it and put in a medium bowl. Fold in the ricotta. Season well with salt and pepper.
- Roll out the pasta: Divide the pasta dough in half, working with one half at a time and keeping the other piece wrapped. Set up a pasta roller attachment on a stand mixer (or secure a hand roller to the side of your work surface). Lightly flour a work surface and roll out your dough until it is thin enough to pass through the pasta roller. Set your roller to the widest setting. Turn on the pasta roller and pass the dough through once. Fold the rolled-out piece of dough over itself, and then pass through the roller again. If the edges begin to fray or the dough gets sticky or damp, lightly dust both sides with flour. Repeat six or seven more times, until the dough is smooth. Adjust the roller to the second widest setting, dust both sides of the dough with flour, and pass it through twice (without folding). Repeat, adjusting to a thinner setting each time and passing through twice, until the dough is thin enough that it is slightly translucent.
- Fill the tortellini: Dust a work surface and rimmed baking sheet with semolina flour. Lay out the sheet of fresh pasta on the prepared surface and trim into 3 pieces. Cut the pasta sheets into 2-to 3-inch rounds (for tortellini) or squares (for cappelletti). Lightly dampen the pasta with a mister or brush and spoon a teaspoon-sized mound of filling in the center of each piece of pasta. Fold it in half to create a triangle (for square pasta) or a half-moon (for round pasta). Press firmly to seal the edges and eliminate any air. Grab the folded corners of the pasta and place a finger at the center of the folded side of the pasta. Pull the edges around your finger and press the ends together to seal, creating a little pasta "ring" around your finger. Remove your finger and transfer the finished stuffed pasta to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
- Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rapid boil while you prepare the sauce.
- Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, then turn off the stove while you cook the pasta
- Drop the tortellini into the boiling water and stir immediately. Leave the tortellini to cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3 minutes.
- Use a spider or slotted spoon to transfer the cooked pasta to the melted butter along with 1/2 cup pasta water. Stir to combine and simmer over medium heat for 1 minute, then add the Parmesan. Add some basil and toss to combine. Serve with additional grated Parmesan, if desired.
- Mound the flour in the center of a clean countertop or cutting board. Make a well in the center of the flour 3 to 4 inches wide.
- Crack the eggs into the well and add a pinch of salt. Using a fork, break the yolks and begin to beat the eggs as you would if making scrambled eggs.
- Continue stirring the eggs with a fork in large circles, slowly incorporating the flour. When the eggs form a thick mass and become difficult to stir, about 3 minutes, fold the loose flour from the edges into the pile with a bench scraper and knead until a smooth dough forms. Discard any excess flour.
- Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and set aside to rest for 20 minutes before rolling. If waiting more than 1 hour, refrigerate or freeze the dough. The dough will keep refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
SPINACH RICOTTA CANNELLONI
Recipe VIDEO above. Juicy, perfectly seasoned spinach and ricotta filling inside cannelloni pasta tubes, topped with a simple, tasty tomato sauce and melted cheese. Great for freezing!
Provided by Nagi
Categories Mains
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 18
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook for 2 - 3 minutes until translucent. Add tomato, water, salt and pepper.
- Stir, reduce heat to medium, simmer for 5 minutes. Optional: add 1/2 cup water and blend sauce until smooth (I do this for guests!).
- Stir through basil or dried herbs. Set aside.
- Place spinach in a colander and press out most of the liquid (don't need to thoroughly squeeze dry).
- Place Spinach in bowl with remaining Filling ingredients. Mix, taste, adjust salt and pepper to taste (different cheeses have different saltiness).
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F.
- Choose a baking pan which will comfortably fit about 20 cannelloni - mine is 21 x 26 cm / 8.5 x 10.5".
- Spread a bit of Sauce on the base.
- Transfer Filling to a piping bag with a large nozzle (that fits in the tubes), or use a strong ziplock bag. Or do this step using a knife (it's a bit tedious though!).
- Pipe the filling into the tubes. Place in baking dish.
- Pour over remaining Sauce, covering all the tubes. Cover with foil, then bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove foil, scatter over cheese. Return to oven for 10 minutes until cheese is melted.
- Serve, garnished with extra basil if desired.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 407 g, Calories 531 kcal
RICOTTA AND SPINACH FILLING FOR FRESH PASTA
Use this ricotta cheese and spinach filling for ravioli, tortellini, and other filled kinds of pasta. A variation is given for a spinach and pancetta filling.
Provided by Peggy Trowbridge Filippone
Categories Entree Dinner Ingredient
Time 20m
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Gather the ingredients.
- Set a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth or a couple of paper towels over a bowl. Add the ricotta and allow it to strain out excess liquid for 5 to 10 minutes as you continue with the prep.
- Boil a large saucepan of salted water . Plunge the spinach in to blanch it, then remove it 30 seconds later.
- Drain and cool the spinach under cold running water to stop the cooking.
- Finely chop the drained spinach.
- In a medium bowl, combine the chopped spinach with ricotta cheese, egg, Parmesan cheese, and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 100 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Cholesterol 40 mg, Fiber 1 g, Protein 7 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 286 mg, Sugar 0 g, Fat 7 g, ServingSize 2 1/2 cups filling (50 portions), UnsaturatedFat 0 g
SPINACH FILLING FOR CANNELLONI, RAVIOLI AND TORTELLINI
A traditional pasta filling with feta and farmer cheese. Great the way it is or treat it as a good basic recipe to take off on, adding what appeals to you. Tell me what you try.
Provided by sugarpea
Categories Cheese
Time 15m
Yield 4 servings stuffed pasta, 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Melt the butter in a saucepan and saute the onion and garlic until golden; steam spinach until well wilted; remove from heat, cool enough to handle, and squeeze dry.
- Combine onion mixture and spinach; stir in cheeses and beat in seasonings, eggs and parsley; refrigerate until ready to stuff pasta.
RAVIOLI WITH SPINACH
My aunt would save leftover meat in the freezer until she had enough to make the filling. The dough should be made a day in advance, and the filling and the sauce can be made then. Allow about 2 hours to assemble and plan on putting them together several hours before cooking so they have time to dry.
Provided by Marialisa Calta
Categories pastas, project, appetizer, main course, side dish
Time 1h
Yield Six to eight servings as antipasto, about 100 ravioli
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- In a small bowl, stir 3 or 4 tablespoons of flour into the egg-and-water mixture. Place the 3 cups of flour on a working surface and make a well in the center. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the well, working the liquid into the flour as you go. Knead for at least 15 minutes. The dough should be so stiff that when you poke it with your finger it doesn't bounce back immediately. If the dough is still sticky, add some of the remaining flour as needed.
- Cut the dough into two pieces, wrap in plastic wrap and chill overnight in the refrigerator.
- In a large bowl, mix the meats with the egg. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- In a small saute pan, heat the 2 teaspoons of olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and saute until soft. Add the well-drained, well-chopped cooked spinach and cook for a few minutes. Add the spinach mixture to the meat mixture and combine well.
- To assemble the ravioli, using a rolling pin or pasta machine, roll out one of the halves of dough as thin as possible on a well-floured board. (Refrigerate the remaining dough until ready to use.) This should be almost paper thin; the thinner the ravioli, the better. Leaving a 2-inch strip of dough at the top, place a rounded half-teaspoon of filling at 1-inch intervals across the dough.
- Fold the strip over; on the unfolded sides, cut around each mound of filling with a small, serrated pastry wheel. If the ravioli do not stay closed, moisten your finger with milk and press the edges together. Place on a clean, lightly floured dish towel while you make the rest of the ravioli.
- Continue in the same manner until the dough is used up. The ravioli should rest uncovered at room temperature for several hours before cooking. Turn them once during this time.
- Fill two large pots with about 5 quarts of salted water each. Bring to the boil. Place the ravioli gently in the pots and cook at a full boil for 10 to 15 minutes. When done, skim them from the pot with a slotted spoon and drain in a colander. Slide them onto a platter and serve with tomato sauce and grated Parmesan cheese.
SPINACH AND RICOTTA TORTELLINI
Ricotta and spinach make the most classic vegetarian pairing in Italian cooking. In the traditional tortellini di magro, it's used also as filling for tortellini, the famous ring-shaped stuffed egg pasta from Bologna served in a clear beef stock for Christmas or any special occasion. This version, with green spinach dough and a vegetarian filling is a very much appreciated alternative to the classic recipe. Serve with your favorite sauce. Great with a simple butter and sage sauce or with your regular tomato sauce.
Provided by Alemarsi
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian
Time 1h43m
Yield 16
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Place spinach, water, and a pinch of salt in a pot over medium-high heat; cover pot and cook until spinach is completely wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and squeeze out all the water; let spinach cool to room temperature in a colander.
- Soften ricotta cheese in a large bowl using a fork until creamy.
- Squeeze out any excess water from the cooled spinach. Finely chop spinach with a knife or process in a blender. Transfer to the bowl with ricotta. Add Parmesan cheese, egg, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; mix well.
- Divide pasta dough into 6 equal pieces. Take 1 piece and cover the rest with plastic wrap. Flatten the piece between your palms and press through the widest setting of your pasta machine. Sprinkle flour over flattened pasta dough, fold in half lengthwise, and run through the pasta machine again. Repeat this process 3 or 4 times, always flouring, folding, and passing through the widest setting until dough is smooth and even in size.
- Change pasta machine to the middle setting and pass dough through. Move pasta machine setting to the next to the last setting and pass dough through. Cut the sheet in half, widthwise. Pass each half through the pasta machine in the thinnest and last setting, creating 2 long and very thin sheets; gently transfer to a floured work surface, trimming edges. Cut into 2 even rectangles.
- Cut dough into 1 1/2-inch squares. Drop a teaspoon of ricotta filling in the middle of each square. Brush the edges with water and fold over diagonally into a triangle shape. Press well to squeeze out any air. Stretch the 2 ends of the triangle and a fold them together, wrapping them around your finger; seal. Gently fold back the top corner.
- Transfer the tortellini to a floured plate or work surface. Proceed the same way with remaining dough and filling. Let tortellini stand for 30 minutes.
- Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil; cook tortellini, working in batches, until they float, 6 to 7 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 167.1 calories, Carbohydrate 26.4 g, Cholesterol 19.2 mg, Fat 3.2 g, Fiber 1.3 g, Protein 8.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 132.7 mg, Sugar 0.6 g
Tips:
- Spinach is a great source of iron, vitamin K, and folate. It is also a good source of fiber, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
- To make sure your spinach filling is as flavorful as possible, use fresh spinach. If you are using frozen spinach, be sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out any excess water.
- Sautéing the spinach in olive oil with garlic and onion will help to bring out its flavor.
- Adding ricotta cheese or cottage cheese to the spinach filling will make it more creamy and rich.
- Season the spinach filling to taste with salt, pepper, and other spices, such as nutmeg or red pepper flakes.
- Use the spinach filling to make cannelloni, ravioli, or tortellini. You can also use it as a filling for lasagna or manicotti.
Conclusion:
Spinach filling is a delicious and versatile filling that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a great way to add more vegetables to your diet, and it is also a good source of protein and fiber. Whether you are making cannelloni, ravioli, or tortellini, spinach filling is a surefire way to please your taste buds.
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