Ricotta Raviolini With Melted Tomatoes Recipes

RICOTTA RAVIOLINI WITH MELTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Make the pasta: Place dough on a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Set the rollers of a hand-crank or electric pasta machine at their widest opening. Working with one piece at a time (and keeping the remaining pieces covered with plastic wrap), lightly flour dough and run it through the pasta machine. Fold dough in half and run through machine again.
• Change rollers of pasta machine to next decreasing setting and roll out dough once without folding. Keep rolling sheet through machine on decreasing settings until you have rolled it through the last (thinnest) setting. Transfer pasta to prepared baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat process with remaining pieces of dough.
• In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta, egg yolks, and Parmigiano cheese; season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip; set aside.
• Working with one sheet of pasta at a time, lay pasta sheet out lengthwise on a lightly floured work surface. Pipe out filling in center of both top and bottom halves of pasta sheet at 1-inch intervals. Brush around filling with beaten egg. Carefully fold bottom edge of sheet over bottom half of filling toward the middle; gently press around filling to seal and remove any air. Repeat process with top half of pasta sheet. Using a pastry cutter, cut raviolini into 1-inch squares around filling and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet; do not stack, as raviolini will stick. Repeat process with remaining sheets of pasta and filling.
• Transfer pasta to freezer and freeze until solid; use immediately or transfer to an airtight container and keep frozen up to 2 weeks.
• Make the melted tomatoes: Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper flakes; cooking, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and oregano; season with salt and pepper. Cook until most of the juice from the tomatoes has been released and reduced; about 10 minutes. Add tomato sauce and bring to a boil; reduce heat and stir in basil. Keep warm until ready to serve.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Generously salt water and return to a boil. Add frozen raviolini and cook until tender, about 1 minute. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid, and add raviolini to skillet with butter. Add reserved cooking liquid and olive oil. Increase heat to medium high and gently toss to combine. Remove from heat and add Parmigiano; toss to combine. Serve immediately topped with melted tomatoes; garnish with more cheese, if desired.

CORN AND RICOTTA RAVIOLI WITH SAUTEED CHERRY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• For the corn puree: Heat the butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the corn and cook until lightly golden brown, then add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chile de arbol and season with salt and pepper. Remove 1/2 cup of the kernels to a bowl for the ravioli filling to let cool slightly.
• Transfer the rest of the corn to a small saucepan and cover with the stock. Cook over medium heat until slightly softened, about 10 minutes. Transfer the corn to a blender with a slotted spoon, add 1/4 cup of the stock and carefully blend until the corn is smooth. Add 1/2 cup more stock to thin it slightly, then transfer the puree to the saute pan. Add more stock, if needed, to bring the puree to a sauce consistency. Stir in the creme fraiche and season with salt and pepper. Keep warm.
• For the ravioli: Place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and line it with cheesecloth. Place the ricotta in the strainer and drain for 4 hours.
• Whisk together 3 of the eggs, the yolk and some salt and pepper in a small bowl. Put the flour in another bowl, make a well in the center, add the egg mixture in the center and mix the flour into the eggs with a fork until combined. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 24 hours.
• Combine the drained ricotta, Parmesan, the reserved sauteed corn and 1 egg in a bowl and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the dough into quarters and roll thinly in a pasta machine to 1/8-inch thickness. Whisk the remaining 2 eggs together with a tablespoon of water. Dust the counter and dough with flour and lay out 2 sheets of the pasta. Brush the top surface of dough with the egg wash. Distribute 1-tablespoon mounds of filling about 2 inches apart on the 2 sheets of dough. Top with the remaining 2 sheets of dough. Using your fingers, gently press out the air pockets around each mound of filling and form a seal. Use a crimper or cookie cutter to cut each ravioli into squares or circles. Check to make sure the crimped edges are well sealed before cooking. If making the ravioli in advance, dust with cornmeal to prevent them from sticking.
• For the sauteed cherry tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the tomatoes and cook until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and salt and pepper and cook until the juices release and then thicken slightly, about 5 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper and stir in the basil.
• For the anchovy breadcrumbs: Heat the oil in a small saute pan over low heat, add the anchovies and cook until they are melted into the oil, about 1 minute. Add the breadcrumbs and cook until lightly golden brown, then season with salt and pepper.
• To serve: Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil. Cook the ravioli, in batches, until they float, about 2 minutes. Lift the ravioli from the water with a large strainer or slotted spoon and toss in the cherry tomato sauce to coat.
• Ladle some of the corn puree into 4 large shallow bowls. Top with 3 large ravioli in sauce, grate fresh Parmesan over and sprinkle with anchovy breadcrumbs.

RICOTTA-FILLED RAVIOLI (RAVIOLI DI RICOTTA)

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.

RICOTTA RAVIOLI WITH PROSCIUTTO, ROASTED PEPPERS, PEA SHOOTS AND TOMATO CREAM

Steps:

• For the pasta: Combine flour and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add egg yolks and olive oil. Mix until the dough comes together into a ball. (If the dough seems too dry, add a few tablespoons of water).
• Knead dough on a floured surface for 2 to 3 minutes, dough should seem smooth and elastic. Let dough rest in refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Make the filling by combining the ricotta, egg, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Using a pasta machine, roll out the pasta dough to the last setting. Cut the dough into sheets approximately 18-inches long. Place 1 sheet of pasta on a floured work surface and brush with the egg wash. Place tablespoon size dots of ricotta mixture 2-inches apart on the sheet of pasta. Place a second sheet of dough over the first and press down to seal around the filling and remove any air bubbles. Using a floured 3-inch round cutter, cut out the ravioli and place them on a well-floured sheet tray. Crimp the edges with a fork.
• For the sauce: Poach garlic cloves in the cream until tender. Add the crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and simmer for 5 minutes. Puree in a blender, strain and set aside. In a large saute pan, heat prosciutto and roasted peppers in the olive oil. Add the pea shoots and cook briefly, until they are just beginning to wilt. Season with salt and pepper. Add the freshly poached ravioli, 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and toss to combine.
• When the sauce is ready, poach the ravioli in simmering, salted water for 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and immediately add to the sauce.
• To serve, ladle a small pool of sauce on the bottom of a large plate or wide-bottomed bowl. Arrange 3 ravioli on the sauce and spoon the prosciutto and vegetables over the top. Garnish with shaved Parmesan or herbs and serve immediately.

EASY HOMEMADE BEEF AND RICOTTA RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Place the ground beef, onion, and garlic into a skillet over medium heat, and sprinkle with salt and black pepper. Cook the beef until browned, about 10 minutes, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks. Drain off excess fat.
• Mix the ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, egg, and ground beef mixture in a bowl until thoroughly combined. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper lightly dusted with flour.
• To make the ravioli, lay out 15 wonton wrappers on a lightly floured work surface. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of filling into the center of each wonton wrapper. Dip your index finger into the beaten egg yolk, and smear a light coating of yolk all around the edge of the wonton wrapper. Place an unfilled wrapper on top of the filling, and press the two wrappers lightly together. Pick up the ravioli gently in your hand, and pinch the edges together tightly, squeezing out all the air. Seal and crimp the edges with a fork. Place the filled ravioli onto the parchment paper. Use immediately or freeze.

SIMPLE RICOTTA RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Following the master method, page 189, roll dough strips for filling.
• For each raviolo, scoop a scant tablespoon of ricotta, shape it round, and drop in place. Press a shallow well in the soft top of the round and fill with drops of olive oil-barely 1/4 teaspoon on each portion.
• Press two or three cubes of mozzarella into the ricotta round, covering the oil. Sprinkle a good pinch of sea salt on and around the ricotta; do the same with a pinch of white pepper. Cover and cut ravioli as detailed in the master method below.
• Cook and sauce ravioli as on page 192. Remove pan from heat, sprinkle over them the freshly grated cheese, and serve.
• Use the formula and procedure for Simple Ricotta Ravioli, but replace half the ricotta (about 6 ounces) with an equal amount of fresh, creamy goat cheese.
• I recommend the same tomato sauces or "cacio e pepe" sauce (see facing page).
• Tomato sauces, the fresher the better: Slow-Cooked Summer Tomato Sauce (page 256), Marinara Sauce with Fresh Basil (page 130), or the Two-Minute Fresh Tomato and Basil Sauce (page 183), even frozen Simple Tomato Sauce (page 132), with shredded fresh basil.