Mint Infused Ravioli Sealed With A Chocolate Candy Over A Strawberry Puree Food

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Make the pasta dough by mixing the pastry flour, confectioner's sugar, salt and cocoa powder in a bowl. Pour the dry mixture onto a flat surface, create a well in the center then add the eggs. Whisk the eggs with a fork then begin to combine the dry mix and eggs until a dough ball is formed. Knead several minutes until dough is smooth, it should be slightly dry. Then add the melted chocolate, continue to knead until all of the chocolate is incorporated and the dough is slightly tacky. If the dough is too dry add small amounts (1 tablespoon or less) of water at a time then continue to knead until dough is tacky. Wrap in cellophane and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Once the dough has rested roll out to 1/8 inch, thin enough to feed through the thickest setting of a pasta machine. Cut the dough into 6 inch wide pieces then begin feeding each piece through the pasta machine on the thickest setting. Continue to thin the pasta by feeding through all settings until 2nd or 3rd thinnest.
• In a medium size bowl add all filling ingredients and mix until smooth. Once the pasta has been thinned lay all sheets on a flat surface sprinkled with flour so the pasta does not stick. Place small dollop of filling, about the size of a quarter, two inches apart half way down each pasta sheet. This should result in half of each pasta sheet with filling and half without. Brush egg wash around every filling dollop. Fold plain half of each pasta sheet over filled half. Press around each ravioli filling to seal the dough. Cut into ravioli shape with an individual ravioli press or with a pastry wheel. Let raviolis rest for a few minutes before frying.
• In a deep fryer heat canola oil until 325 degrees. Fry the ravioli in batches that fit in the deep fryer basket, 25 seconds. Remove from fryer and place on rack to cool. In a food processor or blender combine strawberries, amaretto, and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Set mixture aside.
• In a medium bowl add heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla extract. Using a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until medium peaks form.
• To plate, use a spoon to dab quarter size dollop of ravioli filling on plate then spread across perimeter. Place ravioli's on top of filling - this will keep them from moving around the plate. Spoon about a tablespoon of strawberry sauce on top of each ravioli then add spoonful of whipped cream next to the plate.

FRIED RAVIOLI WITH CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• Mix the ricotta with the powdered sugar and salt, then stir in the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Place 6 wonton wrappers on the counter and place about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate-ricotta mixture in the center of each. Brush the beaten egg around the outside of the wrappers, then top with the remaining 6 wrappers, pressing out the air and ensuring the edges are sealed tightly.
• Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. When the oil is 350 degrees F, add the ravioli and fry, flipping once halfway through, until they are golden and crisp on both sides, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• To serve, place the ravioli on a plate. Scatter over the strawberry slices and drizzle with the white chocolate. Top with the chopped hazelnuts.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap. Place 1 wonton wrapper on the work surface. Brush the edges of the wrapper lightly with egg. Spoon 1 tablespoon of chocolate-hazelnut spread into the center of the wrapper. Fold the wrapper diagonally in half over the filling and press the edges of the wrapper to seal. Place the ravioli on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining wonton wrappers, egg, and chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Add enough oil to a heavy large frying pan to reach a depth of 2 inches. Heat the oil over medium heat to 350 degrees F.
• Working in batches, carefully add the ravioli to the hot oil and cook until they are golden brown, about 45 seconds per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ravioli to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Then, transfer the cooked ravioli to another baking sheet and keep them warm in the oven while frying the remaining ravioli. (The fried ravioli can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool them completely, then cover and refrigerate. Before serving, place them on a baking sheet and rewarm in a preheated 375 degrees F oven just until they are heated through, about 7 minutes.)
• Spray the top side of the mint leaves very lightly with nonstick spray. Working with 1 leaf at a time, dredge the coated side of the leaves in sugar to coat lightly.
• Arrange 2 fried ravioli on each plate. Dust the ravioli with powdered sugar. Garnish with the sugared mint leaves and serve.

CHOCOLATE RAVIOLI IN BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE SAUCE

Steps:

• For the pasta dough, sift the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt into a large mixing bowl and whisk to blend. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and place the eggs in the well. Using a fork, slowly incorporate the eggs into the flour, until all the eggs have been absorbed. Transfer the dough to a work surface and, using the palm of your hand, lightly knead the dough for 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough is sticky, sprinkle a little flour on the kneading surface. The dough is ready if, when you make an impression in it with the tip of your finger, the dough bounces back. Shape into a disk and tightly wrap in plastic film. Let the dough rest for at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
• Meanwhile, make the pastry cream: In a medium saucepan, combine the milk and vanilla bean. Place over high heat and bring to a boil (be careful not to scorch the milk). Meanwhile, using a whisk, in a medium bowl, whip the sugar and egg yolks until pale yellow and frothy, about 2 minutes. Add the cornstarch and whisk to dissolve any lumps.
• Remove the vanilla bean from the milk and discard. Temper the egg yolk mixture by pouring a little of the steaming milk into the yolks, whisking to incorporate. Whisk the egg yolks into the remaining milk in the pan, set the pan over medium heat, and whisk quickly and constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil, then whisk for another minute. Add the butter and stir until incorporated. Transfer the pastry cream to a storage container and place plastic wrap directly against the cream to prevent a skin from forming on top. Refrigerate until fully chilled, about 2 hours.
• Once the pastry cream has chilled, place the hazelnut chocolate in a microwave-safe container and microwave on high for 1 minute; or melt the chocolate in a double boiler over low heat. Remove the chocolate from the microwave and stir. Heat the chocolate for another minute, remove, and stir to melt the remaining chocolate. Add to the pastry cream and stir to incorporate. Return to the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Divide the pasta dough into 4 pieces. Using a pasta machine, one at a time, roll out each piece from the widest to the thinnest setting. Keep the remaining dough covered to prevent it from drying out.
• To make the ravioli, dust a work surface with flour. Place one pasta sheet on the work surface. Starting about 2 inches from one end, place a teaspoon of filling every 4 inches down the pasta strip, ending about 2 inches from the other end of the strip. Brush the pasta dough with water, fold the dough over, and press to seal, being careful not to trap air inside the ravioli (or they will burst during cooking). Cut the ravioli into half-moons using a cookie cutter or pastry wheel. Press the edges together and squeeze to make the edges of the dough as thin as possible. Set the finished ravioli on a baking sheet lined with parchment and sprinkled with flour, to prevent sticking. Repeat with the remaining dough. You should get at least 24 ravioli. Refrigerate until ready to cook.
• For the sauce, bring the heavy cream, milk, and sugar to a simmer in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the chocolate, and stir until melted. Add the butter and stir to incorporate.
• To cook the ravioli, bring the water and sugar to a boil in a large pot and boil until the sugar has dissolved. Add the ravioli to the pot and cook until al dente, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, gently reheat the chocolate sauce.
• To serve, remove the ravioli with a slotted spoon, letting the excess liquid drain, and arrange 4 ravioli on each plate. Drizzle the sauce over each plate. Serve immediately.

LIQUOR-INFUSED CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Rinse strawberries and dry thoroughly. Use a syringe or clean marinade injector to inject about 2 teaspoons of brandy into each berry. Place them on a baking sheet, and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• In a metal bowl over a pan of simmering water, combine bittersweet chocolate and shortening. Stir occasionally until melted and smooth. Stir in heavy cream and 1/4 cup of brandy. Place white chocolate in a separate bowl, and when the dark chocolate has melted, place the bowl of white chocolate over the pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Be sure to remove from heat as soon as it is mostly melted, white chocolate can be sensitive.
• Dip strawberries into chocolate, and let the excess drip off into the bowl before placing on waxed paper to set. When the strawberries have all been dipped in chocolate, dip a fork into the white chocolate, and drizzle back and forth over berries to stripe.