Ravioli With Spinach Food

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM RAVIOLI

Steps:

• In a large saute pan heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Cook until all the liquid has evaporated from the mushrooms, about 6 minutes. Add spinach and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and place mixture into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until you get a coarse texture. Place in bowl and stir in mascarpone and Parmesan cheese. Check for seasoning and set aside.
• Line up 3 wrappers on a cutting board. Brush with the egg and water mixture. Using a tablespoon, arrange 4 dollops of the filling on each wrapper ¿ 2 on the first row and 2 on the second ¿ 1-inch apart. Place another wrapper directly on top, pressing around the filling and sealing the edges. Using a fluted ravioli cutter, cut out squares of ravioli. Each filled wrapper will yield 4 raviolis, giving you a total of 12 ravioli. Place ravioli onto a floured baking sheet and keep covered with a linen towel.
• In a large pot, bring to a boil 4 quarts of salted and oiled water. Carefully add small batches of ravioli, about 3 to 4 at a time. This will prevent them from crowding in the pot and sticking together. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a spider strainer, carefully remove the ravioli and place on the plate. Tent with foil to keep warm and continue cooking remaining ravioli.
• In a saute pan, heat remaining 1/4 cup olive oil. When almost smoking, add chopped mushrooms and saute until soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 minutes. Carefully pour in tomato sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Divide ravioli between 2 serving plates. Top with mushroom tomato sauce and sprinkle with Parmesan.
• In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

MEAT AND SPINACH RAVIOLI FILLING

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and stir in the ground beef. Cook and stir until the beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink. Drain and discard any excess grease. Stir in the spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Transfer the beef mixture to a bowl. Add the Parmesan, parsley, bread crumbs, olive oil, egg, garlic salt, and pepper and mix well. Run the filling through a grinder until smooth (or puree in a food processor until smooth).
• The filling can be kept in the refrigerator for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months.

SPINACH RAVIOLI BAKE

Steps:

• Place 1 cup spaghetti sauce in a greased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Top with half of the ravioli, mozzarella cheese, spinach and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layers. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until heated through and cheese is melted.

RAVIOLI IN CREAMY SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, mix cream cheese spread, milk and Italian seasoning until blended.
• Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic; cook and stir 3 to 5 min. or until crisp-tender.
• Drain pasta, reserving 1/3 cup cooking water; cover pasta to keep warm. Add reserved water and cream cheese mixture to skillet; cook and stir on medium heat 2 min. Add spinach; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or just until spinach starts to wilt. Add pasta; stir to evenly coat. Sprinkle with Parmesan.

ZAVIOLI WITH SPINACH AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Mix ricotta cheese, spinach, egg, and pepper together in a bowl.
• Grind basil, oil, and garlic together into a chunky paste using a mortar and pestle. Add pine nuts to the pesto; grind to the size of small peddles.
• Slice zucchini lengthwise into strips using a mandoline.
• Arrange 2 zucchini strips in the shape of a cross. Spoon some of the ricotta cheese mixture in the middle of the cross. Top with a dollop of pesto. Fold ends into the center to create a parcel, starting from the bottom end and moving clockwise. Secure with a toothpick. Repeat with remaining zucchini strips, ricotta cheese mixture, and pesto.
• Spread some of the pasta sauce in the bottom of a shallow baking dish. Arrange zucchini parcels on top, spacing them 1/2 inch apart. Spoon a bit of pasta sauce on top of each parcel. Sprinkle Parmiggiano-Reggiano cheese on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until sauce and zucchini begin to brown, about 20 minutes.

SPINACH AND RICOTTA RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt on a flat work surface; shape into a mound and make a well in the center. Add the eggs and 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the well and lightly beat with a fork. Gradually draw in the flour from the inside wall of the well in a circular motion. Continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes.
• While the pasta is resting, prepare the filling. Steam the spinach and drain well, pressing the spinach to remove all excess liquid. Chop finely. Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add the olive oil and heat until hot but not smoking. Add shallots and cook for about a minute, stirring so that they do not brown. Add the shallots to the spinach, along with the ricotta, Parmesan cheese and egg. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper as needed.
• Cut the ball of dough in 1/2, cover and reserve the piece you are not immediately using to prevent it from drying out. Dust the counter and dough with a little flour. Press the dough into a rectangle and roll it through a pasta machine, 2 or 3 times, at widest setting. Pull and stretch 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 tightening until the machine is at the second narrowest setting; the dough should be almost paper-thin.
• Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with a little water, which acts as a glue. Drop 1 tablespoon of the filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart. Fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket. With your fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling. Use a sharp knife to cut each pillow into squares and crimp the 4 edges with the tins of a fork to make a tight seal. A fluted pastry wheel also works well to make an attractive edge around the pasta. Dust the ravioli and a sheet pan with cornmeal to prevent the pasta from sticking and lay them out to dry slightly while assembling the rest. If not using within an hour or two refrigerate until needed.
• To prepare the sauce, heat the two tablespoons of oil in a heavy pot and cook the garlic for just a minute. Add the tomatoes, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes and cook over medium low heat for 10 minutes. Add the chopped basil, and mix well. Cook over low heat an additional 10 minutes. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water until tender. They will float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Drain the ravioli and return to the pot. Pour half of the sauce mixture into the pot and carefully stir until the ravioli is lightly coated. Serve the ravioli with a spoonful of additional sauce and a sprinkling of grated cheese. Serve hot.

SPINACH RAVIOLI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salami and garlic and cook, about 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes into the pan with your hands and cook until slightly dry, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved tomato juice, basil, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste. Increase the heat to high and cook until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Stir in 3/4 cup water and reduce the heat to medium-low. Let simmer while you cook the ravioli.
• Add salt to the boiling water, then add the ravioli and cook as the label directs; drain. Divide the ravioli among shallow bowls, spoon the sauce on top and sprinkle with the cheese. Garnish with more basil.

RAVIOLI WITH CREAMY SPINACH SAUCE

Steps:

• In large saucepan, cook ravioli according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Cook spinach according to package directions; place in strainer. Press excess water from spinach with the back of a spoon.
• In same saucepan, place spinach, alfredo sauce and nutmeg; cook over medium heat until heated through.
• Add ravioli and tomato, toss together.

RAVIOLI WITH SPINACH

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.

RAVIOLI BAKED WITH BROCCOLI AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat broiler or oven to 500 Bring large stockpot of water to a boil.
• Steam broccoli for about 5 minutes until bright green and slightly tender.
• As water heats up to a boil, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add olive oil and chopped garlic, and saute for about 1 minute.
• Next, add drained spinach to the pan, along with the steamed broccoli.
• Toss vegetable well with garlic oil to coat evenly.
• Sauté for about 5 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper, remove from the heat into a bowl, and set aside.
• For the sauce: In the same skillet, melt the butter and whisk in the flour into the butter and cook for about 1-2 minutes.
• Add stock, raise heat and bring mixture to a boil, whisking the entire time.
• Slowly whisk in milk and parmesan, and let mixture bubble for about 2 more minutes until thickened.
• Season sauce with nutmeg (if desired) and salt and pepper.
• For the pasta: When pasta water is boiling add salt, stir, and add ravioli.
• Cook for about 4 or 5 minute, until slightly underdone.
• The ravioli will finish cooking with sauce under the broiler.
• Place a thin layer of the white sauce in an oven proof casserole dish.
• Drain ravioli.
• Layer ½ of the ravioli in the baking dish.
• Next add ½ of the broccoli/spinach mixture Add a couple ladles of the sauce to cover this first layer, a little more than half of it.
• Add the rest of the vegetable mixture, then the remaining half of the ravioli.
• Spoon the remaining sauce over the top (a little less than half of it) and top with grated cheese of your choice.
• Place casserole dish under the broiler or in oven about 8 or so inches from the element.
• Broil about 5 minutes until cheese melts and is bubbly and starting to brown.

RAVIOLI STUFFED WITH RICOTTA AND SPINACH

Steps:

• Spoon the ricotta into a large fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with a double thickness of cheesecloth or a basket-type coffee filter. Set the sieve over a bowl and cover the ricotta well with plastic wrap. Let the ricotta drain in the refrigerator at least overnight or up to 24 hours. Discard the liquid in the bottom of the bowl.
• In a wide braising pan or deep skillet, heat the oil over medium-low heat. Add the leeks and scallions and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chopped spinach and increase the heat to medium. Season lightly with salt and pepper and cook over moderate heat until the vegetables are tender and the liquid is evaporated, about 10 minutes. Set in a strainer and cool completely.
• Stir the fresh ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, and sautéed greens together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper and stir in the egg. Chill thoroughly.
• While the filling is chilling, make the pasta dough and let rest.
• Form and cut the ravioli according to directions on page 190. The ravioli should be cooked immediately or refrigerated up to 4 hours. (The ravioli may also be frozen: Place the sheets of ravioli onto a freezer shelf and freeze until solid to the touch. Carefully transfer the ravioli to resealable plastic bags or airtight plastic containers.)
• Bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil in an 8-quart pot over high heat. Slip the ravioli into the water a few at a time, stirring gently as you do. Cook until the edges of the pasta are tender but still firm to the bite and they rise to the surface, about 6 minutes after the water returns to a boil.
• While the ravioli are cooking, divide the tomato sauce, olive oil, and basil between two large skillets and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Fish out the ravioli with a wire skimmer or large flat slotted spoon, drain them well over the pasta pot, and slide them into the pans of sauce, dividing them evenly. Simmer, stirring gently with a spoon until the sauce is lightly reduced and the ravioli are coated. Remove the pans from the heat, check the seasoning, and add salt and pepper if necessary. Spoon the ravioli into warm bowls or onto a warm platter, sprinkle with the grated cheese, and serve immediately.
• Variation: Butter-Sage Sauce (Conditi all Burro e Salvia)
• Melt one stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter in a large skillet over low heat. (The heat should be low enough to melt the butter slowly, without its separating or turning clear.) Add eight to ten whole sage leaves and remove the skillet from the heat. Ladle out about 1 cup of the ravioli-cooking water before you drain them. Either fish the ravioli out of the pot with a large wire skimmer or drain them gently. Add the ravioli to the skillet. Pour in enough of the cooking liquid to make a sufficient amount of creamy sauce to coat the ravioli generously. Bring to a quick boil, then remove from the heat. Stir in grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve immediately.