Spinach Ricotta Ravioli Alla Primavera Food

SPINACH 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 and 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, then 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, then 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, then fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket.
• With your fingers, gently press out air pockets around each mound of filling, and 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 & RICOTTA RAVIOLI ALLA PRIMAVERA

Steps:

• Thinly slice bell peppers, the zucchini and the summer squash; quarter the cherry tomatoes; slice a few cloves of garlic and chop the onion; pick leaves from a few stalks of oregano and thyme. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions and garlic, season with salt and pepper, and sauté until softened and golden, then add peppers and zucchini. Add tomatoes and herbs and toss to coat. In the meantime, cook the Ravioli according to package instructions in generously salted boiling water. Drain and add to vegetables. Toss to coat and serve immediately, topped with a dollop of fresh ricotta, additional olive oil, oregano, and thyme. Any leftover sauce can be used with additional pasta or can be saved as a side dish.

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.

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.