I recently had the pleasure of teaching my pasta and in turn home made ravioli. We kept it simple with a spinach and ricotta filling but had a great time making it. Amy was so excited to be my first client of the In My Own Kitchen cooking lessons and her only instructions were to teach her something fun and healthy.
The recipe I used for the pasta is a pretty standard ratio and seems to work every time for me which is always a bonus. Depending on the type of flour you use and the size of your eggs on hand (I usually have large eggs) you may need to add one more egg if they are on the small size or a little bit of water in the mixing process if it’s just that bit too dry. Purest would use 00 flour or tipo 00 which is a high protein flour. The higher protein also means higher gluten, the ingredient that creates the chemical reaction in the dough allowing it to stretch and become silky smooth. This of course is a very simplified explanation of how gluten works in cooking and doughs, I’m sure a quick internet search could enlighten you more! 🙂 In any case, normal plain flour will do that trick but it may require extra rolling through the machine to ensure it is silky smooth. Be prepared, pasta making is simple but requires some love and patience to ensure you don’t have lumpy and tough dough.
Some little secrets for lovely pasta – rest it and relax it. Who doesn’t love a nice relaxing lounge around after a good workout?! Same goes with pasta and any dough for that matter. The kneading process is like a good workout, you are creating a frame work of ingredients that are forming together to make your tough. Think if them as muscles that are continually flexing and stretching. Now imagine trying to push those muscles into a shape after all that exercise. Not fun hey? Same goes with doughs. Allow at least 20 mins of resting, covered in cling film so it doesn’t dry out. This gives the dough time to relax the frame work and do it’s thing. In savoury and sweet pastry making this ensures the dough doesn’t shrink in your pan or mould due to the pressure the framework is under. The result? Silky smooth not shrunk dough. How does it get any better than that? You make ravioli of course!
Pasta can be flavoured with other ingredients such as spinach, lemon zest or lemon oil (just replace the olive oil in the recipe), herbs and colourings such as beetroot powder or squid ink. For ingredients such as spinach, it contains a high level of moisture so ensure you drain it thoroughly once cooked to ensure your dough doesn’t get sloppy. Hard herbs such as rosemary and thyme need to be chopped finely to ensure they don’t tear the dough when rolling as they aren’t as flexible. Otherwise open the pantry and experiment. One may even say, show me the dough!
Right, to the ravioli – the recipe:
Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli
Ingredients:
4 cups of plain flour
4 eggs
1-2 tbsp olive oil
1-2 tbsp water
500g spinach chopped
250g ricotta
3 cloves garlic – crushed
1 small onion diced
Salt and pepper
Method:
Pasta – place flour on bench and create small well in middle of flour mound
In a cup crack out eggs and whisk in olive oil and water
Slowly fold flour into eggs until mix comes together as rough dough
Start to knead the dough for about 5 – 8 min until the dough is soft and smooth – you can use a mixmaster, kenwood or kitchenaid with the hook attachment as well although i find you need to bring your dough together first and then place in the machine for smaller quantities.
Cover with cling film and place to side to rest for 10-15 minutes
Filling:
Saute onion in a pan until starting to soften, add garlic and continue cooking until golden and soft
Add spinach and allow it to wilt down, remove from heat and allow it cool to room temperature
When cooled, add ricotta, salt and pepper and set in fridge whilst making pasta
To assemble:
Break dough into smaller portions and roll pasta through machine starting at dial one and progressing to dial 5, creating long sheets NB: I used the attachment for my kitchen aid although you can find cheap and cheerful pasta machines in most cookware shops – a little more elbow greases is required but still creates great pasta!
Place sheets down on floured bench and spoon mix out even rows approx 2-3 cm apart
Brush around the filling with water or 1 egg yolk beaten to create a seal
Lay a second sheet of pasta over the sheet with filling and press down around the filling
Cut into squares around the filling and pick up each pillow and press around to seal fully
Ravioli is ready to cook
NB: Ravioli can be frozen raw when laid flat on trays with cling film separating each layer
 If the pasta tears when making ravioli discard torn portion as any holes or rips will cause the filling to come out
Pasta sheets can also be cut into circles to make ravioli for a dinner party look
To cook:
Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil
Gently place ravioli into pan ensuring there is plenty of water and room for the ravioli to move around
Allow to cook for approx 5 minutes or until pasta is soft to the bite
Remove from water with slotted spoon and place in oiled dish ready for sauce
Ravioli fillings are as limited as your imagination – keep it soft though for ease of handling
Some suggestions:
– sweet potato, marscapone and caramelised onion
– chestnut, chicken and sage
– rabbit and thyme
– pumpkin and walnut
Most importantly, have fun, for that is what cooking is about 🙂