Once you learn how to make ravioli from scratch, you will be able to create gourmet pasta anytime. You may even choose to make it for yourself more often, for there is nothing quite like fresh pasta, even if you're not Italian.
Raviolis, or any stuffed pasta recipes, are comfort food. Stuffed pasta is delicious, hot, satisfying and filled with memories of home. If your mother didn't make homemade pasta, it's up to you to start the tradition. And, because the cook can always use a little help in the kitchen when preparing homemade pasta, invite family members to help.
The key to making ravioli your family will love it is to make it with your family's favorite fillings. While Italian sausage might be the favorite of one family, beef or chicken might go over better with another. Don't hesitate to mix and match ingredients to create your own special ravioli masterpiece.
To make the following recipe, both the filling and the pasta should be made at the same time. While the meat is browning, begin making the pasta. While it's not necessary to fill the ravioli with hot meat mixture, it's easier to do it this way because the melted cheese tends to help hold the raviolis together.
Ravioli Filling With Italian Sausage
Ingredients You Will Need:
3 cups Italian sausage, crumbled, browned and drained
1 small onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, crushed
½ teaspoon fennel seeds
½ teaspoon parsley
½ teaspoon salt and pepper
2 cups ricotta cheese, shredded
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
After you have browned the sausage, remove it from the pan. Drain the pan, reserving about 2 tablespoons of grease. Add the onion, garlic, fennel, parsley and salt and pepper to the pan, and sauté the vegetables until they are tender. Drain the vegetables, and add them to the bowl with the sausage. Add the cheeses to the bowl, and mix until thoroughly blended. The cheese will start melting at this point.
Remember, too, that the meat can be any type of meat you choose. Beef and pork work well with this recipe. If using beef, omit the mozzarella. If using lamb, add feta cheese instead of ricotta and mozzarella.
Ravioli Pasta
Ingredients You Will Need:
2 to 3 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
2 to 3 cups white flour
2 tablespoons water (optional)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (optional)
This recipe will make about 24 raviolis. Mix the first four ingredients with a fork. Add the flour slowly, 1 cup at a time, or place a mound of flour on a clean countertop, make a well in it and then dump the ingredients into the well. To get the gluten working, knead the dough for about 7 minutes. Roll out the dough with a rolling pin to about ⅛-inch thickness. Cut the raviolis out with the open end of a small glass, and place a teaspoon of filling on the ravioli pasta. Add another dough circle over the top of the filling, and seal. If need be, add water to the edges to seal.
 | The beauty of homemade ravioli is that you can fill them with whatever vegetables you choose and then freeze the ravioli for later use. |
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