- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- Use 1 pound pre-made pasta sheets OR
- 2 1/2 cups 00 flour (or all purpose flour)
- 1 pound spinach, parboiled (to yield 1 cup cooked spinach)
- 3 eggs
- Salt
For the Filling:
- 8 ounces fresh goat cheese
- 8 ounces fresh ricotta
- 2 tablespoons Parmigiano Reggiano, grated
- 1 egg
- Salt, to taste
- Ground white pepper, to taste
For the Sauce:
- 1 pound cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 ounces butter
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
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Find OutInstructions
Prepare the Pasta:
- Press the spinach dry with a plate or your hand to remove excess liquid. In a food processor, whip the spinach and one of the eggs until smooth. Make a mound with the flour, plus a pinch of salt. Then make a well in the middle in which to put the eggs. Beat the eggs with a fork and then slowly use the fork to incorporate the flour. Once the eggs are absorbed, use your hands to knead the dough. Mix in the spinach. Knead for 10 minutes until smooth. (You can also use a kitchen mixer with a knead attachment to accomplish the foregoing.) Wrap the dough tightly in plastic and set aside for 20 minutes.
- Cut the dough into 4-6 pieces of equal size, but use only one piece at a time (leaving the remaining dough wrapped in plastic). If you are doing this the old fashion way, with a rolling pin, then roll it out, fold it back several times, and continue this process until thin. Alternatively, pass it through a pasta machine until thin (or until it goes through the second thinnest setting at least twice).
Prepare the Filling:
- In a large bowl, combine the goat cheese, ricotta, egg, salt and pepper. Mix until smooth.
Prepare the Ravioli:
- Place the pasta sheets on a cool dry surface. Using a teaspoon, place spoonfuls of filling evenly spaced on half of the dough, leaving a little space between spoonfuls. If not using a serrated pastry cutter, brush the space around each clump with the beaten egg. Fold over the other half of the dough, and cut the ravioli with a serrated ravioli cutter or pizza cutter into squares. If necessary, press the edges with your fingers or a fork to seal them.
Prepare the Sauce:
- In a large skillet, melt the butter. Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until slightly wilted.
For Serving:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Drop in the ravioli and let them cook for 2- 3 minutes.
- Drain and place in a serving dish and cover with the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with Parmigiano. Serve immediately.
Ed's Review
There are nearly a billion goats in the world. That means three goats for every American or 3/4 of a goat for everyone in China or 15 goats for every Italian. Anyway you count it, that's a lot of goats. And a lot of goat cheese.
The goat is closely related to the sheep, and with over 300 distinct breeds of goats, they are one of the oldest domesticated animals. Neolithic farmers began to herd wild goats for their meat and milk about 10,000 years ago.
Goat cheese came soon thereafter. In Italy, it has been made alongside Pecorino (sheep's milk cheese) for centuries. Vacino, or cow's milk cheese, came later - mainly because cow's were easier to herd (despite the fact that goat milk is easier for humans to digest).
Yes, goats may have horns, beards, and bad attitudes, but we like them (and their cheese) regardless.
Buon Appetito!
Ed Garrubbo
