Il Cucinologo
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Heart-shaped Ravioli

17/11/2023

Heart-shaped ravioli are a romantic and cute variant of the classic ravioli. You can fill them with the filling you prefer, whether meat, cheese, or vegetables. Here I suggest a version with a ricotta and spinach filling, which is a classic of Italian cuisine. Remember that precision in assembling the heart-shaped ravioli is important to achieve a nice visual result.

Ingredients

  • 200 g “00” flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 200 g ricotta
  • 100 g spinach (already cooked and squeezed)
  • 50 g grated Parmesan
  • Nutmeg to taste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 egg to seal the edges of the ravioli

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the egg pasta. Place the flour in a mound on a work surface, break the eggs in the center and start kneading until you obtain a smooth and elastic dough. Let it rest covered for about 30 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Mix the ricotta with the previously cooked and squeezed spinach. Add the Parmesan, a pinch of salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
  3. Roll out the dough into thin sheets (preferably with the help of a pasta machine) and cut out hearts with a heart-shaped cookie cutter or with the tip of a knife.
  4. Beat the egg in a small bowl and brush it on the edges of the pasta hearts. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of one heart, cover it with another pasta heart and press the edges well to seal the ravioli. Make sure the air has escaped to prevent them from opening during cooking.
  5. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ravioli for about 3-4 minutes (they should rise to the surface and become translucent).
  6. Drain them with a slotted spoon and season to taste, for example with a simple butter and sage sauce or with a tomato and basil sauce.

Trivia

Heart-shaped ravioli are perfect for a special dinner, such as Valentine’s Day or an anniversary. They are a small demonstration of love and attention towards those who receive them. In Italy, filled pasta is a dish that expresses the care and creativity of home cooking, and customizing it with different shapes is a way to make it even more unique and personal.