Best Cheese Ravioli With Three Pepper Topping Recipes

THREE CHEESE RED BELL PEPPER RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F or preheat grill over high heat.
• Toss the peppers with some oil, place on a baking sheet, and roast in the oven until blackened. Turn them over, blacken on the second side, and remove to cool. Alternatively, blacken on a grill in the same manner. Gently remove the skins and seeds; do not rinse with water. Place in a food processor bowl and pulse to puree. Scrape down sides and pulse a few more times.
• Add to the processor bowl 1 egg, 2 1/2 teaspoons olive oil, and salt; pulse to combine. Add in 12 ounces of the semolina and pulse to combine. A dough ball should start to form after 6 to 7 pulses. If the mixture is too wet, add more semolina until a dough ball forms. Process for 1 minute and turn the dough out onto a lightly semolina-floured cutting board. Sprinkle with a little more semolina and knead for 2 to 3 minutes. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and allow to rest at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes.
• Prepare a work area for rolling out the pasta: a large cutting board, all-purpose bench flour, large sheets of plastic wrap, dough blade or knife, small amount of water, and a pastry brush.
• Cut a 1/2-inch thick piece of the dough from the ball and shape into an oval, making sure that the dough isn't wider than the width of the pasta roller. Process through the pasta machine by folding the dough into thirds, feed through the rollers on level 1, and repeat until the dough is smooth, elastic, and in an even shape. Add more flour or a sprinkle of water, if necessary, to adjust the consistency of the dough. Continue rolling out through level 9, without folding, and cutting the sheets into 12 to 14-inch long pieces as needed. Wrap carefully and individually in plastic wrap; it's okay to layer. Repeat until the dough is used up.
• Combine the cheeses with the pepper and whisk in 2 eggs. On a clean, lightly semolina-floured surface lay out a sheet of pasta. With a round tablespoon measure, lightly press some cheese mixture into the measuring spoon and "thonk" with your finger gently onto the sheet, spacing them 1 1/2 inches apart. Lightly brush beaten eggs around the cheese. If the dough is wide enough you can fold it over the cheese, or if it's thinner in width, center the cheese spacing and add a top sheet. Start at the center and gently compress around the cheese to push out any air. Cut between the raviolis with a bench scraper, knife, or pizza cutter. Dust raviolis lightly with semolina flour and set on a cookie rack; repeat until all the raviolis have been made. Reserve the extra cheese for garnish.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat and add 1 tablespoon kosher salt. When ready, add the raviolis gently into boiling water, pressing into the water as needed, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the water, drain, and add to the Chardonnay Cream Sauce. Place into a serving dish and drizzle some of the Basil Oil. Sprinkle with a bit of the remaining cheese, the minced parsley, and serve immediately.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, add the butter and when foamy, add the shallots and cook for 5 to 6 minutes. Add the chardonnay and the salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cream and combine well. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 to 15 minutes; the mixture will thicken slightly. Hold warm until service. Adjust seasonings as needed.;
• Prepare an ice bath of ice and water. Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, add the basil leaves, and cook for 10 seconds. Remove immediately to the ice bath. When cool, transfer to a salad spinner or strainer and remove water.
• Add the leaves and oil into a blender and pulse to puree. Scrape down the sides and pulse a few more times. Strain the mixture through 4 layers of rinsed cheesecloth into a sterile canning jar (16-ounce size is good). This process will take about an hour.
• Refrigerate unused portion for up to 1 week.

SPINACH AND THREE CHEESE RAVIOLI WITH SUGO SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the pasta dough as directed in the master recipe.
• To make the filling: Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl, stirring to incorporate.
• To make the sauce: Coat a wide saute pan with olive oil and place over medium heat. When the oil gets hazy, add the onions, garlic, and anchovies; cook and stir for 5 minutes until fragrant and soft. Add the olives, capers, and hand torn basil. Carefully add the tomatoes (nothing splashes like tomatoes), cook and stir over low heat, until the liquid is cooked down and the sauce is thick, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Yield: 24 ravioli
• Pasta Dough for Ravioli:
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs, plus 1 for egg wash
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Cornmeal, for dusting
• To make the pasta dough: In an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook*, combine the flour and salt. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and continue to mix. Drizzle in 1 tablespoons of the olive oil and continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Sprinkle some flour on work surface, knead and fold the dough until elastic and smooth, this should take about 10 minutes. Brush the surface with the remaining olive oil and wrap the dough in plastic wrap; let rest for about 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax.
• *Alternatively if you don't have an electric mixer: 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. Use 1 hand for mixing and the other to protect the outer wall. Continue to incorporate all the flour until it forms a ball. Continue as directed above.
• 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 narrowest setting; the dough should be paper-thin, about 1/8-inch thick (you should be able to see your hand through it.). Dust the sheets of dough with flour as needed.
• Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Dust the counter and sheet of dough with flour, lay out the long sheet of pasta, and brush the top surface with the egg wash, which acts as a glue. Drop tablespoons of your favorite filling on 1/2 of the pasta sheet, about 2-inches apart. Fold the other 1/2 over the filling like a blanket. With an espresso cup or 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. 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.
• Cook the ravioli in plenty of boiling salted water for 4 minutes; they'll float to the top when ready, so be careful not to overcrowd the pot. Lift the ravioli from water with a large strainer or slotted spoon. Bath the ravioli in your favorite sauce to lightly coat and serve.

GOAT CHEESE RAVIOLI WITH BELL PEPPERS AND BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• For bell peppers:
• Char all peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Place in paper bag; seal and let stand at room temperature 15 minutes. Peel and seed peppers; chop.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and tomatoes and cook until onion begins to brown, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cook until vegetables are very soft and onion is brown, stirring often, about 15 minutes. Add chopped peppers and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.
• For ravioli:
• Lightly sprinkle rimmed baking sheet with cornmeal. Mix 8 ounces goat cheese, 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese, and next 2 ingredients in medium bowl. Arrange 6 wonton wrappers on work surface. Place 1 tablespoon cheese filling in center of each wrapper. Using fingertip, dampen edges of wrappers with water. Fold all 4 corners up to meet in center, forming pyramid shape; seal all 4 edges tightly. Pinch top to seal. Place on prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining wrappers and filling. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill.
• Cook butter in large skillet over medium heat until beginning to brown, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes.
• Cook ravioli in pot of gently boiling salted water until tender, about 4 minutes. Transfer ravioli to skillet with browned butter. Toss over medium heat.
• Meanwhile, rewarm bell pepper mixture; divide among 6 plates. Using slotted spoon, top peppers on each plate with 3 ravioli. Drizzle with any remaining browned butter. Sprinkle with Parmesan, toasted pine nuts, olives, and chives.
• *Brine-cured black olives; available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.