OPEN RAVIOLI WITH SQUASH & PORCINI MUSHROOMS

Open ravioli with squash & porcini mushrooms image

Don't leave the vegetarians out this Christmas, with this special yet easy to manage recipe

Provided by Sara Buenfeld

Time 1h30m

Number Of Ingredients 14

Ingredients

450g butternut squash , peeled and chopped
25g butter
generous grating nutmeg
25g vegetarian parmesan -style cheese, coarsely grated
1 tbsp finely chopped dried porcini mushrooms
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 tsp soy sauce
generous pinch saffron
85g chestnut mushrooms , quartered
1 fat garlic clove , shredded
100g bag baby spinach
4 sheets fresh lasagne , halved
shavings of parmesan (or vegetarian alternative), optional

Steps:

Put the squash and butter in a pan with 5 tbsp water. Tightly cover pan and cook for 15 mins until the squash is just tender, but not coloured. Roughly mash with seasoning, nutmeg and Parmesan.
Meanwhile, make the dressing. Put the chopped porcini in a small bowl with 3 tbsp boiling water. Cover with cling film and cook for 1 min in the microwave on High, then leave to cool. Mix 1 tbsp oil with the vinegar and soy, then add the soaked mushrooms with almost all of the liquid (leave the last drop behind as it might contain grit).
To serve, boil a pan of water with the saffron and some salt for 5 mins to extract some colour and flavour. Meanwhile, fry the mushrooms in the remaining oil. When they are nearly cooked, add the garlic so that it browns and crisps, but doesn't burn. Pierce the bag of spinach and wilt in the microwave for 1 min. Reheat the squash in the microwave, too.
Boil the lasagne for 1 min until just tender, then drain. Put 3 little piles of spinach on 2 warm serving plates. Top each with a square of lasagne, then a spoonful of squash - spread it out a little, add a few spinach leaves, then top with another square of pasta. Continue these layers until you end up with a stack of 4 layers of pasta on each plate, then top each with a spoonful of squash. Scatter round the garlicky mushrooms, Prepare ahead
The squash can be mashed and the dressing made up to 2 days ahead; keep them both covered in the fridge. To serve, reheat the squash in a pan or in the microwave and take the dressing out to come to room temperature generously spoon over the dressing, or allow guest to help themselves at the table, and sprinkle over some Parmesan shavings, if you like.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 504 calories, Fat 28 grams fat, SaturatedFat 11 grams saturated fat, Carbohydrate 49 grams carbohydrates, Sugar 13 grams sugar, Fiber 7 grams fiber, Protein 17 grams protein, Sodium 1.61 milligram of sodium