Mushroom Ravioli with Pancetta and Red Onion

Mushroom Ravioli with Pancetta and Red Onion

*You can use whatever combination of fresh mushrooms you like.

Using a Ravioli Mold is the easiest method to make ravioli. Also, you will need pasta rollers, a couple of rimmed baking sheets, a small pastry brush, a rolling pin and a fluted pastry wheel.

You can freeze the ravioli easily. Just place on a sheet in the freezer until they are frozen, place in plastic bags and freeze. When you want to cook them, no need to defrost - just place in simmering water and cook a minute longer than normal.

makes 36 ravioli (serves about 6)

for the Pasta:

3 extra large eggs

2½ cups AP flour (approximately)

* for the Mushroom Filling:

2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

½ cup diced red onion

4 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stems cut off and caps chopped

4 ounces cremini mushrooms, chopped

¼ teaspoon onion powder

couple of pinches of coarse sea salt

a few grindings of freshly ground black pepper

2 ounces Parmigiano cheese

¼ cup mascarpone cheese (Italian cream cheese)

for the sauce:

4 ounces pancetta, diced (Italian unsmoked bacon)

4 Tablespoons butter

3 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

½ cup minced red onion

freshly ground black pepper

2 Tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

grated Parmigiano cheese for serving

Make the pasta (I give you three different methods to make the pasta):

Food processor method: Place the eggs in a food processor and pulse twice. Add 2 cups of the flour and pulse until blended. Keep adding the rest of the flour until the dough gathers up into a ball. If the dough is still sticky, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time and pulse, until the dough gathers up and is not so sticky. Remove dough and place on counter. Knead until the dough is still moist but does not come off on your hands. If it does, add a dusting of flour until it doesn't stick to your hands. Place in a floured piece of plastic wrap and let rest on the counter for at least 20 minutes.

Automatic Mixer method: Place the eggs in the bowl of an automatic mixer and blend with a fork. Attach the dough hook attachment to the mixer and add 2 cups of the flour. Mix with the dough hook until blended. Keep adding the rest of the flour until the dough gathers up into a ball. If the dough is still sticky, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time and mix until the dough is not so sticky. Remove dough and place on counter. Knead until the dough is still moist but does not come off on your hands. If it does, add a dusting of flour until it doesn't stick to your hands. Place in a floured piece of plastic wrap and let rest on the counter for at least 20 minutes.

Hand method: Place the eggs in a medium bowl and blend with a fork. Add the flour, a cup at a time, and keep blending until the dough gathers together. Keep adding the rest of the flour until the dough gathers up into a ball. If the dough is still sticky, add more flour, a tablespoon at a time and mix until the dough is not so sticky. Remove dough and place on counter. Knead until the dough is still moist but does not come off on your hands. If it does, add a dusting of flour until it doesn't stick to your hands. Place in a floured piece of plastic wrap and let rest on the counter for at least 20 minutes.

Make the Filling:

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and add the red onion, mushrooms and seasonings and saute over medium low heat until soft, about 15 minutes, stirring every now and then. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Place the Parmigiano cheese into a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the the mushroom mixture and pulse. Add the mascarpone cheese and pulse until finely blended. Taste and adjust for salt, adding more if needed.

Assemble the Ravioli:

Take the pasta and cut into thirds. Take a third of the dough (keep the remaining dough until plastic wrap) and place through pasta rollers at the widest setting. Keep rolling the dough through the pasta rollers, narrowing the rollers until the pasta is about ⅛ inch thick (#5 on my KitchenAid rollers). Cut the pasta sheet in half - each half should be slightly larger than the ravioli mold. Flour the inside of the ravioli mold and place pasta sheet on top. Press the sheet slightly into the mold indentations. Using two spoons, place about a teaspoon of filling into each indentation. Take a small pastry brush and dip the brush into water and wet the pasta in between the filling indentations. Place the second pasta sheet on top and lay it down, squeezing out any air as you go. Run a rolling pin over the pasta to press together. Flip the mold over and remove the ravioli. They will not be separated. Take a pastry wheel and separate the ravioli. Place the fresh ravioli on a floured rimmed baking sheet. Loosely cover with plastic wrap while you make the remaining ravioli. You can place the covered ravioli in the refrigerator unti you are ready to make the sauce and serve.

When all the ravioli are finished, make the sauce.

Make the Sauce:

In a large frying pan, saute the pancetta until crisp. Remove the pancetta and the fat and let drain on paper towels. Do not wipe out the pan. Add the butter, olive oil and red onion and saute slowly until the onion is soft. Turn off heat. Return the pancetta to the pan.

Bring a large pot of water to boil, using a pasta insert if you can. Have a large serving bowl ready. Add half of the fresh ravioli to the boiling water and reduce heat until the ravioli is just simmering (you don't want to boil them vigorously because they can break). Simmer gently for about 2 minutes and remove from the water and let drain, using the pasta insert. Place the ravioli in the serving bowl. Cook the other half of the ravioli and place in the serving bowl. Add the sauce and toss gently until well coated. Add a few grindings of fresh black pepper and the chopped parsley and blend. Add the grated cheese and serve.

The Italian Dish

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