Ciao Chow Linda

Beet Ravioli with ricotta and goat cheese filling

Author: Ciao Chow Linda

Serves: 3-4 dozen ravioli

Ingredients

• FOR THE PASTA:

• two medium beets (or about 8 ounces pureed beets)

• 1 large egg yolk

• 2 large whole eggs

• about 2 1/2 cups 00 flour

• salt, to taste

• FOR THE FILLING:

• 3/4 cup ricotta cheese, drained (preferably overnight)

• 5 ounces soft goat cheese

• 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme

• grated rind of one lemon

• salt, pepper and the grating of a bit of fresh nutmeg

• FOR THE SAUCE:

• 1/4 cup butter, melted

• 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme

• 1/3 cup roughly chopped hazelnuts

• parmesan cheese, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. TO MAKE THE PASTA:

2. Cook the beets, either by boiling or roasting.

3. Once they are cool, remove the skin and puree the beets in a food processor until smooth.

4. Add the salt, and eggs to the beet puree in the food processor, then start adding the flour a little at a time, until the dough starts to pull away from the sides of the food processor bowl.

5. Remove it onto a well-floured board and knead until smooth and it loses its “stickiness.”

6. Wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest for at least an hour.

7. TO MAKE THE FILLING:

8. Drain the ricotta overnight or at least an hour, to remove some of the water.

9. Place the cheeses and other ingredients in a food processor and mix.

10. MAKING AND ASSEMBLING THE RAVIOLI:

11. Cut the dough into four parts and work with one of the pieces, keeping the rest covered.

12. Run the dough through the pasta machine, flattening and flouring each piece as you go along. Start with the widest setting , dusting the dough each time you feed it through a narrower setting.

13. On my KitchenAid pasta machine, I stopped at the number four setting.

14. Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, cut out heart shapes, then fill with a tablespoon of the cheese filling.

15. Moisten the edges of the pasta, then place another heart shaped pasta piece on top of the filling.

16. Crimp the edges with a fork.

17. Drop into boiling, salted water and cook until the pasta is al dente. For me, this took only about three to four minutes.

18. TO MAKE THE SAUCE:

19. Meanwhile, melt the butter in another saucepan, add the thyme and the hazelnuts.

20. When the pasta is cooked, using a slotted spoon or “spider” drop them into the pan with the butter and hazelnuts.

21. Don’t worry if the pasta is not totally drained. A little water is needed to help make the sauce.

22. After all the ravioli are in the saucepan, gently toss them to disperse the butter, nuts and thyme.

23. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.