Buon Natale Pumpkin Ravioli
Introduction
The secret of good Italian food lies in the way it carefully combines flavours whilst maintaining the integrity of simple ingredients and this fragrant Pumpkin Ravioli is no exception to that rule. The dish is traditionally eaten in Northern Italy as part of the Christmas Eve Banquet, after which the children put out their shoes in anticipation of a visit from La Befana – a female Santa – who fills footwear with small toys and treats, but only if they’ve been good!
Preparation notes
Serves 4
Ingredients
For the Pasta:
- 400g “00“ flour or, alternatively, a pasta making flour
- 4 free range eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
Filling Ingredients:
- 2kg pumpkin, cut into quarters
- 15ml olive oil
- 1 large red onion, peeled and finely chopped
- 225g mostarda di frutta (alternatively you can use a mixed fruit chutney and add ½ tsp black pepper)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
125g vegetarian parmesan-style cheese grated
- To Serve:
- 30g butter
- 150g vegetarian parmesan-style cheese
Method
- Combine the pasta ingredients, lightly knead and leave in a cling filmed bowl to refrigerate for 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas 6 and bake pumpkin until soft, approximately 30 minutes.
- Remove the seeds and scoop out the baked pulp, finely chop and place into a bowl.
- Heat the olive oil and sauté the onions.
- Heat the olive oil and sauté the onions.
- Combine the parmesan cheese, pumpkin and onion/spice mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Reduce heat and add the mostarda di frutta, salt, and ground spices, mix well.
- Place a heaped teaspoon of the mixture into 2 rows at approximately 10cm distance apart.
- Combine the parmesan cheese, pumpkin and onion/spice mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- Using a ravioli cutter, cut into 5 cm squares and place into boiling water as quickly as possible.
- Using a pasta machine or fat rolling pin, roll out the pasta dough 15cm by 50cm and 2mm thickness. Layer the pasta sheets between tea towels to prevent them from drying.