Ravioli Nudi
(Naked Ravioli)
This dish gets its name from the fact that it is really the filling of the ravioli without the pasta. I guess somebody was feeling lazy, didn't want to bother making the pasta, and wound up with a new recipe. This dish offers the best of the ravioli without the heaviness of the pasta, so it's perfect for a light first course. Don't drown these delicate ravioli in tomato sauce. I recommend serving them with just a little butter spooned on top.
Serves 4 as a first course
- 1/2 pound ricotta cheese
- 2 pounds fresh spinach, center ribs removed, washed
- 5 extra-large egg yolks
- 3/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 1-1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1/4 cup butter
Drain the ricotta in a colander.
Blanch the spinach in a large pot of salted water over high heat for about 5 minutes. Drain and cool under cold water. Squeeze the spinach in a dish towel until completely dry. (If it is at all wet you will have problems later.) Chop the spinach very fine.
Combine the ricotta, egg yolks, lemon zest, 1 cup of the Parmesan, and the chopped spinach in a mixing bowl. Mix well and season with the cayenne, salt, and pepper. Add the flour and mix well.
To form the ravioli, wet your hands in cold water and, taking 1 tablespoon of the mixture at a time, form into little balls.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a gentle boil over medium-high heat. Cook the ravioli in small batches until they float, about 2 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and place in a serving dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Melt the butter in a skillet and spoon over the ravioli. Serve immediately.
From:
Little Italy Cookbook
by David Ruggerio
Melanie Acevedo, Photographer
Artisan, October 1997, $29.95
Reprinted by permission
Buon Natale: Christmas Eve Italian Style
- Recipes
- Caramelized Pears with Parmigiano-Reggiano Wedges
- Caramelized Roasted Vegetables
- Chestnut and Ricotta Semifreddo
- Christmas Baccala with Potatoes and Olives
- Emilio's Parmigiano-Reggiano Frico Cornucopias
- Ravioli Nudi
- Squab with Roasted Pear and Garlic
- Tattooed Potatoes with Rosemary
- About the Books:
- About: Little Italy Cookbook
- About: Olive Oil
- About: Parmigiano!
Holiday Recipe Headquarters
Copyright © 1997, Kate Heyhoe. All rights reserved.
This page created 1997 and modified November 2006.
