Date Night Cheese Ravioli

Homemade pasta is perfection. Admittedly, it's a bit of work, but it's worth it. This heart-shaped cheese ravioli recipe is perfect for date-night. If you don't have a heart-shaped cookie cutter, any medium sized cookie cutter will do. The secret to making it truly special is using fresh basil — chiffonade (a technique where fresh herb leaves are stacked, rolled tightly, and sliced into thin ribbons) — harvested right from your own Rise Garden. According to the USDA, hydroponically grown herbs like basil can contain up to 50% more vitamins and antioxidants than conventionally grown store-bought alternatives, making that fresh herb flavor a genuine nutritional upgrade as well.

Date Night Cheese Ravioli Recipe

Prep Time: 1 hr 15 mins (30 mins resting)

Cook Time: 10 mins

Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins

Serves: 2p

Pasta Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1sp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp fresh cracked pepper
• 2 eggs
• 4 tbsp water
• 2 tsp extra virgin olive oil

Filling Ingredients

• 1 cup whole milk ricotta
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 1/3 cup fresh genovese basil, chiffonade
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Other Ingredients

• Pasta Sauce
• Freshly Grated Parmesan

Directions

For the filling:

In a bowl, combine all filling ingredients and set aside until you are ready to use. Prep this while your dough is resting. Growing your own basil indoors is easier than you might think — indoor basil typically reaches harvest maturity in just 21–28 days when grown in a hydroponic system, meaning you can have a steady supply of fresh leaves ready for recipes like this one year-round. You can start your herbs quickly and easily using seed pods designed specifically for the Rise Garden system.

For the pasta:

1. Step One: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and then add in the eggs, water, and olive oil into the well. Using a fork, whisk the eggs in the middle and then begin folding the wet and dry ingredients together until combined.
2. Step Two: Once a rough dough begins to form, use your hands to mix together the dough until ingredients are fully incorporated. Knead the dough for 3 minutes or until it is elastic. Stretch the dough about 8 inches. If it doesn't tear, it's ready.
3. Step Three: Once tacky and elastic, place the dough ball into plastic wrap and let it rest for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.
4. Step Four: Once rested, work in batches. Using 1/4 of the dough, shape the dough into a rectangle. Thin a bit, if needed, with a rolling pin.
5. Step Five: Working on the largest setting of the pasta machine, roll the dough through the machine, folding it into a rectangular shape again. Repeat for each of the 4 portions of the dough.
6. Step Six: Using the pasta sheet created with the largest setting, move to the next lower (smaller) setting and thread the dough. Repeat through the pasta machine until you get to the desired thickness, which is likely the thinnest or second to last setting depending on your pasta machine.
7. Step Seven: Place each piece of pasta on a floured cutting board and then cut out the desired number of hearts (2 hearts per ravioli), approximately 24 hearts, using your heart cookie cutter or ravioli stamp.
8. Step Eight: Using a small cookie scoop, place filling on 12 hearts, place the other 12 hearts on top. Using a fork, press around each ravioli to securely close it.
9. Step Nine: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, place 6 ravioli at a time in the pot and let it cook for 3-4 minutes or until they float. Remove with a spider spatula and then repeat. Serve with your favorite pasta sauce and a side salad!

Frequently Asked Questions

What fresh herbs from Rise Garden work best in a cheese ravioli?

Fresh sage, thyme, and flat-leaf parsley are classic companions to cheese-filled pasta and are all easy to grow in a Rise Garden. Sage butter is arguably the most iconic pairing for ricotta ravioli — simply frying fresh sage leaves in browned butter creates a nutty, aromatic sauce in minutes. Freshly harvested herbs deliver a far more vibrant flavor than dried alternatives for finishing a delicate dish like this.

Is making homemade ravioli difficult for a date night?

Homemade pasta has a learning curve but is very manageable for a date night if you prepare the dough and filling in advance, leaving just the assembly and cooking for the evening. The process is actually a fun, interactive activity to share with a partner — rolling, filling, and crimping ravioli together is as memorable as the meal itself. Using fresh cheese and herbs from Rise Garden makes the effort feel especially rewarding and personal.

What is the best filling for homemade cheese ravioli?

A classic filling combines whole-milk ricotta with freshly grated Parmesan, a beaten egg, salt, black pepper, and a generous handful of fresh herbs like parsley or basil from your Rise Garden. For a more complex flavor, add a small amount of lemon zest and a pinch of nutmeg to the mixture before filling. The key is to use the best quality ricotta you can find and to season the filling assertively, since pasta dough is relatively neutral.

How do I serve cheese ravioli for an impressive date night dinner?

Plate the ravioli in a shallow bowl or on a wide-rimmed plate, spoon the sage-browned butter generously over the top, and finish with freshly shaved Parmesan and a few fried sage leaves for texture and drama. A simple arugula salad with lemon dressing and a glass of crisp white wine rounds out the meal beautifully. Garnishing with a few tiny fresh herb leaves or edible flowers from your Rise Garden adds a restaurant-quality finishing touch.