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.
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.
For the pasta:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
