The last technique we covered from Pam Anderson’s How to Cook Without a Book was homemade tomato sauce so we would be remiss if we didn’t venture into some Italian dishes that beg for such a topping! Today I am excited to dive into homemade ravioli. That’s right, not the stuff you buy at the store, but good old fashioned, pinched by your own fingers ravioli. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves... Pam does after all call it “Weeknight Ravioli” which means it can also be made in a pinch, not just by a pinch. How does she cut down the process? By using wonton wrappers instead of making her own from-scratch pasta. After we master this technique we will learn how to do the same with lasagna!

The Technique

Here is our rhyme to help us commit this technique to memory:

For ravioli and lasagna, homemade in a pinch,

Use wonton, egg roll wrappers, and the process is a cinch.

     To start the process bring about two quarts of water to a boil in a deep saute pan. Season water with 1 tablespoon of salt and drizzle in a teaspoon of oil to keep the ravioli from sticking.

    Pull out 12 or so wonton wrappers at a time laying half of them on a dry countertop. Drop a tablespoon of filling in the center of each wonton square, dip your index finger in a bowl of water, and run it around the perimeter of each wrapper. Then, lay another wrapper over the topped one, and seal it to the other with your finger. (Try to get as much air out of it as possible while pressing it together.) Transfer the ravioli to a wire rack until the rest are complete (cover with plastic wrap to keep from drying out).

    These ravioli will cook quickly so prepare them in batches. Drop 8 or so ravioli into the skillet stirring occasionally to keep them from sticking. Let them boil for 3 minutes or until they are translucent in color and the noodle over the filling starts to wrinkle.

    Since you may need to make more before you are ready to eat, place two at a time into their respective plates with a little bit of the liquid they were boiling in. This will keep them from drying out and sticking together. It will also help keep them warm while you wait for the next batch to boil.

    When all ravioli are added to the plates, pour a little melted butter over the top, some grated cheese and pepper and you have an instant sauce... or use your very own delicious tomato sauce!

The Assignment

    Now that we are familiar with the technique it is time to try it out for ourselves. My stomach is growling already!

    Here are the basic ingredients and their measurements:

Quick Ravioli

(Serves 4-6 people as a main course or 8 as an appetizer)

   

Ingredients:

    ~ 1 recipe ravioli filling (see sample recipe that follows)

   ~ 1 tablespoon table salt

    ~ 1 tsp vegetable oil

    ~ 1 package wanton wrappers

    ~ 2 tablespoons melted butter or warmed extra-virgin olive         oil or flavored butter (for topping)

    ~Grated parmesan cheese and ground black pepper for topping

Herbed Ricotta Filling

(Makes about 1 1/2 cups, or enough to fill 24 wrappers)

   

Ingredients:

    ~ 1 1/4 cups ricotta cheese

   ~ 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

    ~ 2 garlic cloves, minced

    ~ 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves

    ~ 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves (or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh)

    ~1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

    ~1 large egg

    ~salt and ground black pepper

Directions:

    Mix all of these ingredients together in bowl, including salt and pepper to taste.

    Can’t you just taste the ravioli now? I can’t wait to go get some wonton wrappers and try this technique out!

    Remember, the point of these challenges is to teach us to cook w/o a book so if you find yourself printing off this page or opening your How to Cook Without a Book book, take a deep breath, remember the technique, and continue cooking without a book!

    As always, once you have completed the challenge come back here to THIS page and post about your experience. What did you make? Was it tasty? Do you have any questions or suggestions? You can even upload a picture of your masterpiece! Get involved and be a part of the conversation. **After you leave a comment be sure to click the “Follow” button and check “Email notification” so that you won’t miss what other people say about this technique.** Then meet us back here in two weeks for your next How to Cook Without a book Challenge!