Guide to Making Ravioli From Scratch

When it comes to comforting dishes that are both delicious and impressive, homemade ravioli is hard to beat. This delectable Italian dumpling is made with a simple pasta dough and can have an array of flavourful fillings, ranging from butternut squash to ricotta. It is usually served with a sauce to enhance the flavour. With a few ingredients and some tools, you can easily make ravioli from scratch.

HOMEMADE RAVIOLI FROM SCRATCH RECIPE

Rolling out pasta dough is the first step in making homemade ravioli. You can use these tips to come up with your own unique ravioli combination using this traditional four cheese ravioli recipe and homemade tomato sauce. You can roll out the pasta by hand, or you can streamline the process by rolling out your dough with a KitchenAid^® stand mixer and Pasta Roller Attachment.

YIELDS

• 4-6 servings

PASTA DOUGH INGREDIENTS

There are a few different ways to make pasta dough. There are several ingredients that are usually used to make dough: all-purpose flour, salt, eggs, oil, and water. Almond flour can be substituted for wheat flour in some recipes. The following are some common ingredients:

• All-purpose flour 
• Salt 
• Eggs 
• Olive oil (optional) 
• Water (optional

THE FILLING

Your ravioli filling can be as creative as you like. Most filling recipes will call for eggs, but you can choose if you include meat, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, herbs, and spices. The following ingredients are commonly used in cheese fillings:

• Ricotta cheese 
• Cream cheese
• Shredded mozzarella
• Shredded provolone 
• Egg 
• Parsley

THE SAUCE 

For fresh flavours, homemade sauces are a great option when tomatoes are in season. Garlic, olive oil, parsley, and oregano can be added to tomato sauces. You can even add fresh vegetables like zucchini.

If you want to make ravioli sauce yourself, here are some ingredients you might want to have on hand:

• Fresh, chopped tomatoes
• Garlic 
• Olive oil
• Oregano 
• Water
• Parsley 
• Basil 
• Salt 
• Balsamic vinegar (optional)

TOOLS

• Ravioli wheel, stamp and/or cutter
• Whisk or fork
• Ravioli maker (optional)
• Pasta roller or KitchenAid^® Pasta Roller Attachment (optional)
• KitchenAid^® stand mixer
• Rolling pin

PREP TIME

30 minutes

TOTAL TIME

1 hour 10 minutes

INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1: Knead the Dough and Let it Rest

Prepare a well in the centre of the mound of flour by mixing the flour and salt together in the bowl of your KitchenAid^® stand mixer. Mix the eggs with the oil or water (if using) in the middle of the hole. By slowly incorporating the flour with your stand mixer, you'll create a wet, sticky mass.

Use your KitchenAid^® stand mixer to knead your dough using the dough hook. A smooth, firm ball of dough should be formed. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

STEP 2: Prepare Filling

In a stand mixer mixing bowl, combine the cheese, eggs, herbs, and other ingredients. Combine all ingredients until they form a paste-like texture. Put aside for later.

STEP 3: Prepare the Tomato Sauce

Heat olive oil before adding garlic and oregano chopped into it, along with seasonings. After that, add chopped herbs like parsley and basil. Balsamic vinegar can also add some depth of flavour. After that, add the tomatoes and salt. Mix everything together and mash the tomatoes with a fork or potato masher to further break them down. Let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally. Make sure the salt and seasoning are to your taste and turn off the heat.

STEP 4: Roll Out the Pasta Dough

Place the dough onto a floured surface once you are ready to make the ravioli. Work your dough in quarters and cover the rest with a towel or plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Use the KitchenAid® Pasta Roller Attachment to make thin sheets of pasta that are no thicker than a nickel. Using parchment-lined baking sheets, place the pasta sheets carefully.

STEP 5: Add Filling and Seal Ravioli

In the case of working by hand, place a tablespoon of the four cheese blend onto the bottom half of the pasta dough, about an inch apart from each other. Brush an egg wash or a little water on the edges of the dough before folding the top half over the filling.

Seal the filling in with a knife or ravioli stamp/roller after pressing the dough gently shut with your fingers. The remaining pasta sheets should be covered under a towel to prevent them from drying out. You can use a ravioli maker to save time and improve efficiency.

STEP 6: Prepare the Ravioli and Enjoy

To cook the ravioli, bring salted water to a boil and cook for three minutes, or until tender. Enjoy with a tomato sauce (or any sauce of your choice!)

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COOK HOMEMADE RAVIOLI?

To cook homemade ravioli, bring salted water to a boil and cook for 3-5 minutes. Seasoning the pasta with salt before cooking makes it more flavourful.

WHAT ARE THE BEST FILLINGS FOR RAVIOLI?

Traditionally, cheese filling is used in these recipes, but you can use butternut squash, ground meat, goat cheese or anything else you like. Adding roasted root vegetables and sage to ravioli or trying out a decadent lobster recipe are a few examples of new flavour combinations to try. Keep in mind that fillings that are too liquidy or too rough in texture can cause the dough to tear or open.

WHAT ARE THE MOST POPULAR RAVIOLI SAUCES?

As with most pasta dishes, ravioli pairs well with a variety of sauces. Ravioli pair well with a variety of sauces, from a zesty tomato sauce to a silky alfredo.

Using homemade sauces and fillings allows you to express your creativity. There is no end to the possibilities for new flavours with a classic marinara sauce that can be combined with a variety of fillings such as cheese, mushrooms or beef, or combinations like beet ravioli with Meyer lemon goat cheese in a brown butter sage sauce. 

CAN HOMEMADE RAVIOLI BE FROZEN?

You can freeze large batches of ravioli by first lining a baking tray with parchment paper and freezing them until solid by placing the pasta on a single layer. After freezing, store in an airtight container. They can be kept in the freezer for up to six months and cooked from frozen. 

SHOP FOR KITCHENAID^® STAND MIXERS, ATTACHMENTS AND ACCESSORIES

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