Ravioli is a delicious Italian tradition! If you are looking for an authentic and delicious filling for making ravioli at home, this recipe straight from Italy cannot be beat!
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Ravioli is such a genius Italian meal. What is the one way to improve a bowl of delicious, homemade pasta? Aw yes, take that same pasta and fill it with even more cheese, meat and fresh herbs. Amazing!
As delicious as homemade Italian ravioli is, it’s not often made from scratch in American homes. The convenience of Chef Boyardee or a bag of premade frozen ravioli is almost too nice to pass up. All you have to do is add your marinara sauce and you have an easy weeknight meal.
But I am here to tell you, beg you even, to make your own homemade Italian ravioli recipe! Using your own fresh ingredients and having the chance to personalize your own ravioli to your exact liking is worth the time. Fresh homemade ravioli has an amazing texture and the homemade cheese filling is so easy to make.
The best part of this filled pasta is there are so many variations to try! Some of the most popular way to fill ravioli are listed below:
- Mushroom Ravioli Filling
- Pumpkin Ravioli Filling
- Pesto Filling
- Vegan Filling
- Smoked Salmon Ravioli Filling
- Lobster Ravioli Filling
- Cheese Ravioli Filling
- Beef Ravioli Filling
- Chicken Ravioli Filling
- Italian Sausage Filling
These ravioli filling recipes are DELISH, but the recipe I am sharing with you today is for a very classic spinach and ricotta filling. I learned how to make this ravioli recipe during a cooking class in Italy.
It is simple, flavorful and perfect for pasta lovers wanting to make the best homemade ravioli. This spinach ravioli holds a special place in my heart. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Recipe Origins
The exact origin of ravioli is difficult to place but it is believed to date back to the 14th century. The first written mention of ravioli was from an Italian merchant, Francesco di Marco Datini. It could have been created by Genova sailors, using up leftovers by mixing them into an egg mixture and wrapping them in pieces of dough. The piece of dough was then boiled in a large pot with chicken broth.
All the different fillings for ravioli represent popular flavors of different regions. As the idea for the dish spread, families quickly put their own spin on it and made it a vital part of their special celebrations.
Ravioli can take some effort to put together, so many families choose to make it when they have gathered together and have plenty of hands around to help with the process.
Why Make This Recipe
- Personalize your Ravioli: If the store-made ravioli you usually purchase isn’t seasoned the way you like, this is your chance to have it just how you like it.
- Simple Ingredients: There are not a lot of ingredients needed for this dish, just two types of cheese, spinach and spices. You could even make your own ricotta cheese to make it even more homemade.
- Authentically Italian: I learned this recipe during a cooking class in Italy and cannot wait to share that memory with you!
What Do I Need to Make This Recipe?
Ingredients
Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.
- Spinach: I recommend using fresh spinach for this recipe, but if you only have frozen on hand, you can thaw it and use that instead!
- Ricotta Cheese: Try this recipe to make your own at home
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: It’s always a good idea to grate your own cheese for a recipe rather than buying it pre-grated. Pre-grated cheese sometimes has a coating that messes with the texture of your dish.
- Nutmeg: A small dash of nutmeg is the secret to really bringing out the flavor of the cheese and spinach
Tools
- Pan or pot for cooking spinach
- Dish towel or cheesecloth
- Mixing bowl
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Cook the Spinach
Place a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Then add the spinach leaves into the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach leaves are wilted.
Step 2: Drain Excess Liquid
Allow the cooked spinach to cool. When it is cool enough to touch, pour it into a clean dish towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze all of the excess water from the spinach.
Step 3: Mix your Cheeses
In a medium bowl, mix the cooked spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese together.
Spoon this incredible filling into homemade ravioli dough or use it as a filling to manicotti! Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Any extra filling can be used for lasagna, manicotti, these Easy Stuffed Shells in the Instant Pot or even in a calzone or pizza.
- If you are not a fan of spinach you could substitute kale or Swiss chard.
- You could add some garlic to this recipe. I recommend cooking it in your olive oil before adding the spinach to ensure the best, soft texture.
- If your ricotta cheese has a lot of moisture it may be a good idea to drain it in a cheesecloth before using it. You do not want your mixture to be too wet.
- If you don’t want long pieces of spinach in your filling, try chopping up your spinach before sauteeing it so that it will blend easier into the cheese.
Tips for Forming Your Ravioli
- Once you are ready to add to your pasta, be careful not to overfill. The edges of your pasta need to be pressed tight to stay sealed while cooking.
- When you fill your pasta, be sure and squeeze out any extra air from your pasta. Seal the edges of your pasta sheet with a little water.
- Try putting your filling into a pastry bag to make filling your ravioli easier. This method can help ensure no filling gets into the edge of the pasta.
FAQs
Yes, you can make this filling up to two days in advance and put it in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
If you are not a fan of ricotta cheese, cottage cheese may be the best substitute. It has a similar flavor and less calories than ricotta, but the texture is not quite the same.
If you use this substitute, make sure you drain your spinach very well to reduce the amount of liquid in your mix and it may be a good idea to blend your cottage cheese to get a more consistent texture. You could also search for Italian cream cheese in your grocery store’s specialty cheese area.
If you are using meat filling in your ravioli, it is a good idea to cook it before putting it in your pasta. For this spinach and cheese ravioli recipe, you do not need to cook it before adding it to your homemade pasta sheets.
Your mixture should be thick, not runny. It should be a little bit thinner than whipped cream cheese. This helps it stick to the dough and ensures no extra air makes it into the pocket. Wet filling will make your sheet of pasta dough sticky and difficult to work with.
Did you enjoy this Ravioli Filling Recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
- Easy Pasta Sauce Recipe
- Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe in the Instant Pot
- Homemade Margherita Pizza Recipe
- Arancini Recipe
If you make this recipe at home, leave a review/comment on this post letting us know what you thought!
And don’t forget to share a photo of your finished product on Facebook and Instagram and tag @TheForeignFork and hashtag #TheForeignFork.
Ravioli Filling Recipe
Equipment
- Pan or pot for cooking spinach
- Dish towel or cheesecloth
- Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 12 oz baby spinach leaves, see note about chopping
- 15 oz fresh ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- ¼ tsp Nutmeg
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, Grated
Instructions
- Place a large pan over medium heat and add 1 tbsp olive oil. Then add 12 oz spinach leaves into the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach leaves are wilted.
- Allow the cooked spinach to cool. When it is cool enough to touch, pour it into a clean dish towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze all of the excess water from the spinach.
- In a medium bowl, mix the cooked spinach, 15 oz ricotta cheese, 1 egg, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp pepper, ¼ tsp nutmeg, and ½ cup parmesan cheese together.
- Use in homemade ravioli or as a filling to manicotti! Enjoy!
Notes
- Spinach: I recommend using fresh spinach for this recipe, but if you only have frozen on hand, you can thaw it and use that instead!
- Ricotta Cheese: Try this recipe to make your own at home
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: It’s always a good idea to grate your own cheese for a recipe rather than buying it pre-grated. Pre-grated cheese sometimes has a coating that messes with the texture of your dish.
- Nutmeg: A small dash of nutmeg is the secret to really bringing out the flavor of the cheese and spinach
- Any extra filling can be used for lasagna, manicotti, these Easy Stuffed Shells in the Instant Pot or even in a calzone or pizza.
- If you are not a fan of spinach you could substitute kale or Swiss chard.
- You could add some garlic to this recipe. I recommend cooking it in your olive oil before adding the spinach to ensure the best, soft texture.
- If your ricotta cheese has a lot of moisture it may be a good idea to drain it in a cheesecloth before using it. You do not want your mixture to be too wet.
- If you don’t want long pieces of spinach in your filling, try chopping up your spinach before sauteeing it so that it will blend easier into the cheese.
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