Hello Dear Reader,
Now I can make pasta, I'm on a roll............there's no stopping me. If you made your pasta from basics flour, this would actually be extremely cheap. I made my pasta from gluten free flour so it was more expensive for me but it doesn't need to be expensive for you.
I don't have a pasta machine or any fancy pasta cutters so I just used my rolling pin and a small biscuit cutter.
A hearty dollop of the filling.
1 bag of spinach - finely sliced and steamed
2 cloves of garlic - finely diced
1 tbsp of olive oil
4 heaped tablespoons of grated Italian hard cheese - the supermarket basic is fine for this.
Sprinkle of ground nutmeg - optional and I didn't have any but that's what the recipe said.
Half a tub of cream cheese - again, supermarket basics will do.
- steam the spinach and place in seive - let all the water drip out - it's mostly its own water.
- heat the olive oil and add the garlic
- add the spinach
- add the 'Ricotta'...............which I didn't have, so I added some cream cheese.
- add the grated Italian hard cheese
Place a spoonful onto one half of the ravioli and just dampen the edge with a wet finger (dip finger into cup of water)
Pop the 'lid' on and press the edges shut.
Have a pan of water on a rolling boil and drop a few in at a time - they are cooked when they float.
Here are the spinach and 'ricotta' gluten free space ships all ready for a generous helping of home made tomato sauce.
To make the sauce, you will need
1 tin of basics chopped tomatoes
2 cloves of garlic - finely minced
2 tbsp of olive oil
The recipe called for some fresh basil but in the absence of any basic in the house, I added a generous spoon of pesto.
- Heat the oil
- add the garlic
- cook for a few second
- add the tinned tomatoes
- add the pesto
- simmer for 20 minutes
- I always add a pinch of sugar - it does something to the tomatoes.
You could be really indulgent and sprinkle some cheese on top but this was just perfect for myself and Dearly Beloved.
I suppose Jamie Oliver would drizzle this with olive oil but it doesn't need any added fat as this is fresh and light.
I would go so far as to say that this would make a great dinner party starter in a smaller amount or a great lunch for friends. Now over to you, Dear Reader. Yesterday, it was pie fillings, today it's time for you to share your favourite pasta dish, or sauce or ravioli/tortellini filling. Come clean, who else is a pasta maker and finds the fiddly bits absorbing and yet so relaxing.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxx
You should look for a ravioli maker at thrift stores. Would make your life so easy. Or a crimping cutting wheel. Those are the best. You roll out your rectangle of dough, plop on the fillings, cover with another rectangle of dough and run the crimping tool along to cut. And you can then make squares or triangles too. And FAST!
ReplyDeleteI just use a knife to cut.
DeleteThat looks lovely I could eat pasta every day. Your tomato sauce is very similar to mine only I add 2 tsp Aldi freeze dried basil ( I'm nearly all out) and half an Aldi veg stock cube dissolved in half a cup of water. ( I used to use the Knorr ones but Aldi ones are just as good.) If I have it in I also add half a grated courgette, in fact I've taken to adding grated courgette to lots of things, very quick, just fry it a little if it's not going into a sauce.
ReplyDeleteThat looks lovely I could eat pasta every day. Your sauce looks very similar to mine but I add half an Aldi stock cube dissolved in half a cup of water, 2tsp of Aldi freeze dried basil ( I'm nearly all out) and half a grated courgette. I like to add courgette to lots of things, if its not going in a sauce just fry it a little. I also add a little sugar. xx
ReplyDeleteAldi in Australia occasionally has pasta machines and cutters. I love homemade pasta. I love cooking from scratch too. However there is someone in the house who will not eat pasta so it is not worth it.
ReplyDeleteAs for favourite fillings I think you cannot beat the favourite basics. I have seen a version made with nettles for our frugal foragers. I hope posting the link will not cause a problem.
http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/tv-show-recipes/simply-italian-recipes/tortelli-three-ways-recipe
I've never made pasta. Yours looks delicious though. I have used the frozen ravioli to make a great casserole type dish. First I make a thick sauce with tomato puree, squash/zucchini,onions, garlic, chopped eggplant, fresh chopped tomatos, then layer cooked ravioli, sauce, and any Italian type of cheese on hand. Then just bake uncovered until bubbly and a bit golden on top (cheesey garnish on top). I've also added spinach and other veggies that needed to be used, and even cooked Italian sausage. Its a dish that can be as light or heavy as you like. My dh and two grown sons love ths dish.
ReplyDeleteWonderful. I'm off grains so wonder if you could make these with coconut flour? Still bloomin' expensive! Yours look really good and quite professional enough for me.
ReplyDeleteYeeaaahhh at last someone else who adds a little sugar to tinned tomatoes, I've always done so and am often questioned on it, it's a no no you must add salt and ground pepper! You're right it only takes a very small amount of sugar to bring out a mmmmm flavour.
ReplyDeleteI've never used ravioli this way but dh makes a beautiful spinach, almond and ricotta stuffed cannelloni with cheese sauce. To be honest I've never made my own ravioli the idea didn't appeal simply because I thought it to involved and needed a machine but will certainly try this.
I love home made vegetable lasagna, although I'm not a veggy I just dont fancy beef or chicken lasagna. We've just enjoyed beef casserole, white rice with apricots for lunch. it will be roast ham and tomato sandwich on home made bread with a side salad and trifle for dessert for our evening meal.
Peg x
I love homemade noodles and this looks really good, just never occurred to me to try to make these, I do have my grandmothers pasta maker and the rolling out is so much easier for that touch of arthritis in the thumbs! I have made ravioli as well with a cottage cheese mix when I don't have ricotta. Thank you for the idea.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it surprising how 'posh' these circles of ravioli look, they look much nicer and more lovingly made than just running a knife or fancy pasta tool over a rectangle of the dough (although I guess it tastes just the same). Three of these and a tablespoon of sauce would make a perfect little starter for a dinner party or for a child sized portion.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite pasta filling .... Spinach and Ricotta of course!!
Can you tell us your pasta recipe? I've always assumed that I wouldn't be able to make ravioli with GF flour so really happy to see that you've done it, and hoping that (as its you) you've not used 20 different expensive GF flours only available mail order from the other side of the world as half the GF recipes I find seem to.
ReplyDeleteI miss filled pasta and would love to have a go at making some again.
I think Pasta in it's various forms makes the most heartening meals. Easy, quick, as frugal as you like just by varying the topping or filling and "soul food".
ReplyDeleteIt's so easy to get my Dutch oven out (from Aldi of course) , heat , add mince, fry with chopped onion and stir, drain the bit of fat, pour in generic tinned tomatoes and pasta sauce , oregano, crushed fennel kernels, garlic powder, chilli flakes and a glug of Olive oil, pinch of sugar and let simmer and simmer for a rich sauce to serve over my favourite...spaghetti . Of course all served in nice white square bowls sitting on small plates .....the whole dinner set found at op shop. Frugal eating in a beautiful atmosphere. Dining at it's best!...from Sydney Australia.... Alexa-asimplelife www.Alexa-asimplelife.com