Buon Natale Pumpkin Ravioli
Mantua region, Northern Italy
Chico Francesco

The secret of good Italian food lies in the way it carefully combines flavours whilst maintaining the integrity of simple ingredients and this fragrant Pumpkin Ravioli is no exception to that rule. The dish is traditionally eaten in Northern Italy as part of the Christmas Eve Banquet, after which the children put out their shoes in anticipation of a visit from La Befana – a female Santa - who fills footwear with small toys and treats, but only if they’ve been good!

Serves 4

Pasta Ingredients

400g “00“ flour or, alternatively, a pasta making flour
4 free range eggs
1tsp salt
2tsp extra virgin olive oil

Filling Ingredients

2kg pumpkin, cut into quarters
15ml olive oil
1 large red onion, peeled and finely chopped
225g mostarda di frutta
(alternatively you can use a mixed fruit chutney and add ½ tsp black pepper)
1tsp salt
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
125g vegetarian parmesan-style cheese grated

To Serve

30g butter
30g fresh parley chopped
150g vegetarian parmesan-style cheese

Method

1 Combine the pasta ingredients, lightly knead and leave in a cling filmed bowl to refrigerate for 1 hour.

2 Heat the oven to 200C, 400F, Gas Mark 6 and bake pumpkin until soft, approximately 30 minutes.

3 Remove the seeds and scoop out the baked pulp, finely chop and place into a bowl.

4 Heat the olive oil and sauté the onions.

5 Reduce heat and add the mostarda di frutta, salt, and ground spices, mix well.

6 Combine the parmesan cheese, pumpkin and onion/spice mixture into a bowl and set aside.

7 Using a pasta machine or fat rolling pin, roll out the pasta dough 15cm by 50cm and 2mm thickness. Layer the pasta sheets between tea towels to prevent them from drying.

8 Place a heaped teaspoon of the mixture into 2 rows at approximately 10cm distance apart.

9 Lightly spray the pasta with water and sandwich this with a top layer thus creating a sandwich effect.

10 Using a ravioli cutter, cut into 5 cm squares and place into boiling water as quickly as possible.

11 To serve, drain the pasta and return into the pan along with the butter, and parsley. Lightly mix and serve with the parmesan cheese.

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