Making Filled Pasta
Besides making angel hair and fettuccine, Jane also demonstrated to us how to make various filled pasta using the freshly made pasta. To make pasta with filing, begin cutting the pasta sheet while still moist once the pasta sheet had been rolled out to the thinnest stage.
 Ravioli |
 Tortellini (belly button or hat) |
Mezzalune (half moon) or Agnolotti |
Ingredients
- fresh pasta
- Grana Padano cheese (a close cousin of Parmigiano-Reggiano but cheaper)
- cottage cheese
- egg yolk
- spinach
- nutmeg
Click on Read More for the instructions.
Instructions for the filings
 Jane made two types of filing. This is the one with spinach. Blanch some spinach and squeeze off water, finely chopped.
Combine chopped spinach with 2 cups finely grated Grana Padano cheese, 1/4 cup cottage cheese which had been drained to remove excess liquid and a pinch of grated nutmeg. Mix all the ingredients into a paste. |
 This filing is made of 2 cups finely grated Grana Padano cheese, 1/4 cup drained cottage cheese, one egg yolk, grated lemon zest from a lemon and a pinch of grated nutmeg. Combine all the ingredients and make into a paste. |
Instructions on how to make Ravioli
For making Ravioli, cut pasta sheet into squares; about 3×3 cm. |
 Place enough filing in the center of one square of pasta sheet. |
 Cover the filing with another square of pasta sheet. |
| Press the edges to seal in the filing. |
 Jane also brought along a mold for making Ravioli.
Place the whole pasta sheet over the mold. Carefully fill the sheets according to the little squares on the mold. |
 Place another pasta sheet over the filing. Use a rolling pin to press down and seal the sheet together. |
 Reverse the mold and tap to release the Ravioli sheet. Use a knife to cut into individual Ravioli. Mona had so much find trying out the Ravioli maker. |
Instructions on how to make Tortellini
 Place the filing into the center of a square pasta sheet just like making Ravioli. |
 Fold the square pasta sheet into a triangle and press edges to seal. |
| Bring two corners of the triangle back overlapping each other and press to seal. This method is just like making wonton.
Cover the filled pasta until they are ready for cooking to prevent drying out. Azar, thank you for doing the steps slowly for me to take photo of the individual steps. |
Instructions for making Mezzalune
 Jane also brought along a pasta cutter for demonstration. All you need to do is to roll the cutter along the pasta sheet. |
 And you will have oval shape pasta cut out for you. |
| Fill the center of the ovel shape pasta sheet and fold into half moon. Press to seal the edges. This one looks like a dumpling. |
Instructions on how to cook the filled pasta
 Jane had prepared some broth from her home for cooking the filled pasta. It looked like some very rich beef broth.
Bring the broth to a boil and drop in the filled pasta. |
 Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, depending on the size of the pasta. The cooked pasta will float to the top.
The filled pasta can be enjoyed just as it is as it’s cooked in a flavourful broth and the filing is already rich enough. |
