Patrick Oconnell
Spinach and cheese ravioli is a tasty and versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of sauces. A creamy sauce is a popular choice, with options such as alfredo, carbonara, or a simple cream sauce with garlic, spinach, and herbs. For a grown-up twist, adding red pepper flakes or chilli flakes can provide a spicy kick. Alternatively, a brown butter sauce with sage can add depth of flavour without overpowering the filling. Some prefer a lighter touch, drizzling olive oil or browning butter and adding sage to complement the ravioli without overwhelming it. For an Indian fusion, spinach can be used as a sauce base, similar to saag paneer, with ravioli replacing the paneer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Sauce | Creamy, Alfredo, Carbonara, Olive Oil, Indian Fusion |
| Ingredients | Butter, Flour, Garlic, Milk, Cream, Italian Seasonings, Salt, Pepper, Spinach, Parmesan Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Basil, Chicken Stock, Red Chilli Flakes, Shallots, Herbs, Olive Oil, Lemon, Sage, Chives |
| Preparation | Melt butter, add flour, cook garlic, add milk, cream, Italian seasonings, salt, pepper, spinach, parmesan, and ravioli, sprinkle with cheese and bake |
| Serving Suggestions | Bread, Salad, Chicken, Sausage, Mushrooms, Asparagus, Artichoke Hearts, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Peppers, Zucchini, Onion |
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What You'll Learn
Creamy cheese sauce
Ingredients
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Heavy cream
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Pepper
- Spinach
- Parmesan cheese
- Mozzarella cheese
- Red chilli flakes
- Basil
Instructions
- Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
- Sprinkle flour over the melted butter and cook for about a minute.
- Add minced garlic, milk, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Cook the mixture for 4-5 minutes until it thickens.
- Add baby spinach and cook until it wilts.
- Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the sauce and add the ravioli.
- Cook for another minute until everything is well combined.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven at 400 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, until the cheese melts and bubbles.
- Garnish with fresh basil and serve warm.
Tips
- If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with chicken stock or additional milk.
- If you prefer a milder dish, omit the red pepper flakes.
- You can use frozen spinach, but be sure to thaw it and squeeze out the excess water.
- For an extra vegetable boost, add cooked asparagus, artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes.
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Alfredo sauce
Spinach and cheese ravioli is a delicious meal, and Alfredo sauce is an excellent choice to accompany it. This sauce is creamy, rich, and pairs beautifully with the ravioli, creating a decadent pasta dish. Here is a guide to making a mouthwatering Alfredo sauce to elevate your spinach and cheese ravioli.
Ingredients:
For a basic Alfredo sauce, you will need butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and salt. You can use either cubed or unsalted butter, and for the cheese, freshly grate it to ensure it melts smoothly into the sauce. The cream provides the base for the sauce, giving it a luscious texture.
Method:
Start by melting the butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add the cream and let it simmer together. Keep the heat low and let the mixture thicken for about 5 to 6 minutes. The butter and cream will combine to create a decadent base for your sauce.
Next, remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt (and pepper, if you like a little kick). Your Alfredo sauce is now ready! It is a simple yet indulgent sauce that comes together in just a few steps.
Combining with Ravioli:
Now, it's time to bring together your spinach and cheese ravioli with the Alfredo sauce. You can either cook the ravioli separately and then add it to the sauce, or you can bake them together. If baking, layer the ravioli with the sauce and top with mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling.
Customization:
Feel free to customize your Alfredo sauce to suit your taste preferences. You can add minced garlic, Italian seasonings, and a pinch of red chili flakes for added warmth. If you want a thinner sauce, simply add a bit of milk to adjust the consistency. Additionally, you can garnish the dish with fresh basil or thyme for a pop of color and a bright flavor.
Spinach and cheese ravioli with Alfredo sauce is a match made in culinary heaven. It is a comforting and indulgent meal, perfect for a cozy night in or even for impressing guests. Enjoy the process of crafting this sauce and indulging in the ultimate comfort food!
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Spinach sauce
There are several ways to make a spinach sauce for spinach and cheese ravioli. Here is a breakdown of the different methods and ingredients you can use.
Creamy Spinach Sauce
A creamy spinach sauce can be made by first melting butter in a skillet, then adding garlic and shallots or onions. Cook this mixture for about 30 seconds to a minute, then add in spinach. After cooking the spinach for a few minutes, add in heavy cream and whisk until it boils. At this point, you can add milk to thin out the sauce if desired. Next, add in parmesan cheese and stir until it melts and combines with the sauce. Finally, add in your seasonings of choice, such as salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and red chilli flakes.
Indian Fusion Sauce
For an Indian-inspired sauce, you can use spinach as the base. Look up a recipe for saag paneer and replace the paneer with ravioli. You can also add ingredients like chicken stock, sautéed onions, sausages, and other vegetables of your choice. However, some people believe that consuming spinach with dairy products may have negative health effects, so this sauce may be better suited for those who are adventurous and willing to experiment.
Simple Spinach Sauce
A simpler approach to a spinach sauce involves adding fresh spinach to a basic white sauce, along with garden-fresh herbs for added flavour. You can also include chopped shallots, garlic, and a splash of cream to enhance the sauce. This method creates a lighter sauce that complements the richness of the ravioli filling.
Baked Spinach Sauce
Another option is to create a baked dish by preparing a sauce with butter, flour, milk, heavy cream, Italian seasonings, salt, and pepper. After the sauce thickens, add in baby spinach and cook until wilted. Then, sprinkle parmesan cheese over the sauce and add the ravioli. Top the dish with mozzarella cheese and bake it in the oven until the cheeses melt and bubble. This method creates a heartier, baked pasta dish with a creamy spinach sauce.
These are just a few ideas for creating a delicious spinach sauce to accompany your spinach and cheese ravioli. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and adjust the recipes to your taste preferences.
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Indian fusion sauce
Saag paneer ravioli with a cashew butter sauce (makhani) is an Indian fusion sauce that can be served with spinach and cheese ravioli. Here is a recipe for the same:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 lb paneer cheese
- 8 ounces fresh spinach leaves
- 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves
- 1-2 teaspoons ginger and green chili paste (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon dried mango powder
- Salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Warm water, as needed
- 1 onion, diced coarsely
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons cashew nuts (adjust this according to how sweet you want the sauce)
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 1 tablespoon ghee
- 1 teaspoon garam masala (adjust to taste)
- Salt
- Fresh ground peppercorn
- 1 pinch of turmeric powder
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- Light cream
- Whole milk, as needed
Steps:
- Steam the washed spinach leaves until soft and completely drain any water released by the leaves.
- In a food processor, combine the paneer, spinach, chilli ginger, salt, chopped mint leaves, and aamchur (dried mango powder). Pulse until the paneer is coarsely crumbled and set aside.
- Make the ravioli dough by combining and kneading together the all-purpose flour, salt, and water. Cover with a wet kitchen towel and set aside.
- Grind the onions, garlic, garam masala, ginger, and cashew nuts into a paste.
- Heat ghee in a pan, add the paste, and saute until the raw onion/garlic smell disappears.
- Add the tomato puree, turmeric powder, salt, and pepper, and stir for about 3 minutes.
- Mix in the cream/milk, stir, and remove from the stove.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface, spoon the paneer mixture, and fold over. Make sure there are no air pockets when sealing the raviolis, or they will 'explode' while cooking.
- Cut into raviolis using either a ravioli maker or a simple pastry wheel. If using a pastry wheel, seal the edges firmly by hand.
- In a large pot, boil water with salt. Gently add the raviolis, and when they rise to the top, remove them and place them on a serving dish.
- Spoon the makhani gravy over the pasta, garnish with cilantro, and serve hot.
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Olive oil and parmesan
To make this sauce, you can start by heating olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, you can add some chopped garlic and cook it until it is lightly browned. Then, you can add some butter and let it melt before adding flour and whisking everything together until the mixture darkens a bit. This mixture of olive oil, butter, and flour creates a delicious base for your sauce.
Next, you can slowly pour in some milk, whisking continuously to combine it with the olive oil mixture. Keep whisking until the sauce thickens. At this point, you can season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. If you want a thinner sauce, you can add a little more milk.
Finally, it's time to add the star ingredient—parmesan! Grate some fresh parmesan cheese into the sauce and stir it in until it melts. You can add as much or as little parmesan as you like, depending on how cheesy you want your sauce to be. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Now that your sauce is ready, it's time to add the ravioli. Simply toss the cooked ravioli in the sauce, making sure each piece is coated generously. If you want an extra cheesy dish, you can sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top and bake it in the oven until the cheese melts.
This olive oil and parmesan sauce is a delightful way to elevate your spinach and cheese ravioli. It's simple, quick, and absolutely tasty. Buon appetito!
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Frequently asked questions
A creamy sauce with pepper, red pepper flakes, and parmesan is a popular choice to accompany spinach and cheese ravioli.
Some variations include a traditional alfredo sauce, carbonara, or a simple olive oil and parmesan drizzle. You could also try an Indian fusion sauce by looking up a saag paneer recipe and adding the ravioli instead of the paneer.
The ingredients typically include butter, flour, garlic, milk, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and parmesan. Spinach is also added to the sauce, along with the ravioli.
First, melt the butter in a skillet and add the flour, cooking for about a minute. Then, add the garlic, milk, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook this mixture for 4-5 minutes until it thickens. Finally, add the spinach and cook until wilted. You can also add in other vegetables like asparagus, artichoke hearts, or sun-dried tomatoes.
Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses are commonly used in the sauce for spinach and cheese ravioli. You can also sprinkle some extra parmesan on top of the dish before serving.
