In this culinary journey we will centre on two extraordinary ingredients - ripe pears and creamy Gorgonzola cheese. Throughout this exploration, we'll delve into the art of combining these elements to create delectable dishes that epitomise the magic of gastronomy. In this traditional recipe, we'll unlock the secrets behind crafting extraordinary feasts that celebrate the delightful flavours and textures of pear and Gorgonzola. Get ready to savour the culinary wonders that await as we embark on this delectable adventure.
Pear, Gorgonzola & Walnut Ravioli
Servings: 4
Time: 2 hrs
Diet: Veg
Traditional Italian Christmas
Ravioli makes a regular appearance in Italian homes during the festive season. It’s common practice for loved ones to get together (the more the merrier!) and celebrate Christmas over incredible food. Several Italian traditions take place across December, starting with decorating the home and putting the tree up at the start of the month. The lead-up peaks on Vigilia di Natale (Christmas Eve), where many Italian families enjoy a feast of mainly seafood-based and meat-free dishes to mark purity in the Catholic faith. This is where ravioli tends to take its spot on the festive table.
Impress your guests this Christmas
If you’re looking for something new and exciting to freshen up your Christmas dinner this year, why not try this traditional ravioli recipe? The sweet pears balance perfectly with creamy gorgonzola, and it’s all harmoniously brought together with the added texture from crunchy walnuts. This sweet, creamy, and fragrant ravioli is bound to go down a treat with your friends and family.
Recipe tips and tricks
Christmas is a manic time with tons of food prep starting days before the big day. To get ahead, make your pasta and filling in advance, and when you’re ready to serve, you’ll only need 3 minutes to cook the ravioli.
Another great way to cut down prep time with this recipe is to use ready-made fresh pasta. If you don’t have the time to spare in the kitchen or you don’t have a pasta machine to hand, simply opt for fresh pasta sheets from your local supermarket.
The marriage of Pear and Gorgonzola
Gorgonzola and pear are very delicate flavours, which can easily be overpowered if paired with bold ingredients. We like to serve our ravioli with a simple but mighty authentic olive oil.
What kind of sauce goes with Pear and Gorgonzola Ravioli?
If you would prefer a sauce again keep it simple. Try a light sage and butter sauce. To make your sauce, be sure to reserve a splash of cooked pasta water from the ravioli. Melt 35g butter in a saucepan, add a few sage leaves, and cook for 3-4 minutes until fragrant. Add the cooked ravioli and the cooked pasta water, turn the heat up, and quickly coat in the sage and butter sauce. You can then serve with grated parmesan and chopped walnuts, perhaps some lightly fried crunchy sage leaves as well.
Pear, Gorgonzola & Walnut Ravioli Recipe
Ingredients
For the pasta:
250g plain flour (plus extra for dusting)
½ tsp salt
4 large eggs
For the filling:
3 tbsp butter
2 ripe pears – peeled, cored, and diced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
200g gorgonzola
To serve:
40g walnuts, lightly toasted, roughly chopped
Drizzle of Cold Pressed Olive Oil
Cooking method
Start by making your pasta dough. Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl, then tip out onto a clean work surface. Make a well in the middle and crack your eggs in. Use a fork to start bringing the flour into the eggs, gradually combining everything to form a rough dough. Use your hands to start kneading the dough until smooth, adding flour as needed as you go. Once the dough is ready, wrap it up in cling film and rest in the fridge for 1 hour.
In the meantime, make your filling. In a large saucepan or frying pan, melt the butter over a medium heat. Add the pears and thyme, and cook for around 10 minutes, stirring often, until soft. Next, crumble the gorgonzola over the pears and cook for 2-3 minutes until the cheese has melted. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
Remove your dough from the fridge and cut it into 3 equal pieces. Leave one piece out and place the other two back in the fridge. On a lightly dusted surface, roll out the remaining piece of dough into a long rectangle, around ½ cm thick. Pass the dough twice through your pasta maker on the widest setting, folding the ends into the middle and folding the whole piece in half. Repeat this process two more times.
Set your pasta maker to the next setting down and repeat step 4, gradually reducing the setting on the pasta marker until you reach the thinnest one. If the pasta becomes too long, simply cut it in half and continue. Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other pieces of dough.
When you’re ready to fill your pasta, gently transfer 1 pasta sheet to a dusted surface and cut it in half to create 2 rectangles. Add 1 tbsp of filling with a 2cm gap between each spoonful. Lightly brush the gaps between the fillings with water.
Lay the second rectangle of pasta on top of the one with the filling. Gently squeeze the edges together, making sure that you remove as much air as possible. Press down firmly to seal the edges and the dough around the filling.
Use a knife or ravioli cutter to separate the ravioli and transfer to a dusted plate while you make the rest.
To serve, boil your ravioli in salted water for 3-5 minutes. Transfer into bowls, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with a handful of crushed walnuts.
Summing up
This delectable pear and Gorgonzola ravioli holds a truly special place as a cherished Christmas meal, epitomising the spirit of the Christmas season with every delightful bite. Its luscious combination of tender pear, creamy Gorgonzola, and aromatic herbs create a symphony of flavours that dance on the taste buds, leaving a lasting impression of warmth and joy.
As we gather around the table with loved ones, the aroma of this exquisite dish fills the air, marking the start of a festive celebration filled with love, laughter, and gratitude. The ravioli's unique blend of sweet and savoury notes perfectly embodies the essence of Christmas, where the sweetness of togetherness and the richness of cherished traditions merge seamlessly.
Year after year, this mouth-watering creation has become an inseparable part of your Christmas traditions, a simple but culinary masterpiece that brings generations together, reminding us of the joy of giving and sharing during this special time of the year. From the careful preparation of the ravioli dough to the indulgence in the first taste of the velvety filling, the process itself becomes a celebration of creativity and love.
In every homemade ravioli, we find a reflection of our family's heritage, passed down through generations, a reminder of the bonds that hold us together even in the most challenging times. It is a dish that fills our hearts as much as it does our stomachs, leaving us with memories that linger long after the Christmas lights have dimmed.
So, as we savour each forkful of pear and Gorgonzola ravioli, let us embrace the true meaning of Christmas - a time of gratitude, compassion, and unity. For it is not just a dish on the table; it is an embodiment of the magic that surrounds us during this cherished season. Buon Natale!