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5 from 2 votes

Ravioli in a white wine butter sauce

Ricotta filled ravioli in a simple white wine butter sauce. Flavoured with garlic and thyme and finished with sourdough croutons.
Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Course: Filled Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: ravioli, ricotta ravioli, white wine sauce
Servings: 4 people
Author: Emilie Pullar

Ingredients

FOR THE FILLING

  • 250 g ricotta
  • 40 g parmesan finely grated
  • Zest of a small lemon
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste don't be shy!

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 4 - 6 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • ¾ cup white wine I used a Sauvignon Blanc
  • 3 - 4 sprigs thyme
  • 110 g butter divided into four cubes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

TO FINISH THE DISH

  • 16 - 20 sourdough croutons I shave really thin wedges with a sharp knife (I allow around 4 per person)
  • Fresh thyme leaves and parmesan

Instructions

FOR THE CROUTONS

  • Preheat the oven to 180c (350f)
  • Cut small wedges as thin as you can, brush with olive oil and sprinkle with a touch of sea salt.
  • Bake in the oven for 15 - 20 mins until crisp and golden at the edges. Keep a close eye on them they can turn quickly if you've cut them really thin.

FOR THE RAVIOLI

  • Make the pasta dough and while it is resting make the filling.
  • Combine all filling ingredients in a bowl and season to taste. Transfer to a piping bag or leave in the bowl, cover and chill until ready to use.
  • Roll the dough out, I go to setting 6 on my marcato roller or 7 on my kitchen aid attachment. 
  • Make whatever ravioli shape you like (see my notes above on some different options). I use about 1 tsp filling per ravioli.
  • Place the finished pasta shapes on a lined baking tray dusted with course semolina. Loosely cover with cling film while you are making them and waiting to cook.

FOR THE SAUCE

  • Before you start the sauce, get a big pot of well salted water boiling. The pasta will take 4 - 5 mins to cook so you can drop them in half way through the wine reducing.
  • Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large fry pan, big enough to fit all the pasta in at the end.
  • Fry the garlic for 30 seconds or so, moving it round so it doesn't brown. 
  • Add the wine and thyme and gently simmer for around 4- 5 minutes until it is slightly reduced. Add the pasta into the water now and cook for 4 - 5 mins until cooked to your liking.
  • Add the butter one piece at a time, letting it melt completely in between each addition. You want to be whisking the sauce through this whole stage to make sure the butter emulsifies into the wine.
  • After the last addition you should end up with a lovely silky butter sauce.
  • Add ¼ cup of pasta water and whisk well to combine. It should just be gently bubbling on a medium/medium low heat.
  • Add the pasta shapes into the butter and toss to coat. 
  • Plate the pasta and sourdough pieces and top with spoonfuls of the butter sauce, fresh thyme leaves and parmesan. A nice crack of black pepper on top never goes astray. 

Notes

  • Timing the pasta cooking and sauce is always a tricky balance. The more you make dishes like this the easier it becomes so don't stress if it doesn't go perfectly the first time. I know ravioli take around 4 - 5 mins to cook so I try and work out at what point to drop them into the water in the sauce process.
  • The thyme in the wine is to infuse the flavour, I like to also add fresh thyme leaves to the finished dish.
  • Add more pasta water if you need to loosen the sauce.
  • Season the butter sauce to taste