I'm excited to share this delicious homemade Agnolotti pasta recipe from Northern Italy. These agnolottis are like heaven on a plate.
These pasta parcels are extremely versatile and can be filled with various ingredients and served with a range of delicious sauces.
We stuffed ours with a cheese fondue, but this recipe can be easily adapted. You can use other fillings, including with meats and vegetables.
What is agnolotti pasta?
Agnolotti is a type of fresh pasta that is typically stuffed with meats, vegetables or cheese. This pasta originates from Piedmont in Northern Italy and is particularly traditional in the beautiful Langhe region.
What's the difference between agnolotti and agnolotti del plin?
Agnolotti del plin is a type of agnolotti pasta. Both types use the same pasta dough and fillings. The difference between the two is the technique used to make them.
Agnolotti pasta is filled squares very similar to ravioli, while Agnolotti del plin needs to be rolled and pinched, which gives each pasta parcel a unique shape.
Agnolotti del plin is also sometimes referred to as ravioli del plin or langaroli.
A little agnolotti history.
Piemontese ravioli is generally referred to locally as ‘agnolotti’. Like many other antique Italian recipes, there are various theories about how this stuffed pasta got its name.
One food legend has it that the word 'agnolotto' comes from the name of a cook, Angiolino or Angelot, who some believe invented it.
However, the well-known 19th century Savoy court chef, Giovanni Vialardi, believed the original word was 'agnellotto'. The Italian word for lamb is 'agnello' and, apparently, this pasta was originally stuffed with lamb.
A third and more modern theory is that the name comes from 'anulòt,' the local dialect word for the traditional iron utensil they used to cut the pasta.
This tool was ring-shaped because once upon a time agnolotti were traditionally round/circular. You can still find round agnolotti in Piemonte.
But, in general, this fresh pasta is mostly the same as ravioli. In its basic form, it's usually square or slightly rectangular. However, agnolotti del plin has a different shape.
What does agnolotti del ‘plin’ mean?
The word 'plin' translates to 'pinch' in the local Piemontese dialect (pizzico in standard Italian). It refers to the way these pasta parcels need to be 'pinched' in order to give them their shape.
Agnolotti del plin is normally pretty small, which makes it a little fiddly to make. The agnolotti del plin we made with a cheese filling is a little bigger, so each piece is easier to make.
Different agnolotti fillings and recipes.
Meat filled agnolotti pasta is often eaten with the sauce from the braised meat they use to produce the filling. This is called 'brasato'.
It is actually the most time-consuming and laborious way to make agnolotti. But it's so delicious!
Some people make green ravioli del plin by adding spinach to the pasta dough. Others include spinach in the filling.
You can also find this pasta filled with the classic combo of spinach and ricotta.
What's in this recipe.
For the filling for our homemade agnolotti pasta, we used cheese. We made a cheese fondue using Fontina cheese, butter, egg yolks and milk or cream.
We served our pasta with just butter and sage, as is traditionally done in Piemonte. But it's also common to serve agnolottis with truffle shavings, when truffles are in season. Definitely, on my to do list when I next have truffles!
Making the cheese filling.
Italians call their fondue, fonduta and, unlike Swiss cheese fondue, it has butter and milk or cream in it.
The cheese filling we used for this agnolotti del plin recipe also has an egg yolk in it.
It's not difficult to make but needs to be refrigerated to cool and thicken before you use it to fill the pasta.
So, it's a good idea to make the cheese filling first and then move on to the pasta dough.
Making the pasta dough.
In Piemonte, agnolotti pasta dough's ingredients vary slightly from family to family. And, as I mentioned above, some people add spinach to the dough.
There are those who make the dough with a lot of eggs or egg yolks, whereas others use only one egg with extra water to make up the liquid.
Here in Italy, we can buy large eggs with orange yolks specifically for pasta making!
In Piemonte, they often make fresh pasta with only egg yolks instead of whole eggs. This gives the pasta a more golden color!
I used Italian 00 soft wheat flour, 3 large whole eggs and one egg yolk, and a little olive oil. Flour and eggs vary in different countries, so it's good to be flexible.
If your dough seems to dry, add a little warm water. If it's too wet, add some more flour.
But, don't forget, it takes time for the dough to come together (about 15 minutes), especially when kneading by hand.
Serving your agnolotti del plin with a sauce.
We served our homemade agnolotti pasta with a simple butter and sage sauce, plus a sprinkling of Parmigiano cheese.
Although not traditional, I think this pasta would be good with a fresh tomato sauce too or served in a clear meat broth (which is traditional!).
Of course, if you have fresh truffles (particularly white), those would be a stunning and luxurious way to finish this dish.
Freezing and Leftovers.
Like most filled fresh pasta, it's not a good idea to make this cheese filled agnolotti del plin too far in advance. The pasta dough will start to get sticky because of the filling.
If you aren't going to cook the pasta within an hour or so, you can freeze the ready uncooked agnolotti and then cook from frozen.
I also like to make extra and freeze the leftover ones. That way I get two delicious meals with the work for one!
Whether you make and freeze or cook from fresh, I'm sure you'll love these delicate raviolis from Piemonte.
This is one of the most divine homemade ravioli recipes I have tried.
Italian pasta dishes can be both filling and hearty family meals but also a unique food experience. This recipe is definitely the latter!
If you do try this recipe, I'd love to hear what you think. Please write a comment here on the blog or post a comment on the Pasta Project Facebook page.
Your feedback means a lot to me!
Buon Appetito!
Other types of homemade pasta recipes:
- Scarpinocc di Parre
- Sardinian ricotta ravioli with saffron
- Cjarsons, sweet ravioli from Friuli Venezia Giulia
- Pisconi Ascolani, baked ravioli from Le Marche
- Homemade Fried Rye Flour Ravioli
- Homemade Fagottini Pasta
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How to Make Agnolotti Del Plin Pasta
Ingredients
For cheese fondue filling
- 5 oz Fontina cheese (150g) or gruyère or provolone
- 2 oz butter (50g)
- ½ cup milk (120ml)
- 1 egg yolk
For pasta dough
- 14 oz Italian '00' soft wheat flour (400g) or all-purpose flour - sifted
- 3 eggs large
- 1 egg yolk keep white to brush pasta dough
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil.
- durum wheat semolina flour for dusting and flouring
For sauce (optional)
- fresh sage leaves as required
- 2 oz unsalted butter (50g)
- 2 oz Parmigiano Reggiano grated (50g) Strict vegetarians should use a cheese that's made without animal rennet.
- salt for pasta and to taste.
Instructions
Make the filling
- Cut the cheese into small chunks. Warm the milk and add the cheese and stir. Once the cheese has melted, allow to cool and then add the butter and egg yolk. Cook over a low heat while whisking/stirring continuously until the butter has melted and the sauce has thickened. Remove from heat, allow to cool and refrigerate while you make the pasta dough.
Make the pasta dough
- Pour the flour into a mound in a bowl, on a wooden pastry board or in your stand mixer. If using a bowl or wooden board create a well in the middle of the flour and add the eggs and egg yolk (usually unbeaten) and the olive oil. Using a fork first, beat the eggs and then with the same fork or a pastry scraper bring flour from the edges of the mound into the centre until the eggs are no longer runny.
- If using a stand mixer begin mixing all the ingredients and start kneading dough in the mixer. Then turn out on to a pastry board.
- Knead the dough using the heel of your hand and continue until you have a homogeneous dough that is only slightly sticky to touch (usually about 10-15 minutes). If the dough is dry add a little warm water and knead some more.
- Form the dough into a ball and leave it to rest for 20-30 minutes covered with a tea towel or covered in plastic wrap. I used my kitchen stand mixer to start the dough but finished kneading on my pastry board.
Make the agnolotti del plin.
- After the dough has rested, roll ¼ of it into a thin sheet a couple of millimeters thick with a rolling pin or with the help of a pasta machine, starting with the widest setting and then using the narrower ones.
- Take the rolled out portion of pasta dough, place it on a floured pastry board and cut off the ends to make a rectangle. Disperse a row of small mounds of filling along the long edge of the pasta sheet closest to you. You can do this with a teaspoon or with the filling inside a pastry bag. We used a teaspoon. Continue along the edge of the pasta sheet, just far enough apart to pinch between each mound with your fingers.
- Once the pasta sheet is lined with small mounds of filling, brush around each mound with egg white. Then take a firm hold of each end of the sheet, and turn it over on top of itself, ensuring there is an edge formed on the outer side. Cut away most of the excess dough on the outer side.
- Using the index finger and thumb of both hands, pinch the dough on each side of each mound of filling starting at one end. Move down the row of mounds, repinching the one pinched side and closing the open side with a new pinch until the entire row is pinched.
- Again, cut any excess pasta dough away from the outer side of the dough sheet using a pastry wheel, leaving enough space to form the agnolotti.
- Then with the same pastry wheel, cut between the agnolotti to separate them. Transfer to a well-floured tray while you make more agnolotti. Repeat with the rest of the dough and filling.
Cook
- Put a pot of water on to boil for the pasta. Add salt once it starts to boil and bring to the boil again. Add the agnolotti and cook until they rise to the surface of the water. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce. It’s a good idea to try one before removing them all.
Sauce (optional)
- In the meantime, melt the butter in a pan that’s large enough to hold the pasta. Add the sage leaves and sauté them until they are slightly crispy. Add the drained pasta to the butter and sage. Toss gently and serve with a sprinkling of Parmigiano (if required).
Notes
- If you aren’t going to cook the pasta within an hour or so, you can freeze the ready uncooked agnolotti and then cook from frozen.
- This homemade agnolotti also works well with meat sauces or even a simple tomato sauce.
Nutrition
If you are interested in learning how to make other homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check out my shop page for some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians!
Plus while you’re there why not order a copy of one of my seasonal pasta recipe cookbooks? They make great presents for pasta lovers!
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Ali Hanson says
I love your pasta recipes, you make it look so easy. This one is extra comforting in this cold weather where I am!
Jodi says
What a gorgeous dish, it is delicate and delicious. Your recipes always look amazing.
Alexis says
I had no idea about the reason behind the golden color in pasta, such a helpful tip. This pasta recipe is amazing!
Moop Brown says
This recipe looks so filling and flavorful. I can already telling it's going to be really tasty. Thanks for sharing!
Julie says
This is a gorgeous pasta dish and tastes just as delish! I love these flavors together and cant' wait to make this again.
Robin says
This cheese pasta basted in sage butter is absolutely amazing! I would eventually want to try the recipe with truffles and lamb too.
Jamie says
Wow! These look incredible. My husband is a cheese lover and is going to love this! I'm planning on making it for Valentines day!
Marisa F. Stewart says
I wanted to make a special pasta dish for Valentines Day -- so I decided to make your cheese filled agnolotti del plin. You really explained the background and that made me all the more determined to make them. Well, I followed your instructions and they were quite simple to make. We're saving them for dinner tomorrow and I know they'll be excellent.
KATE says
The recipe steps really helped! This is tasted great and is going to be on rotation in our family!
Amy Liu Dong says
It's such amazing how the preparation of this recipe and I loved it! From the preparation up to the finish product looks great and delicious. We can never go wrong with Pasta recipe.
Amy Liu Dong says
Wow, this is so delicious and I am pretty excited to make this for my husband as my Valentine's gift. Yum!
Kerri says
Any time you give me a stuffed pasta, I'm game! I haven't made homemade pasta in a long time but this is calling my name.
Beth says
These little agnolotti may be small but they look packed with flavor. I can certainly imagine adding spinach to the dough as you say some families do, or even to the filling. Lovely.
Amanda Dixon says
These was such a fun meal! We had a great time stuffing the pasta, and the filling was unbelievably decadent. Perfect meal for a date night at home!
Lesli Schwartz says
I have never heard of agnolotti pasta before, but wow, does this look delicious! I'll take any homemade Italian pasta stuffed with cheese. Love this recipe!
Chef Dennis says
your pasta recipes are amazing, I would love to sit down to a plateful of this deliciousnes
Stine Mari says
I love everything about this recipe! It is perfectly cheesy pasta and that crispy sage on top - so delicious!
Leslie says
I'm always impressed with your pasta dishes! You have some AMAZING recipes on your blog. This is another great recipe to add to my list!
HEATHER says
I always wish I could jump into the screen with a fork and take a bite of your dishes! And this one is no exception. This cheese fondue filling sounds amazing...can't wait to try!
Marta says
The fondue filling changed my whole life! There's nothing better than a cheesy, comforting pasta dish in my opinion.