Heart-shaped chocolate ravioli for Valentine's Day.
Filled with ricotta, mascarpone and pears and served on a bed of mascarpone and strawberries, these homemade heart-shaped chocolate ravioli are so delectable, your dinner date will love you for making them!
Servings: 4
Calories: 571kcal
Ingredients
For the ravioli dough
- 7 ounces Italian 00 soft wheat flour or all-purpose flour
- 0.7 ounces unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 eggs (large)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the filling
- 7 ounces fresh ricotta well drained
- 3.5 ounces mascarpone
- 1 tablespoon Parmigiano Reggiano grated
- 1-2 fresh pears peeled and cut into small pieces
- 1 pinch salt
For the sauce
- 3-4 tablespoons mascarpone
- 1 knob butter
Instructions
Make the ravioli dough
- In a large bowl, mix the cocoa powder with the wheat flour until it’scompletely incorporated. Make a ‘well’ in the centre of the flour and add the eggs, salt and olive oil. Beat the eggs with a fork and then mix the flour and eggs together until you have the start of a dough.
- Using your hands, start to knead the dough whilst it is still in the bowl until it comes away easily from the sides. Turn the dough out onto a wood or marble work surface and continue toknead for 7-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Roll the dough into a ball and wrap it in plastic wrap (clingfilm). Let it rest for30 minutes.
Make the filling
- Peel the pear/s and cut into small pieces. Drain the ricotta well and mash it with a fork. Add the mascarpone, apinch of salt and the pear. Mix everything together well and set aside.
Make the heart-shaped ravioli
- Once the dough has rested, cut off about ¼ and reseal the rest. Use a rolling pin or your hand to flatten the dough piece and then pass it though the widest setting on your pasta machine. Fold the pasta sheet in thirds and repeat this process twice.
- Next pass the dough sheet once through each of the next 2 or 3 settings. On my machine the widest setting is 7. I then passed it though 6, 5, and 4. You don’t want the pasta sheet to be too thin or it will break easily.
- Lay the sheet on a flat floured surface and place 1-2 teaspoons of the filling 2-4 times on one half of the sheet. You need to allow space to cut out the ravioli. How far apart the filling is on the sheet depends on how large your shape cutter is.
- Fold the empty part of the dough sheet over the filling and press around each section of filling using your fingers. Then carefully cut out your ravioli hearts. Gently press the edges of the pasta hearts to help them seal and place the ready ones on a flour dusted surface. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
Make the sauce
- Melt the butter and mascarpone together in a pan on a very low heat. Add small pieces of strawberries.
Finish and serve
- Put a pot of water on to boil for the chocolate ravioli hearts. Add salt once the water starts to boil and bring to a boil again. Cook the ravioli in the boiling water for 5-6 minutes. Depending on how thick your dough is they may need a bit longer. Test taste one before draining them all.
- Either use a slotted spoon to remove the ravioli from the water and add it to the sauce, mix gently together and serve. OR put some of the mascarpone with strawberries on a plate and place the ready ravioli on top. Sprinkle with chopped fresh mint and serve immediately.
Notes
This is an extra special ravioli recipe which is perfect for date nights, romantic occasions or Valentine’s. However, you can serve chocolate ravioli on other occasions or use the dough to make tagliatelle.
For storage tips and what to do with leftovers see main content above.
Nutrition
Calories: 571kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 155mg | Sodium: 168mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 996IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 4mg