recipe: butternut squash ravioli

one of my favorite tricks to get a fresh pasta taste, but with no work, is using wonton skin wrappers for ravioli. you can create a meal in no time that looks like it took you all day long. in season butternut squash is a perfect addition to ravioli, and the taste is amazing.

{butternut squash ravioli with thyme alfredo and pine nuts}
ingredients for ravioli + filling

1 [2 lb] butternut squash, halved and seeded
2 tbs extra-virgin olive oil
salt + freshly ground black pepper

3 cloves garlic, skins on
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 tbs fresh parsley, minced
1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
salt + pepper
1 package round wonton skins

directions for ravioli

1. preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. brush olive oil over the cut sides of the squash, then sprinkle with salt + pepper and place cut side down on a cookie sheet. place garlic with a drizzle of olive oil and salt + pepper in aluminium foil and place on cookie sheet.
3. bake squash and garlic for one hour. remove from oven and let cool on rack.
4. after cooling, scoop the squash from the skins. measure out 1 1/2 cups of squash in a medium bowl. remove garlic from skins and mash up in bowl.
5. add remaining ingredients to bowl except wonton skins and mix well.
6. place wonton skin on clean surface and dip finger in a small bowl of water and line the edges with a small amount of water.
7. place a small teaspoon full of filling in middle of wonton skin.
8. place another wonton skin on top and press down edges.
9. repeat until all filling and wonton skins are used.
10. meanwhile, in a large pot, boil water with 1 tablespoon olive oil, and a little salt.
11. in batches boil ravioli for only 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. it will cook very quick. remove with a slotted spoon.

ingredients for alfredo sauce with thyme and pine nuts

1/4 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
1 tsp fresh thyme, minced
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts [toast on broil in oven for 5 min. watch for burning!]
salt and pepper to taste

place first 4 ingredients in a sauce pan on medium-high for about 5 minutes until it thickens and bubbles a little. remove from heat and add pine-nuts. serve sauce over ravioli.

enjoy!

xoxo,

caroline "the curious cook"