Chef Joe Sasto's Candy Cane-Striped Pasta

Chef Joe Sasto's Candy Cane-Striped Pasta

Chef Joe Sasto shows us how to dress up pasta for the holidays with festive stripes. Fresh pasta dough is rolled out with candy stripes, then turned into a variety of shapes, like bowties, tortelloni, caramelle, and ravioli, filled with a creamy cacio e pepe filling and tossed in a lemony brown butter sauce for a dish your family will love!

Cook Time
-
Total Time
-
Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

Pasta Dough

  • 2 ½ cups flour (315 g), plus 2 tablespoons, divided, plus more for dusting
  • 2 large eggs, divided
  • 6 large egg yolks, divided
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • 2 ⅔ tablespoons freeze-dried beet powder (20 g), or to color preference

Cacio e Pepe Filling

  • 1 lb ricotta cheese (425 g)
  • 16 oz frozen chopped spinach (445 g), thawed and drained
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, or pumpkin spice seasoning
  • ½ cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese (65 g)
  • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (25 g)
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Brown Butter Sauce

  • ½ cup unsalted butter (115 g)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary leaves, roughly chopped
  • 6 fresh sage leaves
  • 1 sprig fresh thyme, leaves picked and roughly chopped
  • ½ lemon, zested
  • ½ lemon, juiced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, for garnish

How to Make It

1. Step
Prep the cacio e pepe filling: Add the ricotta to a strainer (or wrap in cheesecloth) and set inside (or hang over) a medium bowl. Refrigerate overnight to drain excess moisture (this step is optional, but will result in an extra creamy filling).
2. Step
Make the pasta dough: Add 1¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon of flour to a clean surface and make a well in the center. Add 1 whole egg, 3 egg yolks, and a pinch of salt to the well and slowly beat with a fork, gradually incorporating flour from around the edges. When the dough starts to come together, switch to your hands and knead until the dough is smooth and supple, 20–30 minutes. Alternatively, combine the ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook and beat on low speed until smooth and pliable, about 15 minutes. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for 2 hours.
3. Step
Cut the dough into thirds. With a rolling pin, roll one portion of the dough out to a ½-inch-thick rectangle and pass through a pasta maker on the widest setting 3–5 times. Alternatively, roll the pasta out by hand with a rolling pin.
4. Step
Fold the dough so that the short ends touch, then fold in half again where the dough edges meet. Run the pasta through the pasta maker on the widest setting 3–5 more times to make an even rectangle.
5. Step
Pass the dough through the pasta maker on the next widest setting once, then continue to narrow the setting, passing the dough through one time each, until you reach setting 8 or 9. Dust the pasta sheet with flour and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining portions of pasta dough.
6. Step
Make the colored pasta: On a clean surface, mix together the remaining 1¼ cups plus 1 tablespoon flour and the beet powder. Make a well in the center and add the remaining egg, 3 egg yolks, and a pinch of salt. Repeat steps 2–5 to make 2 flat pasta sheets, then use the wide noodle/fettuccine setting on the pasta maker to cut the colored pasta into noodles. Dust with flour.
7. Step
Place a sheet of plain pasta on a floured surface, then arrange a third of the colored noodles on top in a stripe pattern. Gently press the colored noodles down with a rolling pin to adhere.
8. Step
Carefully run the striped pasta sheet through the pasta maker until your desired thickness is reached. Repeat with the remaining sheets.
9. Step
Lay out the striped pasta sheets on a floured surface and use a 2½-inch square cutter to cut out squares. Set aside.
10. Step
Make the cacio e pepe filling: In a food processor, combine the drained ricotta, spinach, nutmeg, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and mozzarella and blend until smooth and rich. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
11. Step
Assemble the ravioli: Take a square of pasta dough, striped side out, and spoon 1–2 tablespoons of the filling onto the center. Wet the outside edges with water, then fold to make a triangle, gently pressing the edges down to seal. Repeat with the remaining pasta and filling.
12. Step
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat. Add the ravioli and cook until they float to the surface, 60–90 seconds, then remove with a slotted spoon.
13. Step
Make the brown butter sauce: In a large skillet, melt the butter over low heat. Simmer until lightly browned and aromatic, 8–10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and add the rosemary, sage, thyme, lemon zest and juice, salt, and pepper, swirling the pan to combine.
14. Step
Toss the pasta in the skillet with the brown butter sauce to coat. Plate and garnish with the parsley.
15. Step
Enjoy!

Tags

VegetarianWinterStove TopValentine's DayChristmasItalianDinner

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