Ravioli Filling Recipe - Fresh and Authentic- The Foreign Fork (2024)

Published on Feb 7, 2023 Modified: Feb 9, 2023 by Alexandria Drzazgowski. This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Ravioli is a delicious Italian tradition! If you are looking for an authentic and delicious filling for making ravioli at home, this recipe straight from Italy cannot be beat!

“Hello Reader! I try my hardest to research recipes as best as I can before posting to ensure I am representing each culture correctly. If this recipe is from your country and I have made a mistake or you have suggestions for how to make it more authentic, I would love to hear! Please leave a comment below letting me know what should be different, and I will rework the recipe. It is always my intention to pay homage and respect to each cultural dish that I cook. Thanks for reading!”

Ravioli is such a genius Italian meal. What is the one way to improve a bowl of delicious, homemade pasta? Aw yes, take that same pasta and fill it with even more cheese, meat and fresh herbs. Amazing!

As delicious as homemade Italian ravioli is, it’s not often made from scratch in American homes. The convenience of Chef Boyardee or a bag of premade frozen ravioli is almost too nice to pass up. All you have to do is add your marinara sauce and you have an easy weeknight meal.

But I am here to tell you, beg you even, to make your own homemade Italian ravioli recipe! Using your own fresh ingredients and having the chance to personalize your own ravioli to your exact liking is worth the time. Fresh homemade ravioli has an amazing texture and the homemade cheese filling is so easy to make.

The best part of this filled pasta is there are so many variations to try! Some of the most popular way to fill ravioli are listed below:

• Mushroom Ravioli Filling
• Pumpkin Ravioli Filling
• Pesto Filling
• Vegan Filling
• Smoked Salmon Ravioli Filling
• Lobster Ravioli Filling
• Cheese Ravioli Filling
• Beef Ravioli Filling
• Chicken Ravioli Filling
• Italian Sausage Filling

These ravioli filling recipes are DELISH, but the recipe I am sharing with you today is for a very classic spinach and ricotta filling. I learned how to make this ravioli recipe during a cooking class in Italy.

It is simple, flavorful and perfect for pasta lovers wanting to make the best homemade ravioli. This spinach ravioli holds a special place in my heart. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Recipe Origins

The exact origin of ravioli is difficult to place but it is believed to date back to the 14th century. The first written mention of ravioli was from an Italian merchant, Francesco di Marco Datini. It could have been created by Genova sailors, using up leftovers by mixing them into an egg mixture and wrapping them in pieces of dough. The piece of dough was then boiled in a large pot with chicken broth.

All the different fillings for ravioli represent popular flavors of different regions. As the idea for the dish spread, families quickly put their own spin on it and made it a vital part of their special celebrations.

Ravioli can take some effort to put together, so many families choose to make it when they have gathered together and have plenty of hands around to help with the process.

Why Make This Recipe

1. Personalize your Ravioli: If the store-made ravioli you usually purchase isn’t seasoned the way you like, this is your chance to have it just how you like it.
2. Simple Ingredients: There are not a lot of ingredients needed for this dish, just two types of cheese, spinach and spices. You could even make your own ricotta cheese to make it even more homemade.
3. Authentically Italian: I learned this recipe during a cooking class in Italy and cannot wait to share that memory with you!

What Do I Need to Make This Recipe?

Ingredients

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

1. Spinach: I recommend using fresh spinach for this recipe, but if you only have frozen on hand, you can thaw it and use that instead!
2. Ricotta Cheese: Try this recipe to make your own at home
3. Grated Parmesan Cheese: It’s always a good idea to grate your own cheese for a recipe rather than buying it pre-grated. Pre-grated cheese sometimes has a coating that messes with the texture of your dish.
4. Nutmeg: A small dash of nutmeg is the secret to really bringing out the flavor of the cheese and spinach

Tools

1. Pan or pot for cooking spinach
2. Dish towel or cheesecloth
3. Mixing bowl

How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Spinach

Place a large pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Then add the spinach leaves into the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the spinach leaves are wilted.

Step 2: Drain Excess Liquid

Allow the cooked spinach to cool. When it is cool enough to touch, pour it into a clean dish towel or cheesecloth. Squeeze all of the excess water from the spinach.

Step 3: Mix your Cheeses

In a medium bowl, mix the cooked spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and parmesan cheese together.

Spoon this incredible filling into homemade ravioli dough or use it as a filling to manicotti! Enjoy!

Expert Tips

• Any extra filling can be used for lasagna, manicotti, these Easy Stuffed Shells in the Instant Pot or even in a calzone or pizza.
• If you are not a fan of spinach you could substitute kale or Swiss chard.
• You could add some garlic to this recipe. I recommend cooking it in your olive oil before adding the spinach to ensure the best, soft texture.
• If your ricotta cheese has a lot of moisture it may be a good idea to drain it in a cheesecloth before using it. You do not want your mixture to be too wet.
• If you don’t want long pieces of spinach in your filling, try chopping up your spinach before sauteeing it so that it will blend easier into the cheese.

Tips for Forming Your Ravioli

• Once you are ready to add to your pasta, be careful not to overfill. The edges of your pasta need to be pressed tight to stay sealed while cooking.
• When you fill your pasta, be sure and squeeze out any extra air from your pasta. Seal the edges of your pasta sheet with a little water.
• Try putting your filling into a pastry bag to make filling your ravioli easier. This method can help ensure no filling gets into the edge of the pasta.

FAQs

Did you enjoy this Ravioli Filling Recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:

• Easy Pasta Sauce Recipe
• Spaghetti Cacio e Pepe in the Instant Pot
• Homemade Margherita Pizza Recipe
• Arancini Recipe