Duck Egg Ravioli, Sheep's Milk Ricotta and Almond Brown Butter

  • Level: Advanced
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Total: 1 hr 30 min
  • Prep: 1 hr
  • Inactive: 20 min
  • Cook: 10 min
Share This Recipe

Ingredients

Ravioli Filling:

2 cups sheep's milk ricotta

Zest of 1 Orange

1 cup fresh parsley, minced

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Freshly ground black pepper

4 duck egg yolks

Egg Yolk Pasta Dough, recipe follows

Sauce:

5 to 7 leaves sage

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup slivered almonds

Juice of 1/2 orange

1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese

Egg Yolk Pasta Dough

1 1/2 cups (7 ounces) "00" or all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

9 large duck egg yolks

1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil

Rice flour or Wondra flour, as needed for dusting the cut pasta

Directions

  1. For the ravioli: Mix together the ricotta, orange zest, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and season well with freshly ground black pepper. Set aside.
  2. Lay the pasta dough out in long sheets on your counter. Working quickly, place 4 dollops of ricotta mixture along 1 sheet pasta, spacing them about 5 inches apart. Form the ricotta mixture into small "nests" with sufficient space for a duck egg yolk in each.
  3. Carefully transfer the yolks into each ricotta nest.
  4. Using a spray bottle filled with water, gently mist the pasta sheet to seal. Lay the second sheet of pasta over the first and use a ring cutter to seal. Seal the pasta gently with fingers.
  5. Dust a half sheet tray with flour and transfer the ravioli to the tray. Freeze until needed.
  6. When ready to serve: Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the ravioli approximately 2 to 3 minutes, being careful not to overcook.
  7. For the sauce: Add the butter to a saucepan over high heat; as it begins to melt, add the sage leaves and almonds. Allow the butter to brown. Squeeze in the orange juice and add a ladleful of pasta water. Add the Parmesan cheese. Using a slotted spoon, scoop the ravioli from the water and place directly into sauce, tossing to coat. Transfer the ravioli to plates and finish with a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Egg Yolk Pasta Dough

  1. To make the pasta dough: Mound the "00" flour on a cutting board or countertop. Sprinkle the salt over it. Form a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yolks. Add the olive oil and break each yolk. Using a plastic bench scraper or your fingers, draw the flour over the yolks from the perimeter. Continue to mix the flour into the yolks until it's all incorporated, kneading only enough for it to come together. Shape the dough into a rectangle, about 1/2-inch thick. The mixture should be dense, flaky, and crumbly. Cover the dough with a damp towel and let it rest for 10 to 30 minutes.
  2. Cut the dough into 4 pieces. Take one piece of dough (keeping the others covered) and flatten it with your hands. If the dough feels very dry, dampen the surface with a few drops of water using your fingers or a pastry brush. Starting with the rollers of your pasta machine set to the widest setting, pass the dough through, five or six times, or until the dough begins to become pliable. Do the same for the remaining pieces. Narrow the rollers by one setting and roll each piece through it once. Continue narrowing the rollers and rolling the pasta through each consecutive setting one time until the dough has reached the desired thickness.
  3. Proceed to cut the pasta as desired, tossing the finished pasta with the rice flour to prevent sticking. The pasta at this point can sit at room temperature covered with parchment or a dry towel, something that will allow it to breathe but not dry out, for up to half a day. It can also be cut as desired, tossed with rice flour, and frozen in plastic bags for up to a month.

Fudge Factor

Review: Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert's Chocolate Bar Nov 16, 2012

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert have teamed up with master chocolatier Christopher Curtin to create the "Good & Evil" chocolate b …

Sifted: Plan-Ahead Valentine's Day Desserts Feb 6, 2013

By: Lauren Miyashiro

Get our take on the best in food news, recipes and more from around the web, including the best Valentine's Day recipes.

The Craziest Chocolate Creations for American Chocolate Week Mar 17, 2013

It’s officially American Chocolate Week. Check out photos of mind-blowing chocolate creations.

Train Frontman Pat Monahan's Dark Chocolate Obsession Feb 11, 2013

By: Cameron Curtis

Train frontman Pat Monahan, an avid chocolate lover, shared with us his top five reasons for eating dark chocolate.

Over-the-Top-Delicious Treats to Satisfy Your Food Obsession

Are you infatuated with ice cream? Do you lust over lobster? Swoon at the sight of chocolate? Here's the best recipe for each food …

Chocolate Desserts

Indulge in our decadent chocolate desserts, from cookies and cakes to puddings, souffles and truffles.

Essentials: Chocolate Basics Sep 1, 2016

Satisfy that chocolate craving in your very own kitchen. All you need is baking chocolate and a little know-how. It also helps to …