Learn the Secret to Cooking Ravioli

Knowing how to cook ravioli isn’t as simple as you might think. Have you ever tried cooking ravioli for dinner only to have them break apart in the water causing half of the filling to be lost? This post will help you avoid future ravioli cooking disasters.

Whether it’s homemade ravioli or frozen ravioli from the store, it comes down to how hard and how long you boil the ravioli.

Here are some tips to help you know the right way to cook ravioli.

Instructions for How to Boil Ravioli

Ravioli is a type of pasta that is filled with either cheese, meat or a vegetable puree. Often referred to as a dumpling, they can take multiple shapes, the most common being square. An interesting tid-bit of history is that ravioli actually dates back to the 14th century as mentioned here.

Ravioli are delicate and most importantly delicious. So in order to enjoy your ravioli without loosing the stuffing, you need to understand how to properly boil them. If you don’t, then you will easily mess this up.

How to Cook Frozen Ravioli

If you want to know how to cook frozen ravioli, the first thing to remember is do not thaw the ravioli. Add the frozen ravioli directly to the boiling pot of water as described below.

Do not worry if the ravioli are stuck together when frozen. They will eventually separate on their own in the water, and with a gentle nudge of your spoon.

1. First, fill a pot with 4 quarts of water and add a pinch of salt (the salt is optional)
2. Bring the water to a boil and gently add the frozen ravioli
3. Lower the heat to low/simmer and cook the ravioli for 6-8 minutes
4. Make sure to give an occasional stir with a spoon to prevent sticking. Don’t use a fork as this may accidentally pierce the ravioli causing the cheese filling to leak out.
5. Taste test one to make sure it’s the right degree of doneness for your personal taste.

How Long to Cook Fresh Ravioli

How you cook ravioli that is either fresh or homemade is almost identical to cooking it frozen, except for how long it takes to cook the ravioli.

As with any homemade pasta, ravioli is going to be very delicate to handle and move around so pay extra attention, especially making sure they don’t tear or stick to the bottom of the pan.

1. First, fill a pot with 4 quarts of water and add a pinch of salt (the salt is optional)
2. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat to low/simmer
3. Gently add the homemade ravioli one at a time, letting them slide into the water (you can try freezing them for a few minutes prior to boiling to help them keep their shape during handling)
4. Give a gentle stir (using a spoon) to prevent them from sticking
5. Cook the ravioli for 2-3 minutes or until desired doneness is achieved
6. Make sure to give an occasional stir with a spoon to prevent sticking
7. Taste test one to make sure it’s the right degree of doneness for your personal taste.

Now that’s easy!

The Secret for How to Cook Ravioli

Because of the nature of ravioli with it’s thin layer of dough over the center filling, it is important not to harm or puncture that covering. The force of the boiling water can easily cause the skin to tear.

Therefore, gently cook the ravioli as instructed above without boiling, and take care of these precious forms of pasta. The reason we say to bring the water to a boil is so that the temperature of the water gets to where it needs to be.

How to Drain Ravioli Properly

The battle isn’t over yet however. Cooking is just the first part, now you must drain the ravioli.

You can pour the ravioli into a strainer along with the hot water, but this too can cause the ravioli to rip or tear due to the force of water. So this is not recommended.

For best results, use a hand held skimmer to dip into the water and lift the raviolis gently out. If you don’t have a hand held skimmer or sieve, use a slotted spoon. Gently place the ravioli in a serving pasta bowl and serve plain with olive oil or top with a thin layer of marinara pasta sauce.

How to Prevent Ravioli from Sticking

The best way to prevent ravioli from sticking together is to cook them at a low boil and use a soft edged spoon to gently move them around. Ravioli are typically very thin and due to the stuffing inside it is easy to pierce a hole or cause a tear when trying to separate them.

As the ravioli boils gently they usually become unstuck to each other as they move around in the water on their own.

Side Dishes that Go Well with Ravioli

As for side dishes, a nice Italian salad and toasted Italian or French bread with olive oil drizzled on top is always a suitable choice.

Since ravioli is a delicate dish and not all that filling, you may want to up the number of side dishes. Here are some ideas for you to use:

• Large green leafy salad with nuts, cheese or dried fruit
• Antipasto salad
• Meatless stuffed zucchini boats
• Stuffed cubanelle peppers (this would be a second main dish)

How to Store Ravioli

If you’re looking to store ravioli as leftovers, they will last in the refrigerator for 3-5 days in an air tight container. If you want to store them in the freezer, put them in an air tight container or freezer bag and they will last 2-3 months.

To reheat the ravioli, simply sauté in a sauce pan over low heat in a little bit of water to add steam. Cover to trap the steam and heat the ravioli for about 5 minutes or until done. You can also heat them along with sauce.

How to Cook Ravioli

Learn how to properly boil ravioli to prevent stuffing from falling out.

Instructions

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil.

2. Gently add the ravioli to the boiling water.

3. Reduce heat to a very low boil.

4. Cook the ravioli in the water for 6 to 8 minutes, or until they float and the dough is tender.

5. Remove by draining with a slotted spoon or gently pouring into a pasta strainer.

6. Serve warm and top with cheese or sauce.

Liz

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