Serves 6
Notes
This dish is just ravioli filling, without the pasta. What is important in this recipe is the ratio of the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Even though I give you precise measurements, the ingredients themselves vary and affect the outcome of the recipe. This is something you need to keep in mind whenever following a recipe. Use your experience and common sense to deal with any variations that might arise. In this recipe, for instance, the balls of filling must feel good and solid before you decide exactly when or if you need to add more flour. As an extra precaution, do a test by plopping one of them into the boiling water to see how they fare; it should remain whole, although a few crumbs of filling will detach in the boiling water. If it falls apart, you need a little more flour.
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the pot
- 2 bunches Swiss chard (about 2 pounds)
- 1 pound fresh ricotta, drained several hours or overnight
- 3 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups grated Grana Padano
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Wash the chard, and remove the stems and center rib (if tough). Shred the chard. Blanch until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain, cool, and squeeze very dry. Finely chop the chard. Heat a new, clean pot of salted water, and bring to a simmer for the ravioli.
In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, eggs, 1 cup grated cheese, the ½ cup flour, the salt, and the chard. Spread about a cup of flour on a rimmed sheet pan. Roll the dough into -walnut–sized balls, then dust lightly in the flour.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over low heat. Drop the balls into the simmering water, cooking in batches if necessary, until they rise to the surface and are firm to the touch, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove with a spider or slotted spoon, letting the excess water drain off, and place them directly into the skillet with melted butter. Once all of the ravioli are in the skillet, turn off the heat and gently toss with the butter and remaining ½ cup grated cheese. Fill, shape, and cook ravioli.
