TORTELLI WITH RICOTTA AND WILD ASPARAGUS

Rocco Forte Hotels

Recipe by Fulvio Pierangelini, Creative Director of Food - Hotel Savoy, Florence

 

Ingredients (for dough):

 

450g 00 flour

50g semolina flour

5 egg yolks

3 whole eggs

 

Preparation:

 

1)     Knead all the ingredients together until a smooth dough is obtained. Wrap the dough in plastic and leave it for half an hour.

2)     Create the stuffing, then return to this point. Once you have the stuffing, roll the dough out very thinly. Cut little circles of pasta out, around 10-12cm in diameter.

3)     With a teaspoon or pastry bag, place delicate ricotta balls in the centre of the circles, closing them immediately to form a half-moon shape as you go.

 

Ingredients (for stuffing):

 

300g fresh sheep ricotta

2tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Basil

Mint

 

Preparation:

 

1)     Place the ricotta in a bowl, add basil and a few chopped mint leaves. Mix everything well with a little salt, pepper and extra virgin olive oil.

 

Ingredients (for the butter and asparagus sauce):

 

1kg asparagus

80g butter

1tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Lemon

Honey

 

Preparation:

 

1)     Remove the woody part of the asparagus stalks (the white end). Put the florets (4/5 cm) aside. Cut the remaining part of the stem into small round slices.

2)     Boil the slices for one minute, change the water and boil them for another minute, change the water for fresh water again and cook until soft. Then drain the asparagus. (Note: We use this procedure to remove slight bitterness in wild asparagus).

3)     Season the asparagus florets with oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice and a drop of honey.

4)     Take a small steel saucepan with a rounded edge and boil a small amount of water.

5)     With a fork, skewer a piece of cold butter and, keeping the heat at medium, begin turning it over in the hot water. Add more cold butter in small pieces until the desired density is reached.

6)     Season with salt, add the boiled asparagus slices and keep this in a warm place.

 

Plating:

 

1)     Cook the ravioli until tender and drain them onto a plate, leaving a small amount of water so that they do not stick together.

2)     Arrange the ravioli on the plate and drizzle with the previously whipped asparagus butter. Garnish with grated fresh pecorino cheese, pepper and complete by placing the tops of asparagus in an aesthetically pleasing manner on top.


You may also like

The Art of Cocktail Couture: Introducing Aquazzura Bar

Sometimes, the best ideas start in the most unexpected places. Often as a conversation between friends, perhaps over a drink. And so it was for Lydia Forte and Edgardo Osorio, Founder and Creative Director of Aquazzura whose shared vision led to the creation of Aquazzura Bar, a seasonal cocktail bar in the Secret Garden of Hotel de Russie. We sat down with them over a Margarita – what else? – to find out more…

Eating Well, Living Well: The Mediterranean Diet

Along the Mediterranean, food is intrinsic to daily life. Mornings begin with fishermen hauling in their catch, while market stalls brim with sun-ripened produce. Meals unfold slowly, often outdoors, with dishes meant to be shared. No rush, no excess - just ingredients at their peak, prepared simply and enjoyed in good company.

Edinburgh’s best distilleries, one dram at a time

To visit Scotland without sampling its whisky is to miss out on a defining feature of its heritage. From historic distilleries to the contemporary innovators bringing fresh perspectives to the craft, for guests of The Balmoral, the city’s whisky scene is waiting to be explored. Here’s where to start…