The Perfect Italian Meal to Impress Your Valentine

There is nothing more romantic than a candlelight dinner of homemade pasta. For an extra special touch this Valentine’s Day, you can make your ravioli heart-shaped for a one-of-a-kind meal made with love. Making ravioli yourself allows you to completely customize the flavors you want to stuff it with, whether you love cheese and spinach, savory herbs, or sweet potato. It can be easier than you would expect, and we’ll walk you through the labor of love step-by-step.

Create the filling

The beginning of a successful ravioli is deciding what kind of filling you want. While there are many delicious options, for this recipe, we will be creating a sweet potato filling that pairs well with many different toppings. Start by combining sweet potatoes, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1 egg yolk, and seasoning it with some thyme, salt, and pepper. Once you’ve tasted the filling and are satisfied with the flavor, put it in the fridge until you are ready to fill your pasta.

Make the dough

Using simple ingredients of flour, olive oil, salt, and eggs, you can create a simple dough that will taste delicious. For our recipe, you don’t even need a pasta maker. Simply combine the ingredients and knead the dough until it comes together, then let it rest for 15 minutes in a covered bowl. Once you are ready to begin, sprinkle flour on your work surface and roll half of the dough out using a rolling pin. Create a rectangle of dough as thin as you can get it, and then repeat with the second half of your dough. Now you are ready to use the filling you created earlier and get to stuffing. 

Stuff the noodles

For the most fun part of the process, you simply place spoonfuls of your filling about 1 inch apart on one of your rectangles of dough. Once they’re laid out, use your finger or a pastry brush to trace water around each of the balls. This is what helps the two layers of dough to stick together, now that you are ready to put the second sheet on top of your filling. Make sure to press down gently between each of the mounds of filling to help the dough stick well. Now is when you add that special touch by using a heart-shaped cookie cutter to create individual ravioli, filled with sweet and savory flavor.

Cook the Ravioli

Now that you’re a pasta-making expert, you can move on to the part that you’ve probably been doing your whole life and cook the noodles. Bring a pot of water to a boil with some salt, and add the noodles. Once they rise to the top of the water, they are cooked through.

Select a topping

For your last creative decision of the night, you must decide on a topping for your pasta. While a white or red sauce goes well with the noodles, you could also decide to try out a brown butter sauce, 4 cheese, pesto, vodka sauce, or even a lemon zest glaze. For side dishes, we suggest a caprese salad, garlic bread, or polenta. 

Love the flavors

Italian cuisine is home to the food of love. Making your own ravioli is sure to impress that special someone this year, especially when you fill it with their favorite flavors. Adding to the culinary experience, you should also consider the atmosphere of your dinner, from lighting to dishware. If you’re considering an easier route, with food prepared for you by a world-class chef in a romantic location, you might want to make a reservation at the Albert. Our staff will serve inventive and inspiring dishes, paired perfectly with cocktails and wine that will take you on a Mediterranean journey. 

Interested in dining with us this year? Book your table here before spots run out!