What Goes With Ravioli: A Guide to Delicious Side Dishes
When it comes to serving ravioli, choosing the perfect side dish can elevate the dining experience to a whole new level. Whether you prefer classic pairings that complement the flavors of the pasta or innovative accompaniments that add a unique twist to the meal, selecting the right side dish is key to creating a well-rounded and satisfying culinary ensemble.
Ravioli with cream sauce. Credit: canva
In this guide, we will explore a variety of delectable side dish options that perfectly complement ravioli, offering a range of flavors and textures to suit every palate and occasion.
Several things go well with ravioli, depending on the kind of ravioli filling you choose.
Here are some suggestions:
Cheese Ravioli
Cheese ravioli is an Italian classic. It’s usually served as an appetizer, but it can also be used as a side dish. Cheese ravioli can be made from any type of cheese. Some popular choices include mozzarella, ricotta, provolone, and parmesan.
Meat Ravioli
If you’re looking for something savory, try making meat ravioli. First, season the meat with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Add chopped onions if you’d like. Then roll the ravioli up and bake them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes.
Vegetable Ravioli
For a lighter option, try vegetable ravioli. Try mixing spinach, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, peas, corn, carrots, peppers, onions, and tomatoes. Of course, you could also use frozen veggies!
Herb Ravioli
Herbs are great additions to ravioli. Try adding rosemary, sage, parsley, chives, thyme, oregano, basil, mint, or cilantro.
Chicken Ravioli
This recipe calls for ground chicken and Parmesan cheese. First, the chicken is browned then combined with cream cheese, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs. Once everything is combined, the mixture is rolled into balls and sauteed until golden brown.
Ham Ravioli
This dish uses diced ham, Swiss cheese, and mayonnaise. The ham is first fried and then combined with the rest of the ingredients. Next, the mixture is stuffed into ravioli shells and baked.
Pork Ravioli
Pork ravioli can be pretty delicious. It’s simple to make, too. Just combine pork, green bell pepper, onion, celery, and tomato sauce. Roll the mixture into balls and fry them until golden brown.
Pork Ravioli With Peas And Broccoli
This dish combines pork, peas, broccoli, and rice. The pork is cooked, drained, and combined with the remaining ingredients. The mixture is then wrapped around ravioli dough before being baked.
Lobster Ravioli
Lobster ravioli is one of the most decadent appetizers out there. This dish starts with lobster tails that have been steamed and then blended with butter, lemon juice, heavy cream, and white wine. The mixture is then added to ravioli dough and rolled into balls.
Butternut Squash Ravioli
These squash ravioli are filled with pumpkin puree, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon. The mixture is mixed and then placed into ravioli dough. After baking, these squash ravioli are topped with powdered sugar.
Bread is always a perfect side dish for ravioli and a good choice because it has a soft texture that makes it perfect for dipping ravioli in sauces. In addition, Italian bread is often used as an appetizer or snack.
Sourdough rolls are easy to make and don’t require much time. They have a distinct flavor and are also very versatile. They’re perfect for stuffing with anything from meats to vegetables.
Green beans have a mild flavor, perfect for serving alongside ravioli.
The combination of green beans and Parmesan cheese is one of my favorites. If you don’t care much for vegetables, feel free to substitute other types of pasta.
Balsamic-glazed carrots or Beets
Carrots and beets both have a tangy flavor and sweet flavor. They pair nicely with ravioli. The balsamic glaze adds even more extra flavor of sweetness.
Spinach Artichoke Dip
Artichokes are a popular food item in Italy. Spinach artichoke dip is a tasty dip made from spinach, artichoke hearts, and cream cheese.
Grilled Broccoli Rabe with Romesco
Broccoli rabe is a type of kale that tastes similar to broccoli. Grilling this vegetable brings out its natural sweetness. Serve it with romesco sauce.
Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is a perfect vegetable because it pairs well with most flavors. Roasting asparagus intensifies its flavor. Other roasted vegetables are also great.
Creamy polenta is another excellent pairing. It’s creamy and hearty, just like ravioli. Add some grated parmesan cheese to make it extra delicious.
Creamy Potato Gratin
Potato gratin is a comforting side dish perfect for chilly winter nights. Make sure to add plenty of cheese to enhance the flavor.
Ravioli with tomato sauce, cheese, and basil. Credit: canva
What Sauces Go with Ravioli?
Sauces often accompany ravioli dishes. Here are some of the most popular sauces used with ravioli:
Almond Sauce
Almond sauce is a light sauce that is traditionally served with ravioli. It’s flavored with almonds and butter.
Alfredo Sauce
Alfredo sauce is a rich sauce that is typically served with ravioli dishes. It has a smooth texture and a strong taste.
Cream Sauce
The cream sauce is a thick sauce that is typically a favorite ravioli sauce. It contains cream and butter.
Gorgonzola Sauce
Gorgonzola sauce is a classic sauce that is typically served alongside ravioli. It has a mild flavor and a slightly bitter aftertaste.
Tomato and Basil Sauce
Tomato and basil sauce is a basic sauce that is typically served along with ravioli. The combination of tomatoes and basil makes it a favorite among many people.
Beef Broth
Beef broth is a simple sauce that can be used with ravioli. It’s made from beef stock and has a strong flavor.
About Ravioli
Italian Ravioli is a pasta dish in which the filling is encased within a thin dough. They were initially a traditional food in Italian cuisine and are usually served with either broth or sauce.
Ravioli are made from sheets of dough that are cut into squares and then folded over onto themselves. The edges of the dough are pinched together and then cooked until they become firm.
Once the ravioli have been formed, they can be filled with many ingredients such as cheese, meat, vegetables, herbs, spices, and even chocolate!
What is ravioli made of?
Pasta is one of the oldest foods known to man. It has been eaten for thousands of years by people worldwide. Pasta comes in various shapes and sizes. Some examples include: spaghetti, penne, fusilli, rotini, farfalle (bowtie), cavatelli, and tortelloni.
Pasta is made from wheat flour and water. Wheat flour contains gluten which makes it stretchy when cooked. When you cook pasta, the starch in the flour gelatinizes and becomes soft.
Filling
The most common fillings used in ravioli are cheese and meat. Other popular fillings include vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, nuts, and chocolate. Cheese ravioli is often referred to as “ricotta” or “mozzarella.”
Cheese ravioli is typically made from ricotta cheese mixed with eggs and seasonings. Some chefs add fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and thyme to make them more flavorful.
Meat ravioli are also very popular. They come in many varieties, including chicken, beef, pork, lamb, ham, turkey, veal, and sausage. These ravioli are usually seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and other spices.
What is the difference between ravioli and tortellini?
Tortellini and ravioli are both pasta dishes, but they differ slightly in their shape. Tortellini are smaller than ravioli and look similar to small dumplings.
Tortellini are generally made using egg yolks instead of whole eggs. Egg yolks contain less protein than whole eggs, which helps keep the tortellini light and fluffy.
How to Make
Making ravioli. Credit: canva
Here are my favorite recipes for making homemade ravioli and creamy sauce.
Cheese-Filled Ravioli Recipe
Most people usually use store-bought ravioli to make some ravioli dishes. However, it is not difficult to make your homemade ravioli.
Let’s learn how to make delicious, simple, and standard Italian Ravioli!
Prepare Ingredients (For 2 Servings)
Water 120 ml
Wheat 375 g
Eggs 2
Ricotta Cheese 400 g
Cheddar Cheese 63 g
Parmesan Cheese 50 g
Romano Cheese 50 g
Asiago Cheese 50 g
Olive oil 50 ml
Salt 1/2 teaspoon
Pepper 1/2 teaspoon
Making The Filling
To begin, you crushed ricotta cheese in a mixing dish. Then add three kinds of cheese (Parmesan, Romano, and Asiago) shredded with Cheddar cheese, two eggs, half a teaspoon salt, and pepper to the mixture and mix until smooth.
Beat the eggs evenly with 120ml water and 50ml olive oil. Season with salt
Add the prepared flour in a gradual stream, mixing until smooth and all of the flour has been absorbed.
Shaping
To start, sprinkle some flour on the surface of a pastry board, then take the dough (prepared in the previous step) and knead it back and forth until it is chewy (about 10 minutes).
Next, roll the dough out to 0.3cm thickness using a dough rolling tool. After that, use a knife to cut the dough into small square pieces.
Then, with the help of a spoon, take the modest amount of filling mixture (kept inside the refrigerator cooler) from the refrigerator and place it in the square dough’s center.
Using your finger, dab a thin line of water on the rim of the dough, then fold it in half and press gently to cover the filling.
You may use a fork or a serrated knife to gently press the edge to make it appear jagged.
Boiling
Fill the pot with water and bring it to a boil at medium heat. Bring the Ravioli to a simmer until the dough rises, then drain in a sieve or colander.
Finished Ravioli
After being boiled, ravioli has a golden color and seems smooth and beautiful. When you bite into the Ravioli, you’ll get a greasy, delicious taste of all the cheeses used.
You can enjoy Ravioli with your favorite sauces, such as ketchup or cream sauce.
Easy Ravioli Sauce Recipe
This easy ravioli sauce is simple to prepare using frozen or refrigerated ravioli.
It has a thick and flavorful creamy sauce with a touch of tomato flavor, basic seasonings, and fresh or canned diced tomatoes.
