Ricotta and Spinach Candies

Ricotta and spinach candies are a refined and delicious dish, perfect for a special occasion or a Sunday family lunch. Here’s how to prepare them:

Ingredients

• 250 g of fresh egg pasta
• 200 g of quality ricotta
• 200 g of fresh spinach
• 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Nutmeg, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Butter, to taste
• Fresh sage, for dressing

Preparation

1. Start by washing the spinach in plenty of cold water. Then, blanch it in boiling salted water for a few minutes. Once the spinach has softened, drain it well and squeeze it to remove excess water.

2. Chop the spinach finely and place it in a bowl. Add the ricotta, a pinch of salt, pepper, and a fresh grating of nutmeg. Incorporate the grated Parmesan cheese and mix until you have a homogeneous mixture.

3. Roll out the fresh egg pasta into thin sheets. Cut out squares of about 8 cm on each side. Place a teaspoon of the ricotta and spinach filling in the center of each square.

4. To form the candies, fold each pasta square into a triangle, sealing the edges well. Then, wrap the ends of the triangle around your finger, bringing them together and tightening them to give the characteristic candy shape.

5. Bring a pot of salted water to boil and cook the candies for a few minutes, until they float to the surface.

6. Meanwhile, in a large pan, melt some butter and let a few sage leaves brown. Drain the candies from the cooking water, transfer them to the pan with the butter and sage, and sauté for a few minutes to flavor them well.

7. Serve hot, with a sprinkling of Parmesan and, if you like, a few fresh sage leaves for decoration.

Curiosity

The term “candies” in the context of pasta refers to the shape these delicious little bundles take on after being shaped, resembling that of classic wrapped sweets. Originating from the Emilia-Romagna region, pasta candies are one of the many variations of stuffed pasta, which embody the creativity and elegance of Italian cuisine.