Homemade Agnolotti Pasta
We’re getting fancy today! I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned my love of pasta about three million times on the blog thus far, so I’ll refrain from doing it again.
[But with that said, I really, really love it.]
This is definitely not an easy recipe–it takes a little bit of practice and finesse, but if you’re looking for a fun project over a long weekend, this is the perfect thing to make. Don’t be intimidated.
There’s something about kneading pasta dough dough (bread, pizza dough, etc.) that is very therapeutic. It is very mindless and repetitive, which is sometimes a welcome change compared to other recipes that require a lot of concentration.
I’ve been wanting to write a post on homemade agnolotti pasta for the longest time–but time has escaped me and I’ve only just come around to it. Forgive me.
Agnolotti is a stuffed pasta, very similar to ravioli, but with a slightly different shape. In Italian, it translates to “priest’s hat”, a play off of the shape that it most resembles.
And if there is anything better than pasta, it is stuffed pasta. Am I right?
I first learned how to make these while I was working in the restaurant kitchen.
I spent some time on the pasta station (which essentially involved making any pasta dish that went out of the kitchen)– and even though it was terrifying at times– um, all of the time (SO.MUCH.PRESSURE)–I was very happy to work so closely with one of my favorite foods.
And one of my favorite, favorite things about stuffed pasta is that the fillings are endless. I happened to stuff these babies with a swiss chard, ricotta, and prosciutto mixture (adapted lightly from Marcella Hazan)–and have included that delicious recipe below, but feel free to use another recipe or make your own creation!
It’s all about the process. Have fun!
Homemade Agnolotti Pasta
A recipe for homemade agnolotti pasta! This stuffed pasta recipe is filled with a swiss chard, ricotta, and prosciutto mixture, adapted lightly from Marcella Hazan.
Ingredients
Pasta Dough:
- 3.5 cups “00” flour or all-purpose flour
- 5 whole eggs
Swiss Chard, Ricotta, & Prosciutto Filling:
- 1 lb swiss chard, stems removed and torn
- 1.5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot ((1 medium shallot)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped prosciutto (2-3 slices)
- 1 whole egg yolk
- 1 cup whole-fat ricotta
- 1/4 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- freshly ground black pepper
- kosher salt
Assembly:
- coarse cornmeal or semolina (for storing)
- 1 whole egg, beaten (egg wash)
- pastry brush
- fluted wheel pastry cutter
Instructions
- Prepare Pasta Dough: Sift flour onto clean counter top or large cutting board. Using fingertips, create large well in center of flour, so that counter top is visible.
- Crack eggs into the well. Using fork, slowly begin adding flour from sides of well into egg mixture, whisking as you go, until egg mixture is no longer runny.
- Using floured hands (or bench scraper), continue to incorporate flour into dough, just until you can squeeze the dough with your hand without it sticking. Knead the dough for 10 minutes until it is very smooth and elastic.
- Divide dough in half, flatten into a disk using your palm, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and allow them to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Prepare Filling: Rinse torn swiss chard in a colander until all grit has been removed–don’t dry. Place rinsed swiss chard (along with whatever water is clinging to the leaves) in a large pot. Cover and bring to a light boil and along to steam until tender–5-6 minutes. Drain and allow to cool until it can be handled comfortably. Place the swiss chard in a clean kitchen towel or thick paper towels, and wring out any excess liquid. Chop finely. Set aside.
- Using a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallots and allow to cook until soft and translucent–roughly 3-4 minutes.
- Add the proscuitto and continue to cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, before adding the chopped swiss chard. Saute for an additional 3-4 minutes, before removing from heat and allow to cool until lukewarm.
- In separate bowl, stir together the ricotta, egg yolk, swiss chard mixture, nutmeg, and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Place in a large piping bag fitted with a small round tip.
- Assemble Agnolotti: Once dough has rested, add more flour if necessary (flour will absorb during resting). Divide each dough ball in half again and roll (at largest-width setting) each using an electric or manual pasta machine.
- Fold into an envelope (bring side into center, repeat with other side—open seams facing vertically into machine) and repeat at least five times until dough is very smooth and rolls evenly.
- Roll pasta dough to setting “5” on your pasta machine. Cut into 12″ sheets. Allow rolled dough to dry slightly at room temperature (hanging on a rack) until no longer tacky. Since you will need to assemble the agnolotti, avoid rolling too much pasta at once, as it may get too dry.
- Take one sheet at a time and place on a large clean counter top, dusted lightly with flour. Pipe a straight line (1/2″ in diameter), horizontally along the sheet of pasta. Brush the dough adjacent to the filling (on both sides) lightly with egg wash. Fold the pasta over the filling–removing any air bubbles. Press firmly to seal.
- Using a fluted wheel pasty cutter, cut the filled tube of pasta away from the rest of the sheet.
- Using your fingertips, press the pasta into equal-sized sections (roughly 1 inch wide), creating a firm seal between each piece. Using your finger, roll each piece away from your slightly and using the pastry cutter, quickly cut between the seals to form each agnolotti (do this step quickly, as it will help create a firm seal).
- Place the assembled agnolotti on a large baking sheet dusted lightly with coarse cornmeal or semolina.
- Repeat with remaining pasta sheets, until all agnolotti have been assembled. Pasta can be stored in the fridge overnight, cooked immediately, or frozen on the sheet tray until solid (before being transferred to a ziploc bag).
- Cook the agnolotti in boiling, salted water until al-dente.
Notes
Agnolotti filling adapted from Marcella Hazan’s Marcella Cucina.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 864Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 436mgSodium: 1093mgCarbohydrates: 106gFiber: 9gSugar: 9gProtein: 40g
Ah, love this. I’ve been wanting to make my own pasta. Where did you find the 00 flour?
As crazy as it sounds, I actually brought that back from my trip to Italy last year! (I’ve been storing it in my freezer, haha). It was so cheap there, I couldn’t resist. I have seen it at Italian specialty stores though!
Beautiful post!
Thanks Marcella! Hope you’re doing well!
These look amazing! I made pasta for the first time a couple weeks ago, and now I’m obsessed! Stuffed pasta is going to be my next project!
Yes! It’s the best, right?!
Wow, these look incredible!! love all the shots and homemade pasta is the best! I wish i had more time to make it! And the swiss chard filling sounds awesome!
I know what you mean–I wish I had more time to do fun projects like this too. There’s never enough time, haha. Hope you had a great weekend Tieghan!
This just made my Friday! I loooove agnolotti, and I’m absolutely smitten with the filling. I haven’t made pasta since my culinary school days, and I’m resolved to getting back to it this year, and on a regular basis. These little bites of delicious are great motivation!
Oh yay! Yes–I wish I could make homemade pasta (especially the stuffed kind!) more often. Thank god for my kitchen aid attachment, it makes rolling pasta so much faster.
making my own pasta is definitely on my cooking bucket list – love the detailed instructions and pictures, this is great!
Thanks so much Christine! Glad you liked them!
I am so in awe of people who make homemade pasta! These are beautiful.
Aww, thanks Liz 🙂 Anyone can do it!
I can’t even imagine how delicious these taste. Worth the effort, I’m sure! Saving this recipe for a slow weekend when I can whip up (and devour, natch ;)) these little bites of heaven!
The devour part is essential 😉
I love making pasta! We haven’t done it in a couple of months, but since we have a long holiday weekend starting tomorrow, this is a great idea to do!
I’ve only ever tried one recipe before (thomas keller’s 7 yolk pasta dough), and that recipe calls for using your fingers to do all the mixing, which is great fun, but kind of gross and sticky. Using a fork to whisk until it isn’t so liquid-y seems like a good idea.
Oh wow–he uses his finger to mix it? I’ll have to look that up. I’ve always done it with a fork when its hand-made (at least of the beginning stage). Thanks Meghan!
I may have to break out the pasta maker attachment and make this soon!
Fancy indeed! There is something about homemade pasta, tastes even better than dried pasta, if that is even possible. Can’t wait to try this. Your pictures make it look so easy. Thanks Laura! Have a good weekend friend : )
Yes, very true. So glad that my pictures made it look easy! My hands were covered with flour–and my camera became sort of a mess, haha! Hope you had a great weekend Natalie!
Wow! These look absolutely beautiful and love the filling flavours. I’d love to try these (though no doubt won’t be nearly as pretty as yours 🙂
I’m SURE that would not be true! Your food is always beautiful, Jennifer!
Things are getting fancy up in heeerrree!!! And I love it. I say I’m going to make pasta from scratch every week but then I don’t. This is going to be THE week…I feel it!
Hahaha! YES! Do it 🙂
Laura, this is quite a feat to make such beautiful and delicious filled pasta! Your directions are very clear, but am wondering whether I might be better off trying some basic pasta first! What sauce did you decide to make for the pasta? Marcella would have been impressed!
Laura,
This pasta looks great maybe we can have some soon.
Dad
Homemade pasta is totally on my winter to-do list! These photos are completely lovely and inspiring. I need to do this sooner rather than later!
Thanks so much!! It’s great to do in the winter when it’s cold outside!
This looks divine, though I’m always intimidated to make fresh pasta!
Don’t be! Try regular pasta to start, and you’ll quickly realize how easy it is. Takes a bit of time, but very straight-forward!
Love making pasta right from scratch! Your pasta looks amazing and really authentic 🙂
Thanks so much Jess! I wish I could make it more often!
LOVE homemade pasta, honestly, it’s so therapeutic to me to crank out a bunch of it, especially ravioli or agnolotti, sounds like your the same. These look so delicious and perfect, I just wish I had some right now!
You’re so sweet! Thank you!!
Gorgeous!! This is on my list of things to try — yours look beautiful. And love your site redesign! 🙂
Such a beautiful explanation. Thanks a ton.Can i please have a personal piece of advice over email?
Wow these are absolutely stunning! You may have given me the courage to give this a try!
I love making homemade pasta! It was definitely intimidating at first, but it is SO rewarding! Love the prosciutto included in the filling, I bet it gives it a perfect salty kick.
I been looking into making my own pasta recently but was a little intimidated at first. I am definitely going to at least try this though. Great photos!
So excited to give this a try! How much olive oil should get mixed in with the eggs in step 2 of making the dough?
Hi Maria! This is a very very old recipe on my site and honestly, the written recipe needs to be improved upon because it is outdated and not up to my current standards (my site is over 10 years old). I just noticed this confusion, and I’m sorry about that! You don’t have to add any olive oil to the dough. Just flour and eggs work. Hope this helps!