Chestnut Ravioli with Sage Browned Butter

Recipe by: Ruth Reichl | from The Gourmet Cookbook

Cookstr

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Total Time: Under 2 Hours

Skill Level: Challenging

Cost: Moderate

chestnut-ravioli-with-sage-browned-butter

Photo by: Joseph De Leo

Yield: Makes 8 (first course) servings

INGREDIENTS

1 cup roasted, shelled, and skinned chestnuts (1/2 lb in shell or 7 oz bottled whole; see Notes)
2 oz sliced pancetta or bacon, finely chopped
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 large garlic clove, smashed
1/4 cup water
1 Granny Smith apple
2 tablespoons finely grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
48 wonton wrappers (12-oz package)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage

Special equipment:

A 2 3/4-inch round cookie cutter

Directions

Coarsely chop chestnuts.

Cook pancetta in 3 tablespoons butter in a large heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp on edges, about 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until onion is softened. Add chestnuts and water and simmer, stirring, until liquid is reduced by half. Discard garlic.

Transfer mixture to a bowl and mash to a coarse paste with a fork. Peel half of apple and cut enough of peeled half into 1/4-inch dice to measure 3 tablespoons. Reserve remaining (unpeeled) apple. Stir diced peeled apple into chestnut mixture with parmesan, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste.

Put 1 won ton wrapper on a work surface, keeping remaining wrappers in plastic wrap, and mound 1 scant tablespoon of filling in center. Lightly brush edges of wrapper with water and top with a second wrapper, pressing down around filling to force out air. Trim excess dough with cutter and seal edges well, pressing them together with your fingertips. Transfer ravioli to a dry kitchen towel, then make more in same manner.

Cut enough of unpeeled apple into 1/4-inch dice to measure 3 tablespoons and toss with lemon juice.

Heat remaining 4 tablespoons butter in a large heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides and butter begins to turn brown. Stir in sage and cook, stirring, until sage is crisp and butter is golden brown. Season with salt and pepper.

Add ravioli to a 6-quart pot of salted boiling water, then cook at a slow boil, stirring gently occasionally, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Carefully transfer ravioli with a slotted spoon to a colander to drain. Slide ravioli into sage butter and cook over moderate heat, stirring gently, 1 minute.

Sprinkle ravioli with unpeeled apple and season with pepper.

To Roast Fresh Chestnuts:

Special equipment: a chestnut knife and protective gloves

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Make a large X with a chestnut knife or sharp paring knife on flat side of each chestnut through the shell but not the meat. Soak chestnuts in a bowl of warm water to cover by 2 inches for 15 minutes, then drain well. Roast in 1 layer in a shallow baking pan in middle of oven until shell curls away at X mark, about 15 minutes. Wearing protective gloves, peel away shells from chestnuts while still hot. Blanch chestnuts in boiling water 2 minutes and drain. Rub in a kitchen towel to remove skins.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

Nutrients per serving (% daily value)

Calories 309kcal (15%)

Calcium 48mg (5%)

Vitamin C 8mg (13%)

Vitamin A 93mcg RAE (3%)

Potassium 199mg

Magnesium 18mg

Protein 6g

Sugar 5g

Fiber 2g

Total Carbohydrate 38g