Four-Cheese Ravioli

Photo: flickr user stu_spivack

Ingredients

2 cups Flour

cup Butter

1 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Boiling water

1 cup Ricotta cheese, sieved

4 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated

2 ounces Romano cheese, grated

4 ounces Swiss cheese, grated

1 Egg, lightly beaten

cup Heavy cream

2 tablespoons Parsley, finely chopped

Black pepper to taste

Preparation

Prepare the Dough: Put the flour in a bowl. Add the butter in thin slices, then the salt. Stir in the cup of boiling water, and mix together with a large fork or chopsticks. When the mixture has formed a mass, take it out of the bowl and place on a well-floured board and knead it until it becomes a soft, sticky dough that is rather easy to work and roll out. Form the kneaded dough into a ball and place it back in the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap so that it does not dry out while it rests.

Prepare the Filling: In a medium bowl, mix together all ingredients. Taste, and correct for seasoning. If too dry, add a little more cream. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To Assemble:

Clear a large work area and flour the surface well. Keep the flour nearby to dust the work surface and hands as you work. Prepare a lightly floured tray or cookie sheet to put the formed ravioli on.

Cut the dough in half. Leave half in the bowl and cover. Cut the other half in half again. Roll each piece into a large rectangle about as thin as a penny. Cut the 2 rectangles into strips about 3 inches wide.

Place teaspoonfuls of filling in mounds along one strip, spacing them at least 2 inches apart. Cover with another 3-inch wide strip. Press down on the dough around each mound of filling. Repeat with remaining dough.

Using a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter, a pastry wheel, or even a knife, cut out each round or square of ravioli. Make sure the edges are well sealed and that the filling is not leaking out. Place the sealed ravioli on the prepared tray and cover with a kitchen towel that has been well dredged with flour. The ravioli can wait for several hours before they are cooked.

Turn them over every once in a while so that they dry evenly. (The ravioli can be frozen at this point for future use.)

Bring 6 to 8 quarts of salted water to a boil and drop in 6 to 10 ravioli at a time. Cook 1 minute more after they rise to the surface.

Remove with a slotted spoon and place them in a warm bowl that has been filmed with melted butter. Pour a little melted butter over the ravioli and keep them warm while you cook the rest. Pour melted butter over each batch of new arrivals.

Serve with grated Parmesan cheese or tomato sauce.