Everyday Pasta by Giada Laurentiis (summer beach reads TXT) 📕

large pot over medium-high heat. Working in 2 or 3 batches, add the lamb to the pot and cook until brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Transfer the lamb to a bowl. Add the garlic to the same pot and sauté over medium heat until tender and fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the wine and simmer over medium-high heat until reduced by half, stirring to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot. Return the lamb to the pot and stir in the broth, tomatoes with their juice, and tomato paste. Cover partially and simmer over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

While the stew simmers, cook the onions in a medium saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes. Drain and cool. Peel the onions and cut off the root ends. When the stew has cooked for 1 hour, add the onions and carrots. Simmer, uncovered, until the lamb and vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes longer. Season the stew with salt and pepper.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta, stir, and cook until tender, about 1 minute. Drain the pasta and toss with the butter and Parmesan.

Spoon the stew over the pasta, and top with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.

4 to 6 servings

Using cinnamon to flavor a beef dish may sound strange to anyone who is not familiar with the cuisine of southern Italy, where the Moorish influence is apparent in the seasonings of many dishes. I promise, though, the spice is a fantastic addition. The cinnamon gives the sauce a little sweetness and a little heat all in one without being spicy, per se. Try it.

Cinnamon-Scented Ravioli

2 (15-ounce) containers whole-milk ricotta cheese

¼ cup chopped fresh basil

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 egg, lightly beaten

72 small square wonton wrappers

Beef Ragù

3 tablespoons olive oil

1 pound ground beef

1 carrot, peeled and chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons tomato paste

¾ cup dry red wine

3½ cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, for serving

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

To make the ravioli: Combine the ricotta, basil, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, pepper, and egg in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Place 8 to 10 wonton squares on a dry work surface. Spoon 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture into the middle of each square. Dip a pastry brush in a bit of water and wet the square around the ricotta mixture. Place another square over the filling. Carefully smooth out all the air bubbles and press firmly around the ricotta mixture to create a seal. Use a 2¾-inch square cookie cutter or a 3-inch round cookie cutter to cut out a ravioli. Place the ravioli on a dry baking sheet and continue with another batch of ravioli. The mixture should make about 36 ravioli.

To make the beef ragù: Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it is starting to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot, onion, and garlic. Continue cooking to brown the onion and carrot, about 4 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, tomato paste, and red wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits off the bottom of the pan and dissolve the tomato paste. Continue cooking until the wine is almost completely evaporated. Add the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook for 10 minutes over low heat.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the ravioli in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the ravioli float, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the ravioli using a slotted spoon and place on individual plates, or a large serving platter, that have been drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil. Spoon the beef ragù over the ravioli. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Prosciutto Ravioli

6 servings

This is a variation on the ricotta and spinach ravioli recipe from my first book, Everyday Italian. The original is one of my very favorite dishes, but my husband, Todd, never feels completely satisfied with a meatless meal so I came up with this version for him. The prosciutto adds body and a kick of flavor to the ravioli, making it a more substantial, manly dish.

1 (15-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese

1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry

4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, chopped

2 large egg yolks

¾ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

48 square wonton wrappers

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1½ teaspoons dried oregano

Freshly grated Pecorino cheese

Whisk the ricotta, spinach, prosciutto, egg yolks, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl to blend.

Place 1 tablespoon of the ricotta filling in the center of a wonton wrapper. Brush the edge of the wrapper lightly with water. Fold the wrapper in half point to point, enclosing the filling completely and forming a triangle. Pinch the edges to seal. Transfer the ravioli to a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining filling and wrappers. (The ravioli can be prepared up to 2 hours ahead; cover and refrigerate.)

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Working in batches, cook the ravioli until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes per batch. Transfer the ravioli to a large shallow bowl.

Melt the butter in a small, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the oregano and stir for 1 minute. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour the oregano butter over the ravioli and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with the Pecorino cheese and serve.

Turkey and Artichoke Stuffed Shells

6 to 8 servings

Todd and I both love stuffed shells, so I’m always thinking of fun new fillings to try. This one is a real home run. The first time I made it I used leftover dark meat from our Thanksgiving turkey and chopped it fine, but we liked it