Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter

Why This Recipe is a Keeper!

It’s that most wonderful time of year!  Pumpkin abounds in baked goods and desserts to soups and lattes in kitchens everywhere!

With all this pumpkin creativity, you may have a little extra on hand.  For example, when you purchase a can of pumpkin puree, typically 15 ounces, but your recipe calls for only 8 ounces (or 1 cup).  This recently happened to me, so I created this delicious Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter to use the remaining 7 ounces.

You could freeze the remainder and save it for another project, too.  Or, you could turn it into this simple, elegant pasta dinner for two to three people.

This pumpkin ravioli recipe:

• Is easy! Purchased wonton skins and canned pumpkin puree cut down on the work of making ravioli with fresh pasta.
• Turns simple ingredients into a stunning meal for two to three people.
• Has the perfect sauce for pumpkin ravioli! A sage-infused brown butter is perfect with it!
• Also makes a lovely starter (primo) for an Italian-themed dinner party for four people.

Here’s how to make it!

How to Make Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter:

Recipe Ingredients:

Here’s everything you’ll need to make this pumpkin ravioli recipe. See the recipe card below for the exact quantities.

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions:

• Pumpkin Puree: Canned pumpkin puree is a terrific convenience product. The label on the can I recently purchased states the contents to be pumpkin only with no added ingredients—not even salt. Pumpkin pie filling has spices added.  Use plain, canned pumpkin or your homemade pumpkin puree for this dish.
• Wonton Skins: Wonton skins (also called wonton wrappers) are small (3.5 by 3.5 inches), thin sheets of dough made from flour, egg, and water. Look for them in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores.
• Parmesan Cheese: Use good quality, full-flavored Parmesan cheese (domestic) or even Parmigiano-Reggiano (Italian origin). You can also use Romano or Asiago cheese.
• Fresh Sage: Fresh sage for this recipe is a must! While raw, uncooked sage leaves are safe to eat, the flavor is unpalatable. Frying them in the butter flavors the butter and gives them a lovely, crispy texture with a woodsy flavor.
• Butter: I usually purchase unsalted butter for cooking. However, salted butter is acceptable because you need to add salt anyway.
• Pecans: Nuts add a nice textural touch. Other options are walnuts, hazelnuts, pinenuts, or macadamia nuts. Pinenuts and hazelnuts are traditionally used in the original Italian version.  However, I like pecans for a Southern touch.

Step-By-Step Instructions:

• Gather and prep all the ingredients for the pumpkin ravioli recipe.
• In a small bowl, combine canned pumpkin puree, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan (or Romano or Asiago) cheese, cayenne if using, and salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside.

• Place 12 wonton skins on a flat, non-stick surface lightly dusted with all-purpose flour. Divide the filling equally, placing approximately 1 tablespoon in the center of each wonton skin.
• Brush around the outside of the filling with beaten egg.
• Carefully place another wonton skin over the filling.
• Gently stretch it to make the edges come together neatly, removing any air pockets from the ravioli.
• Repeat until 12 ravioli are assembled.

• Repeat until 12 ravioli are assembled.

• Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add olive oil.
• Place the butter in a saucepan or skillet over medium heat to make the sauce for the pumpkin ravioli.
• When the butter has melted and begins to simmer, reduce the heat to low and let it continue simmering until it starts to turn a light golden brown.
• Add the sage leaves and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, being careful the butter does not get overly browned or burned.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Remove sage with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel. (Try not to take too much butter with the leaves.)
• NOTE: There’s no need to transfer the butter to a bowl as shown. The photo is meant to demonstrate what the color of the butter should be.

• Working in batches, place 4 ravioli in the boiling water.
• Cook for 2 minutes or until they float slightly (they don’t need to come all the way to the top as they will cook quickly).
• Remove with a slotted spoon and drain in a colander.
• Repeat with remaining ravioli.

• To serve, place ravioli on a plate.
• Drizzle with brown butter, leaving any dark browned milk solids behind in the saucepan.
• Top with sage leaves (fried and slivers), Parmesan (or Romano or Asiago) cheese, and toasted pecans.
• Serve immediately.

Chef Tips and Tricks:

• Although salted or unsalted butter can be used to make brown butter, unsalted tends to work better.
• While garnishing a dish with fresh herbs is always tempting, fresh sage is overpowering.  For this pumpkin ravioli recipe, I cook sage leaves in the butter until they’re just crispy to infuse it with flavor.  I add only a few slivers of fresh sage for a touch of color.
• Pressing as much air as possible from each pumpkin ravioli is important because the air will expand, and the ravioli can burst. This part can be time-consuming, but it’s essential!  Just keep working the air pockets out from around the pumpkin filling.
• Toasting nuts such as the pecans in this pumpkin ravioli brings out their flavor. However, nuts can go from zero to burned quickly, so I don’t do them in the oven. Instead, I prefer to toast them in a dry, nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Toasting them in a dry skillet allows you to toss them around so they get toasted evenly. Keep your eye on them, be aware of how they smell, and get them off the heat onto a plate or into a bowl if they begin to smell burned.

Storage:

• Refrigerate any leftovers. Reheat covered in the microwave.

Serve pumpkin ravioli with:

• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Autumn Panzanella
• Roasted Beet Salad
• Sicilian Cauliflower Salad

More easy pasta recipes you’ll love!

• Gnocchi with Cherry Tomato Puttanesca Sauce
• Creamy One Pot Chicken and Orzo
• Gnocchi with Spinach and Avocado Goat Cheese Sauce
• Chicken Cannelloni

Get all my pasta recipes at Pizza and Pasta Recipes – From A Chef’s Kitchen.