Winter Squash-Stuffed Pasta With Almonds

Serves: 3

Magnus Pfeffer

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

56

Spice

48

Sweetness

51

Sourness

40

mins

Prep time (avg)

4.5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Salt

1 tbsp

Water

1 tsp

Black Pepper

3.5 cups

Chicken Stock

3 tbsps

Olive Oil

Directions:

1

Make pasta dough: Blend all dough ingredients in a food processor until mixture just begins to form a ball, 1 to 2 minutes

2

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, incorporating only as much additional flour as necessary to keep dough from sticking, until smooth, 6 to 8 minutes (dough will be stiff but will soften as it rests)

3

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature 1 hour

4

Blend all dough ingredients in a food processor until mixture just begins to form a ball, 1 to 2 minutes

5

Knead dough on a lightly floured surface, incorporating only as much additional flour as necessary to keep dough from sticking, until smooth, 6 to 8 minutes (dough will be stiff but will soften as it rests)

6

Wrap dough in plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature 1 hour

7

Make filling: Stir together squash, yolks, crumbs, 2/3 cup cheese, and pepper until combined well

8

Chill filling until ready to use

9

Stir together squash, yolks, crumbs, 2/3 cup cheese, and pepper until combined well

10

Chill filling until ready to use

11

Roll and cut pasta: Set smooth rollers of pasta machine on widest setting

12

Divide dough into 4 pieces, then flatten each piece into a rectangle

13

Cover rectangles with plastic wrap

14

Dust 1 rectangle with flour and feed it through rollers 8 or 9 times, folding it in half and rotating dough a quarter turn each time and dusting it with flour if necessary to prevent it from sticking

15

Turn dial to next (narrower) setting and feed dough through once without folding, then continue to feed dough through machine, making space between rollers narrower each time and dusting with flour if dough begins to stick, until narrowest setting is reached

16

Catch pasta with your hand as it feeds through rollers instead of letting it crumple at base of machine

17

Pasta should be a long, smooth sheet, about 18 inches long and 4 inches wide

18

Keep covered with clean kitchen towels

19

Roll out remaining pieces of dough, 1 piece at a time

20

Set smooth rollers of pasta machine on widest setting

21

Divide dough into 4 pieces, then flatten each piece into a rectangle

22

Cover rectangles with plastic wrap

23

Dust 1 rectangle with flour and feed it through rollers 8 or 9 times, folding it in half and rotating dough a quarter turn each time and dusting it with flour if necessary to prevent it from sticking

24

Turn dial to next (narrower) setting and feed dough through once without folding, then continue to feed dough through machine, making space between rollers narrower each time and dusting with flour if dough begins to stick, until narrowest setting is reached

25

Catch pasta with your hand as it feeds through rollers instead of letting it crumple at base of machine

26

Pasta should be a long, smooth sheet, about 18 inches long and 4 inches wide

27

Keep covered with clean kitchen towels

28

Roll out remaining pieces of dough, 1 piece at a time

29

Form tortelli: Cut each pasta sheet into 4 (4-inch) squares

30

Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons filling in center of 1 square, then brush water around edges

31

Lift 2 opposite corners together to form a triangle and enclose filling, pressing edges firmly around mound of filling to eliminate air pockets and seal

32

(If tortelli are not sealed properly, filling will seep out during cooking

33

) Moisten opposite corners of long side

34

Curl moistened corners toward each other, overlapping one on top of the other, and carefully press corners together to seal

35

Make more tortelli in same manner

36

(You will have a little filling left over

37

) Arrange tortelli in 1 layer in a well-floured shallow baking pan, covered with kitchen towels, and let dry, about 30 minutes

38

Brush off any excess flour with a pastry brush before cooking

39

Cut each pasta sheet into 4 (4-inch) squares

40

Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons filling in center of 1 square, then brush water around edges

41

Lift 2 opposite corners together to form a triangle and enclose filling, pressing edges firmly around mound of filling to eliminate air pockets and seal

42

(If tortelli are not sealed properly, filling will seep out during cooking

43

) Moisten opposite corners of long side

44

Curl moistened corners toward each other, overlapping one on top of the other, and carefully press corners together to seal

45

Make more tortelli in same manner

46

(You will have a little filling left over

47

) Arrange tortelli in 1 layer in a well-floured shallow baking pan, covered with kitchen towels, and let dry, about 30 minutes

48

Brush off any excess flour with a pastry brush before cooking

49

Make broth and cook tortelli: Bring stock to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, then add half of tortelli and simmer, uncovered, stirring gently to separate, until pasta is tender, 8 to 10 minutes

50

Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl and cook remaining tortelli in same manner, transferring as cooked to bowl

51

While second batch of tortelli is cooking, heat oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat and cook almonds, stirring frequently, until golden, about 4 minutes

52

Divide tortelli and some broth among 4 soup plates and top with almonds, including oil, and remaining cheese

53

Bring stock to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart saucepan, then add half of tortelli and simmer, uncovered, stirring gently to separate, until pasta is tender, 8 to 10 minutes

54

Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl and cook remaining tortelli in same manner, transferring as cooked to bowl

55

While second batch of tortelli is cooking, heat oil in a small skillet over moderately low heat and cook almonds, stirring frequently, until golden, about 4 minutes

56

Divide tortelli and some broth among 4 soup plates and top with almonds, including oil, and remaining cheese

57

*Available at Italian markets and specialty foods shops

58

*Available at Italian markets and specialty foods shops