Ricotta and Pear Filled Pasta Sacks

Pears are delicious when in season; I adore baked pears and pear tarts but my favorite by far are these delicious ricotta and pear filled pasta sacks.

I first tasted these ricotta and pear filled pasta sacks at one of our favorite restaurants, located in the northern Lazio hill town, Civitá Castellana. We've not been back to the restaurant for a number of years as the chef, Sergio, sadly passed away. His wife and son gallantly continued with the restaurant but they eventually passed the restaurant off to new management. I hope this adaptation of his recipe serves as a tribute to Sergio and the amazing dishes he created.

Perhaps you'd like to take a pasta making class while you're here in Rome? Try one of these, or contact me directly!

[do_widget id=getyourguide-widget-7]

Ricotta and Pear Filled Pasta Sacks

Serves 4-6

Little pasta sacks, fagottini, are a charming variation to more common types of filled pasta, and make a beautiful presentation.

Ricotta cheese and pears are a marriage made in heaven. I always find myself eating half the filling before I’ve finished the recipe. It’s delicious!

Ingredients

For the filling:
Cow milk ricotta cheese, drained, 250 grams (9 ounces)
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, 30 grams (1 ounce)
1 small firm pear (slightly under ripe)

For the pasta:
All Purpose or "00" Flour, 200 grams (7 ounces)
(Alternatively, use ⅔ all purpose flour and ⅓ semolina flour)
2 eggs

For the sauce:
Cow milk ricotta cheese, 180 grams (6 ½ ounces)
Fresh cream, 30 grams (1 ounce)
Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, 50 grams (1 ¾ ounces)
1 small firm pear (slightly under ripe)
Reserved pasta cooking water

Cooking Instructions

For the filling:

• Core the pear and cut into tiny cubes.
• Mix the pear with the ricotta and Parmesan cheese and set aside.

For the pasta:

Prepare the pasta according to preparation instructions for the Basic Pasta recipe.
On a floured work surface roll out the dough into an almost paper-thin sheet.
Cut out 12 centimeter (5 inch) rounds using a pasta cutter or any other round cutting
substitute such as a small bowl.
Cover the rounds with a dishtowel and work about ten rounds per time to keep the rounds from drying out.
To fill the pasta, place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling on each round.
Use a small basting brush to moisten the border of each round.
With your fingertips pinch the pasta rounds together just above the filling, leaving the very top of the round open.
You should end up with what looks like little bundles or sacks.
The pasta can be frozen for future use at this point; do not thaw before cooking the pasta.

For the sauce:

Warm the ricotta and fresh cream over low heat until just warmed through. You can thin out the sauce a bit by adding some of the pasta cooking water by the tablespoonful.
Core the pear and slice into paper thin slices and set aside.
Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
Spoon some sauce onto each serving plate.
Gently remove the pasta sacks from the boiling water using a slotted spoon or large scoop colander.
Place 5 to 6 pasta sacks on each plate, spoon over some addition sauce and garnish each with Parmesan cheese and shaved pears.

Please note that the below printable recipe can be viewed and printed in either metric or U.S. conventional measurements; just click on your preference within the recipe.

PIN THIS ON PINTEREST:

Full disclosure: I make a small commission on purchases made through links on my website. Prices are identical, but purchasing through my links helps support my work to bring you great recipes, culinary and travel information!