Recipe | Asparagus Ravioli with Pan-Seared Cremini Mushrooms

When I first started blogging, I was a little bit shy when it came to telling people about it. Now that my blog (and everything related to it) is my job, I’m a little more bold and I feel okay telling people that I’m a food blogger when they ask what I do. Usually people find that interesting and want to learn more, but then there was the time I got this response:

“Well, what makes you an expert?”

Ouch!

I didn’t know what to say, so I responded with, “Um, nothing?” Because really, it’s true. I’m not an expert. I don’t claim to be! And I hope no one thinks I am! I haven’t had any special training, I’ve just always loved to cook. I blog to share ideas and tips that I’ve learned along the way through my own experiences in the kitchen. But am I an expert? No!

Case in point: this asparagus ravioli. I had made ravioli before using the wonton wrapper shortcut–instead of using regular pasta, you put the filling in wonton wrappers. Having never made traditional ravioli before, I assumed that it was done the same way–with squares of pasta. I didn’t even bother to read up on how you’re supposed to do it. I was just that confident! Well, you know what happens when you assume, right?

YOU MAKE WONKY RAVIOLI!

When I was making the whole-wheat fettuccine with my KitchenAid stand mixer pasta attachments, I made some extra sheets to use for ravioli. Then I used a pizza cutter to cut them into squares. (Okay, these totally aren’t squares. Fine! What do you expect from someone who failed geometry twice?)

I put the filling on one pasta square, brushed the edges with water, and smashed another square onto the top. And the top square never quite matched up with the bottom, but I figured that was okay.

I kind of knew my asparagus ravioli didn’t look so hot, but with the roasted asparagus filling and flavorful seared mushrooms on top, I quickly overlooked their appearance and patted myself on the back for creating something so tasty.

Then a few days later, after having the recipe written and the photos taken, I saw some homemade ravioli on FoodGawker. And it was perfect. They were squares! Not rhombuses! They used a real pasta cutter! Not a pizza cutter! I was feeling pretty crappy about myself and then I clicked through to the recipe and felt even worse.

I totally screwed up my ravioli, guys. You’re supposed to put the filling on the sheet of pasta, put another sheet on top of it, and then cut it.

See? Not an expert.

But then I reminded myself that it tasted good. Delicious, in fact. And as another food blogger recently said to me, if it works out in the end, does it really matter if you did it right? No!

Or at least that’s what I’ll tell myself from now on.

Asparagus Ravioli with Pan-Seared Cremini Mushrooms

Earthy pan-seared cremini mushrooms make the perfect topping for asparagus ravioli.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

• 12-16 asparagus ravioli, cooked (see recipe below)
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 8 oz. cremini mushrooms, trimmed and halved
• 2 tbsp. red wine
• 1 tbsp. butter
• salt + pepper to taste
• Parmesan cheese + chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a medium skillet over high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 6-7 minutes, stirring often, until mushrooms are deep brown in color. Carefully pour in red wine and cook until completely evaporated, about 2-3 minutes. Add butter and cook until melted. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
2. Pour mushrooms and butter over ravioli. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and parsley before serving.