WHAT IS RAVIOLI?

Ravioli are Italian dumplings that consist of a filling between two layers of dough. There are many variations as they are great for using up table scraps or leftovers.  One theory is that the Italian word riavvolgere or “to wrap” is the origin of this name.  That is until the 1920’s when a talented chef from Cleveland created the concept of pasta in a can. One can only wonder if this didn’t contribute to the lack of American appreciation for a proper “al dente” texture.

WHERE IS RAVIOLI MADE?

Prior to the end of the 13th century the only evidence of this cut are Napolitan recipes referencing “tortellos” or small tortas.  The word “raviolo” was a term used back then to describe the stuffing.  However soon after written records using the name ravioli started appearing in the 1300s in central and northern Italy.  Although none of these recipes used tomato sauce.  Tomatoes didn’t arrive in Italy from the colonies until the 1500s.  To read more about this DisgraceOnTheMenu.com has a good article, click here!

THE BIGGEST RAVIOLI IN EXISTENCE IS FLOATING AROUND SATURN?

In our solar system, the sixth planet out from the sun is Saturn.  It has at least 62 different moons orbiting around it.  One theory is that at once Saturn had two moons.  But one broke up and leaving only Titan.  The smaller, more irregularly shaped moons orbiting this planet tend to have ravioli and potato-like shapes.  It turns out that Saturn’s mass is almost 100 times more then the Earth’s, giving it a more powerful gravitational pull.  This stronger attraction caused a lot more tiny moon collisions, which ended up creating a lot of pancake-shaped or “ravioli” moons.  To read more about this click here!

WHAT SAUCES GO WELL WITH THIS PASTA?

The secret to making ravioli is identify what you’ve got in your fridge that is near the end of it’s life.  Then invest in a nice semolina urn for your stuffing and freeze these fresh morsels!  The better the leftovers, the better the filling!  If you’re looking for a fun sauce to pour over the top, check out our Alfredo or Mushroom sauces!