Do not let arugula scare you. True it is not the best green for smoothies or raw salads, but it does provide an excellent contrast to both sweet and tangy flavors. Arugula's unique combination of phytochemicals has been linked to cancer prevention in some individuals including breast, cervical, colon, ovarian and prostate. This awesome little green also provides a healthy dose of vitamins C, A and K!
Pumpkin Ravioli with Cashew Cream and Arugula
Ingredients:
Pasta
1 cup rye or spelt flour (GF oat flour might also work)
3 eggs
Cashew Cream
1 cup raw cashews, soaked for at least 4 hours
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp maple syrup
1 tbs nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp smoked sea salt
Filling
1 medium squash, halved and seeds removed
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
For the Plate
2 handfuls fresh arugula or
your favorite hard cheese, for garnish (optional)
pepper
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400F degrees.
Start by roasting the squash. Fill a large baking dish with about 1 inch of water and place the halved squash in the center. Roast the squash for about 30 minutes, or until soft.
To make the cashew cream, add the soaked cashews to a high-speed blender along with the vinegar, salt, maple syrup, nutritional yeast and about 1/4 cup water. Blend until extra creamy, add more water if needed.
To make the filling, add about 2 cups roasted squash to a blender and add the smoked paprika, and about 2 tbs cashew cream. Blend until smooth and set aside.
For the pasta, add all the flour to a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Next, whisk together the eggs and add them to the flour well. Fold together the dough until it is the same throughout. Place the dough on a heavily floured surface and continue to knead for another minute or so. Break the dough into about 3 sections. Roll one section out over a generously floured surface until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Once you have it rolled out, cut the dough into squares about 2 inches in size.
To assemble, drop about 1 tsp of the pumpkin puree mixture onto half of the squares. Next, top each square with another piece and use a floured fork to press the edges together (you might also want to wet the edges between layers to help the pieces stick together).
To cook the ravioli, fill a large stock pot with water and bring it to a gentle boil. Drop about 4 raviolis in at a time and cook them for about 2 - 3 minutes on each side (I usually taste one to make sure they are done). Place the cooked ravioli on a towel or in a strainer to get rid of excess water.
Before serving, lightly arrange the arugula on a plate and top with the warm ravioli. Add the cheese shavings and pepper for garnish and serve alongside cashew cream, enjoy!