Gluten-free chestnut flour makes the most outrageously earthy-sweet egg noodles. We filled these chestnut flour ravioli with sauteed baby artichoke hearts and chèvre and bathed them in an herbaceous parmesan pea broth flecked with fresh herbs. And we made a video!
Last month I had the pleasure of attending a pop-up meal hosted by two of the most talented cooks I know, Sarah of Snixy Kitchen and Phi of Princess Tofu. Through Feastly, the two ladies created a spectacular meal based on alternative grains and flours blended with Japanese cuisine.
The meal began with cups of popcorn coated in miso butter, a bit of Ichimi Togarashi chile powder for kick, and strips of smoked nori. We moved on to a pomelo-mizuna salad dressed in sesame-miso vinaigrette and served on large wild rice crackers with tiny quail eggs, then bowls laden with hand-cut chestnut flour pasta bathed in dashi broth and topped with a deep-fried wedge of celery root, sous vide egg, and crispy enoki mushrooms. There was the most delicious miso soup I've ever had, tiny bites of adzuki bean tofu topped with sesame and scallions, and 7 or 8 different varieties of pickles which I wanted to hoard all to myself.
Just when we were sure we couldn't take any more, dessert was served. Luckily, I have a separate dessert stomach, and the silky pine nut pudding served with chewy mochi and a crunchy kinako-puffed millet crumble went down easy. To wash it all down, we drank gen mai cha green tea flavored with toasted rice and these matcha pepita cookies. As a bonus, I got to hang out with one of my favorite bloggers, Jessica of Thread and Bones. She and her sweetie recently founded the wedding photography duo Ritual Photo Work where they take fabulously unique and intimate captures. (Also, they have an orange cat.)
I've included a slideshow of the meal at the end of this post. Many thanks to Phi, Sarah and Feastly for the amazing meal – it was an evening to remember.
Sarah and I were especially enamored of the chestnut pasta, which had a surprisingly soft texture and sweet taste. We wanted more! So we got out the pasta roller, broke some eggs, and spent the day kneading, rolling, and filling. I had the bright idea to pair the pasta with artichokes, which is not only Sarah's favorite vegetable, logo, and name of her orange tabby, but has an assertive flavor that we reckoned would play well with the sweet chestnut flour pasta.
We managed to score some baby chokes at the acclaimed Monterey Market. It had been several years since I had prepped a baby artichoke, and I learned the hard way the reason for cutting off the spiky ends before peeling away the leaves. A spike lodged itself in my thumb and remained there for hours before I made Sarah help me dig it out with a needle. Don't make the same mistake I did! Cut off your artichoke ends first. (Or, you know, start with frozen artichoke hearts and skip the drama altogether. I mean, you're making freaking pasta from scratch; you deserve it.)
Anyway, after the pesky little artichokes were dealt with and my career as a creepy hand model forsaken, we sauteed the little buggers up with green garlic, olive oil and white wine which we mixed with goat cheese, parmesan and tarragon to make the filling. When the ravioli were filled and cooked, we doused them in a quick parmesan broth made from the vegetable trimmings and studded with freshly shelled peas. We topped the bowls with chopped chives, tarragon and chervil, and gave them a crown of enoki mushrooms crisped in olive oil in the oven.
I loved watching Sarah expertly fill and cut the chestnut flour ravioli. That gal is a pro! After a day of shopping, cooking, and shooting, we gratefully sat down to bowls of steamy pasta. Food never tasted better.
More Pasta Recipes:
- Spicy Tomato Chickpea Pasta {gluten-free, vegan option}
- Cheesy Baked Pasta with Chard {gluten-free}
- Orzo Pasta Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes, Basil & Ricotta Salata
- Pasta Alla Carbonara
Chestnut Flour Ravioli with Chèvre + Artichoke in Parmesan Pea Broth {gluten-free}
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
Broth:
- 8 cups water
- 2 cups English pea pods, chopped
- 2 cups green garlic leaves, chopped
- 4 parmesan rinds (about 2x4" each)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shelled English peas (from 1 generous pound English peas in their pods)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Filling:
- 12 baby artichokes (3-4" long)
- water
- 1 lemon, halved and juiced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green garlic (white and light green parts only, from 2 medium stalks)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (120 ml)
- 1/2 cup parmesan broth (above) (120 ml)
- 1 1/3 cups crumbled soft fresh chèvre (6 ounces / 170 grams)
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan (3 ounces / 85 grams)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped tarragon leaves
For finishing:
- finely grated parmesan
- 2 tablespoons each chopped tarragon, chervil, and chives
- 1 batch crispy enoki mushrooms
Instructions
Make the broth:
- In a large pot, combine the water, pea pods, green leaves from the green garlic, and parmesan rinds. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Stir in the salt, then strain the stock into a large bowl, leaving behind any sand that may be hanging out on the bottom of the pan and pressing on the solids to get out all the good stuff. Return the stock to the (rinsed, if sandpot. When ready to serve, return the stock to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes.
Make the filling:
- Fill a medium-sized bowl with cool water and add the lemon juice and spent lemon halves. Prepare the artichokes by cutting off the top inch of leaves. Snap off the dark green leaves until you get to the tender, yellow center leaves in the center. Trim away the green parts of the stem and body. Cut the artichoke in half and use a small spoon to remove any fuzzy choke and/or spiky leaves from the center. As you work, drop the artichoke halves into the bowl of lemon water to prevent them from oxidizing. When all of the artichokes are prepared, remove them from the water and chop into a half-inch dice. You should have about 1 3/4 cups of chopped artichoke.
- Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the green garlic and artichokes and sauté until slightly caramelized, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add the wine and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced. Add the stock and cook, stirring, until the pan is dry and the artichoke is tender, 10-15 more minutes, adding more stock if the vegetables start to stick. Stir in the salt. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
- When the artichoke mixture is cool, place it in a medium-sized bowl and stir in the chèvre, grated parmesan, and tarragon. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or tarragon if you feel it needs it.Fill and cook the ravioli.
Finish the ravioli:
- Divide the ravioli among 4 shallow bowls. Ladle the broth and peas over the ravioli. Top with a generous grating of fresh parmesan, a good sprinkling of herbs, and a bunch of crispy enoki mushrooms. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Chestnut Flour Ravioli with Chèvre + Artichoke in Parmesan Pea Broth {gluten-free}
Allow yourself a good few hours to make this dish. You'll need to make pasta, prep artichokes, shell peas, make a quick stock from the vegetable trimmings, and fill the pasta. Pour yourself a glass of wine, put on some good tunes, and go to town. If you can't find baby artichokes, you can use jarred or frozen artichoke hearts; you'll need 1 3/4 cups diced. See Sarah's post for the pasta recipe and ravioli filling and cooking instructions.
Makes 4 servings
1 recipe Chestnut Flour Pasta
Broth:
8 cups water
2 cups English pea pods, chopped
2 cups green garlic leaves, chopped
4 parmesan rinds (about 2x4" each)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup shelled English peas (from 1 generous pound English peas in their pods)
1 tablespoon olive oil
Filling:
12 baby artichokes (3-4" long)
water
1 lemon, halved and juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup chopped green garlic (white and light green parts only, from 2 medium stalks)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (120 ml) dry white wine
1/2 cup (120 ml) parmesan broth (above)
1 1/3 cups (6 ounces / 170 grams) crumbled soft fresh chèvre
3/4 cup (3 ounces / 85 grams) grated parmesan
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped tarragon leaves
For finishing:
finely grated parmesan
2 tablespoons each chopped tarragon, chervil, and chives
1 batch crispy enoki mushrooms
Make the broth:
In a large pot, combine the water, pea pods, green leaves from the green garlic, and parmesan rinds. Bring to a boil over high heat then reduce to a simmer and cook, partially covered, for 30 minutes. Stir in the salt, then strain the stock into a large bowl, leaving behind any sand that may be hanging out on the bottom of the pan and pressing on the solids to get out all the good stuff. Return the stock to the (rinsed, if sandy) pot. When ready to serve, return the stock to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes.
Make the filling:
Fill a medium-sized bowl with cool water and add the lemon juice and spent lemon halves. Prepare the artichokes by cutting off the top inch of leaves. Snap off the dark green leaves until you get to the tender, yellow center leaves in the center. Trim away the green parts of the stem and body. Cut the artichoke in half and use a small spoon to remove any fuzzy choke and/or spiky leaves from the center. As you work, drop the artichoke halves into the bowl of lemon water to prevent them from oxidizing. When all of the artichokes are prepared, remove them from the water and chop into a half-inch dice. You should have about 1 3/4 cups of chopped artichoke.
Heat the oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the green garlic and artichokes and sauté until slightly caramelized, stirring frequently, 5 minutes. Add the wine and continue cooking until the liquid has reduced. Add the stock and cook, stirring, until the pan is dry and the artichoke is tender, 10-15 more minutes, adding more stock if the vegetables start to stick. Stir in the salt. Transfer to a plate and let cool.
When the artichoke mixture is cool, place it in a medium-sized bowl and stir in the chèvre, grated parmesan, and tarragon. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt or tarragon if you feel it needs it.Fill and cook the ravioli.
Finish the ravioli:
Divide the ravioli among 4 shallow bowls. Ladle the broth and peas over the ravioli. Top with a generous grating of fresh parmesan, a good sprinkling of herbs, and a bunch of crispy enoki mushrooms. Enjoy immediately.
What an amazing meal you all prepared! I'm going to share a ravioli recipe later today, so I'll link your post to make readers see your perfect video ;)
Oh wow, your ravioli are completely spectacular! Brava! Thanks for sharing our video!
Gorgeous video! This recipe looks delicious and now that I have step by step video instructions too I'm definitely going to give it a go :-)
Aw, thank you Kate! I can't wait to see what pasta deliciousness emerges from your kitchen. :)
Can I still enjoy the glass of wine if I cut corners using frozen artichokes?! :)
haha, but of course! :)
Awesome video! I love this, looks really yummy!
Aw, thanks lovely lady!
This looks so scrumptious! I've been waiting for an excuse to get a pasta attachment for my mixer. This is it :-) You described the meal perfectly; I think you're making everyone jealous!
DO IT! :)
I want to live in this post! These photos, this video, your lovely words -- ahh! You are such a storyteller in all ways and this collab is just too fabulous for words. (Also, "I have a separate dessert stomach" is one of the greatest sentences ever penned.) Love this, you two!!
D'awwww! You have a wide-open invitation to come stay with us anytime and help us eat ravioli and put things in your dessert stomach. :)
what a lovely post, amazing photos, great recipe just full of wonderful goodness
Aw, thanks Tracey!
<3 x 1000000000
:)!
There's nothing better than fresh pasta, what a gorgeous spring meal!
Nothing except for meyer lemon sandwich cookies - yummmm! ;)
Everything about this post is so lovely, Alanna! The video and photos, of course -- and the pasta! I dream of the day when I have the patience to make a pasta from scratch that's half as beautiful. Living vicariously through you in the meantime will just have to do. :) Can't wait to pop over to Snixy Kitchen for the rest!
Aw, thank yoooouuuu! We'll have to have a pasta party all together sometime. :)
You guys are so awesome! This pasta looks absolutely amazing and the styling, photos, and video are just perfect. I'm wondering now if I should look into getting the pasta attachment for my stand mixer. I love all of this! xo
Aw, thanks lady!! I seriously envy Sarah's pasta attachment (and her skillz while using it!)
Your photos are gorgeous!! I am getting really hungry looking at this!
Aw, thanks! We had such fun shooting these.
The obsession I have with everything about this is insane. I love your photography, videos, writing, creativeness, everything!! You are a real inspiration to me!!
I've made pasta once so far with my new Kitchenaid attachment - traditional semolina and cut into fettuccini. I can't wait to try new flours and shapes!
Aw, thank you Leigha! That means a lot to me. <3
I love everything about this post and dish! There isn't one ingredient that I don't love!!! What is it about orange cats, everyone one of them that I have met are the coolest, most funniest cats!
Aw, thanks! Yes, I completely agree, they have so much personality!
Absolutely gorgeous - everything is absolutely gorgeous, that is! I saw the sneak peek on Instagram and made a mental note to visit over here as soon as humanly possible, and I definitely wasn't disappointed! I'm in love with that photo of the peas. Have a lovely weekend!
Aw, thanks for stopping by and checking out our video! Hope you have a lovely weekend too. Currently ogling every delicious post on your site - you're amazing!
Beautiful. I said this on Sarah's post but I'll say it again - this is magical. I have a pasta roller I received as a wedding gift that I've NEVER used. It's so intimidating... man. I love everything about this post!!! I seriously love you and Sarah's collabs together.
Aw, thank you Betty!! I love collaborating with Sarah - she's just amazing. She works that pasta roller like nobody's business. Can't wait for us three to hang this summer!!
LADY. THESE. FREAKING. PHOTOS. They're magical. I LOVE the one of you rolling the pasta...and basically all the process shots and the video! Professionally BOMB. You just keep topping yourself! So impressed! And sad that I can't shove that bowl of ravioli in my face right now! Slash also Phi/Sarah's meal looked AMAZINGGGGGGG.
Yeah, those gals are so talented!! Sarah is the master of the pasta rolling. If you're in CA this summer we should all hang!! Thanks so much for checking out the vid and your super sweet note! <3
Alanna.. From photos to the video - P.E.R.F.E.C.T.I.O.N.
You guys are some super talented people and an inspiration for the rest of us.
WELL DONE!
Oh, thank you so much for the sweet words!! I just love working with Sarah - she is such a joy. :)
Beautiful post! I love making fresh pasta but have never tried chestnut flour, so interesting.
Thank you!