Once again I am inspired by something I saw on a menu, though this
time I didn’t order it.
Our friend, Jennifer, took Mark and me to dinner at Brix in
Flagstaff to celebrate my birthday. The meal was just delicious. We started
with fried Brussels sprouts in agrodolce, and a plate of fried oysters. For the
main courses, Jennifer had salmon, Mark had the steak frites, and I had a pork
chop.
Among many other dishes that piqued my interested was the Purple
Haze Ravioli. I love Cypress Grove’s Purple Haze goat cheese. It is a delicate blend of fresh goat’s cheese,
lavender, and fennel pollen. The dish sounded fantastic.
The ravioli are stuffed with the cheese, and served with
lavender-rosemary-infused brown butter with Marcona almonds and candied orange
peel. What’s not to like?
I noted the elements of the dish and immediately started planning
to make this at home.
The first challenge for me is that I can’t find Purple Haze cheese
here in Tucson. I do, however, have lavender and fennel pollen. So I made my
own using local fresh goat cheese from Fiore di Capra. (Two notes: First, Fiore di Capra didn’t ask for this endorsement – I bought the cheese and love supporting local artisans. Second, I came across Purple Haze cheese in Tucson the other day at Time
Market! I am so happy!)
The real Purple Haze is dusted with the herbs, but I blended mine
in. Instead of the garlic added in the restaurant’s version, I opted for a more
subtle herb to complement the cheese: finely chopped fresh chives. I also added
a little Pecorino Romano and a bit of egg.
As I never saw the restaurant’s version of the dish, I have no
idea how they shaped their ravioli. Half moons appealed to me. I cut these with
a scalloped biscuit cutter my friend Heather brought from London.
Nor did I see the restaurant’s plating, so I opted for
simplicity. I tossed the ravioli in the herb-infused butter, placed a few on
each plate, and topped with the chopped nuts and candied orange peel; I
decorated the plates with dots of crema di balsamica. This ends up not being
just a decoration, but a nice addition to the flavors of the dish.
We had picked up a «vin de table» rosé to test with this. It was
La Vieille Ferme – a wine made by the Perrin family in Provence. To read more
about the pairing, visit the Provence WineZine.
A lovely experiment – and successful! It takes a bit of time, but
it’s all fun time in the kitchen, and that makes me a happy boy.
~ David
4 ounces fresh goat cheese – I used Fiore di Capra
3 teaspoons dried culinary lavender buds, divided
1/2 teaspoon fennel pollen
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
1/4 cup grated Pecorino Romano
2 extra large eggs, well beaten, divided
1 1/2 cups flour, type “00”
salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, preferably European
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped fresh rosemary
4 tablespoons Marcona almonds, coarsely chopped
4 tablespoons diced candied orange peel (recipe follows)
crema di balsamica
A day or two before making the ravioli, bring goat cheese to room
temperature in a small bowl. Using a spice grinder, pulverize 1 teaspoon
lavender buds, the fennel pollen, and the white pepper. Add this to the cheese,
along with the chopped fresh chives. Mix well, cover, and chill overnight or
for two days, to allow flavors to meld. (Or, if you can find Purple Haze, you
can simply soften the cheese and add the chives.)
For the ravioli, first bring the cheese mixture to room
temperature.
Place the flour on a wooden or stone countertop, and make a well
in the center. Add remaining egg (don’t scrape the egg bowl, and don’t clean
the bowl! Set it aside; you will use this residue later). Add a pinch of salt. Using a fork – or
your fingers – gently stir the egg so that it gathers the flour little by little,
until it forms a dough. Most, but not all, of the flour will be absorbed. Knead
the dough for a few minutes, then wrap in plastic wrap and let it rest for
20-30 minutes.
While dough rests, stir the grated Pecorino Romano and 2
tablespoons of the beaten egg into the cheese mixture.
Knead the dough on a floured board a few times then cut into
quarters. Start rolling one quarter, while keeping the others tightly wrapped
in plastic wrap.
Using an Atlas pasta machine, roll out the dough starting at the
widest setting, and repeat, working through to setting No. 6. Add flour as necessary to
keep dough from sticking to the rollers.
From the sheets of pasta, cut out 3-inch circles and set them
aside on a flour-dusted surface, covered with a damp cloth or damp paper towel.
You will need 30 discs. Extra pasta can be saved for another use.
When ready to fill, place 1/2 teaspoon of filling just off center
of each disc. Retrieve the bowl used to beat the eggs and add a tablespoon of
water, mixing it with any remaining egg. Using a pastry brush,
“paint” along half the outside edge of each disc, then fold the other
half over the filling, gently pressing out any air. Then pinch edges tightly with
your fingers. Place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. When all the ravioli are
formed, place the cookie sheet in the freezer while you boil the pasta water
and make the sauce.
Place a large kettle of water on high heat and bring to a boil.
Add a fistful of salt after it comes to a boil. Keep at a gentle boil.
Melt the butter in a small skillet (don’t use a nonstick skillet
or you not be able to see when the butter takes on color) and add 2 teaspoons
lavender buds plus the rosemary. Press down on the herbs to release their
flavor. Cook until the butter turns nutty and light brown. Strain through a
fine-mesh sieve? into a large skillet, add the chopped almonds; keep warm.
Remove the ravioli from the freezer and slip them gently into the
boiling water. Keep the water at a gentle boil, so as not to damage the
ravioli. Cook for 3 minutes and remove them from the water with a strainer. Add
the ravioli to the brown butter sauce, and toss gently to coat the pasta. Divide
among heated plates, spoon remaining browned butter and Marcona almonds over
the pasta, and sprinkle with the diced orange peel. Dot the crema di balsamica
around the edge of the plate, or be artistic and make a “smear” on one side.
Serves 6 as a first course, or 2-3 as a main course.
1 large thick-skinned organic navel orange
1 1/2 cups sugar, plus extra
1/2 cup water
Score the orange in quarters and remove the peel (zest plus pith)
and reserve the orange segments for another use.
Slice the peel into 1/4-inch long strips and place in a small
saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Drain, cover again with cold
water and bring to a boil once more. Drain and place strips on paper towels to
drain.
In the same saucepan, place 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 cup water.
Bring to a simmer and simmer for 9-10 minutes. Add orange peel strips and bring
to a gentle simmer. Cook for 45 minutes, or until pith is translucent.
Place a sheet of aluminum foil on the counter. Drain the peel
strips and place them on the foil. Sprinkle liberally with sugar, toss back and
forth on the foil, then continue to sprinkle with additional sugar and toss
till strips are well coated.
Place strips on a cooling rack. When cool, place in an airtight
container. I keep them in the refrigerator.
Can be made up to a week in advance. Surplus not used in the
recipe makes a pleasant snack.
Caroline @ Pinch Me, I'm Eating!
October 1, 2016 at 1:38 pmThis looks like the best thing I've ever seen!! There is nothing in this recipe I don't absolutely adore. Can I come over for dinner? (Also, love Time Market! That's one of the places I miss!)
Cocoa & Lavender
October 2, 2016 at 2:01 pmOf course you can come to dinner! You can even bring Mike! 😉 I love Time Market – especially since the renovation.
Lois B
October 1, 2016 at 1:56 pmI'm with you, David; a good restaurant can be very inspiring. Your ravioli sound delicious, and your photography is mouthwatering as usual!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 2, 2016 at 2:02 pmThanks, Lois! I love creating things I see on menus – I even found once that I liked my version better!
Bizzy Lizzy's Good Things
October 1, 2016 at 9:43 pmWows all round, David. If I come visit, will you cook this for me? xx
Cocoa & Lavender
October 2, 2016 at 2:03 pmI would, indeed, Liz! Now, just make these reservations and hop on over!
John | heneedsfood
October 2, 2016 at 11:45 amWhat a great combination of flavours. It's always great recreating a dish you've eaten or just read on a restaurant menu. Nice one!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 2, 2016 at 2:04 pmThanks, John – lots of fun to make this one!
Valentina
October 2, 2016 at 7:30 pmOh my gosh, what a delicious birthday dinner! This recipe sounds so lovely. I was just given a container of dried lavender, and think it was meant for this.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:49 amI am really looking forward to what you will do with the lavender, Valentina!
Anonymous
October 2, 2016 at 8:43 pmClever happy man, David ! Such a joy to see you be inspired and then create this exquisite dish. Well done ! xoxo Jennifer
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:50 amThank you, Jennifer – and for bringing me to this inspiration! xox
Sippity Sup
October 2, 2016 at 9:58 pmThis perfectly illustrates why I've been known to steal restaurant menus! Only you managed all this creativity w/o breaking the law. GREG
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:50 amHuh. I never thought of stealing the menu before… thanks for the tip, Greg! 🙂
Anonymous
October 2, 2016 at 11:30 pmShoot! I spied that very wine the other day when I went in to buy some beer for my hubby. I have to admit that I have often bought wine by Vielle Ferme (although not the rose yet) because I love the chickens on the label! Silly, I know. I will try it next time I go "to town."
Also, that recipe sounds just delicious! Hmmm….some day.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:51 amThanks, Caterina! Yes, the chickens on the labels have become more and more endearing with better art!
Marcelle
October 4, 2016 at 4:38 amDavid, this looks so elegant and sounds just amazing. Yet again you tempt me to try an ingredient that's completely new to me as I've I've never tasted anything with lavender. And Heaven knows I've never made cheese! 🙂 New goals… 🙂
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:52 amThanks, Marcelle! Lavender, when used carefully, adds such a wonderful flavor to both sweet and savory dishes!
Frank
October 4, 2016 at 11:20 amI couldn't help but notice that set of cookie cutters, with all different sizes. I want one of those! And "mezzelune" may be my favorite form for stuffed pasta.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 4, 2016 at 11:53 amFrank – I wonder if the cutters are available online – my friend got them at Harrod's!
Frank
October 7, 2016 at 10:56 amSadly, no. Just checked out Harrod's online store. No luck! Ah well…
Cocoa & Lavender
October 8, 2016 at 9:16 pmI will see what I can find when I am there at the New Year!
Gerlinde de Broekert
October 4, 2016 at 5:07 pmDavid, this looks divine. What a great job on reproducing this recipe. I been known to make photos of the restaurant menus. Happy late Birthday.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 6, 2016 at 3:53 amI think takin photos of menus is a great idea, Gerlinde. Thanks for your kind words!
Inger @ Art of Natural Living
October 5, 2016 at 1:41 amWhat a delicious looking dish–and your plating is perfect. My daughters and I stopped in Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon a few years back and were impressed with the place we ate. Is it a pretty good food town?
Cocoa & Lavender
October 6, 2016 at 3:54 amInger – while I don't think of Flagstaff as a real foodie town, the scene is pretty good. Definitely go to Brix if you go back. Thanks for your comment about the plating – one friend pointed out that it looks like a clock with only eleven hours!
Jean | DelightfulRepast.com
October 6, 2016 at 5:10 pmDavid, this sounds soooo good! I don't usually like lavender in food, probably because most people overdo it, but I'm sure *you* used just the right amount. I'd love to be having this for lunch today!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 7, 2016 at 4:32 amThanks, Jean – I am very careful to have a light hand with the lavender. You are so right about it being too strong sometimes!
Cheri Savory Spoon
October 6, 2016 at 5:18 pmHi David, will have to check out the Time Market next time I go to Tucson, love everything about this dish, the candied orange peel is lovely.
Cocoa & Lavender
October 7, 2016 at 4:33 amCheri – you will LOVE Time Market. The sandwiches and pizza are great, and they have a wonderful wine, cheese, and gourmet item selection.
Provence WineZine
October 13, 2016 at 12:58 amHi David, I've still never made my own pasta but this recipe–and the wine pairing–might finally propel me to do it. The symphony of flavors sound exquisite! As always, I am appreciative that you share the recipe and make a wine recommendation for my readers at Provence WineZine!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 27, 2016 at 5:29 pmThe next time we get together, Susan, we are going to make pasta again. I remember making Orrechiette with you in Tucson, but, as I recall, I flicked the pasta while you watched! (You might've been drinking a glass of wine…)
Christina | Christina's Cucina
October 29, 2016 at 9:36 pmWhat a beautiful job you did! I rarely make ravioli as my mother makes millions when she visits during the winter! But I've been wanting to make a different version and yours sounds lovely, although I have a thing about lavender after ODing on it at my old house 🙁 Terrible when that happens, so now I can't smell it anymore. I'm sure I could flavor the goat cheese so many different ways; one of my favorite cheeses!
Cocoa & Lavender
October 30, 2016 at 6:20 pmI think this is a problem with many people (I'm going out on a limb here) in the cooking field. If something is good, use it everywhere and with abandon till either you hate it, or everything tastes like everything else. It is hard to hold back when you love something but I think that is the main key to excellence in the kitchen. My big mistake once was making brown butter and sage; if 5 leaves are good, 20 must be better! Definitely not the case. Now, when I read a recipe from a trusted source, I do just what they say. If they say 5 sage leaves, they mean it!
theonethattravels
November 1, 2016 at 12:11 pmSo happy to come across to your blog…
So many deliciousness…
xx
https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/
Cocoa & Lavender
November 1, 2016 at 2:28 pmThanks, Strumica! Loved perusing your posts – lovely photos of your travels.