Pasta roses: The perfect Italian dish for a romantic dinner

Italian cuisine would be incomplete without various types of pasta, and pasta dough serves as the base for this recipe. Inside the pasta rolls lies a delicious and straightforward filling of ricotta and spinach, making it perfect for a romantic dinner when you want to impress your significant other with an exceptional dish.

Rotolo is a close cousin to the much more popular lasagna. However, it is worth noting for its beautiful presentation. Pasta roses combine a passion for cooking with creativity. They will be delighted if you serve them to your significant other, your family, or even your mother-in-law.

Each pasta roll is unique, filled with delicate ricotta and juicy spinach. This combination of flavors and aromas transports you to culinary heaven or an Italian trattoria.

Hand-formed pasta roses filled with a delicate spinach and ricotta mixture are a true feast for the eyes and palate. Don't worry; the recipe is not complicated. Even a novice who has only ordered Italian pasta for delivery or cooked it from a package will manage.

Ingredients:

Pasta:    

• 3 cups of all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 1/5 cup of water

Filling:          

• 7 ounces of spinach
• 7 ounces of ricotta
• 1 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable oil

Preparation:

Step 1. Heat oil in a frying pan and sauté the finely chopped onion. Add spinach, garlic pressed through a press, and salt and pepper. When the spinach reduces in volume, add ricotta cheese and mix.

Step 2. On a table or pastry board, pile the flour into a mound. Make a well in the center and crack the eggs into it. Start kneading the dough, gradually adding water. When the dough is smooth and uniform, divide it into three parts.

Step 3. Roll each piece into a long rectangle and cut out circles. Arrange them so that the edges overlap, fill them with the ricotta and spinach mixture, and seal them by folding them in half.

Step 4. Roll the dough to form a rose shape. The given proportions of dough will yield about six roses. If you’re worried the dough will be raw, you can pre-cook it. Carefully, on a ladle, immerse the rotolo in boiling water and cook for a few minutes. After cooking, transfer to an ovenproof dish.

Step 5. Arrange the roses in an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with cheese. Place in an oven preheated to 350°F for 30 minutes. You can also bake them with tomato sauce. Enjoy!