Ravioles is a Cypriot specialty, similar to ravioli, which are filled with aged grated halloumi, eggs and mint. They are then cooked in the broth of a boiled chicken.
Although ravioles probably have their roots from the Venetian occupation of the island, this Cypriot pasta dough is not made with eggs.
It is same with the usual dough made with flour, olive oil, salt and water, which we use to make other pastry. In the pastry dough, vinegar is also added because it make the phyllo crunchy, but as ravioles are boiled, the vinegar is not necessary.
If you want to make the dough with eggs, see my recipe for Tortellini.
This is the dish my mother would prepare during Tyrini Sunday, the last Sunday before Lent, which means cheesefare Sunday.
On Tyrini the tradition is to cook anything with cheese, such as (tyropita), pasta, bourekia me anari (turnovers), tyropita, biscuits, etc.
How to make Ravioles
The traditional way of make the ravioles is to roll out the phyllo until thin. You can either use a rolling pin to roll out the phyllo or make it using a pasta machine.
Then you add a teaspoon of cheese filling, on one edge, leave a gap of about 3 – 4 cm and continue adding cheese.
Then cover the filling with the phyllo and press the gaps with the finger to enclose the filling.
Finally cut the ravioles, using a glass to form them into a semicircle and boil them in chicken broth or water if you prefer.
Alternatively, you can cut them in a ravioli press or using a ravioli cutter.
At this stage you can freeze them by adding cling film between the layers.
To cook them, do not thaw them as they will defrost in the hot broth.
Just put them in the boiling water or chicken broth and they will defrost in the water. Boil them for 10 -15 minutes. stirring regularly as they usually float.
A few days ago my son came back from Crete and some friends from Crete, were kind enough to send me a lot of graviera cheese and fresh anthotyro cheese .
So I had to think of something to do because it was a lot to store.
I decided to make some ravioles with the graviera cheese and with the anthotyro I made another Cypriot recipe called “Anarotourta”.
This and many more Cypriot recipes are included in my cookbook Mint, Cinnamon & Blossom Water, Flavours of Cyprus, Kopiaste as well as in Volume 1 of the e-cookbook.
Ravioles (Cypriot ravioli)
Ravioles is a Cypriot pasta specialty, similar to ravioli, which are filled with aged halloumi, eggs and mint and are cooked in chicken broth. They are served with grated halloumi on top.
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 500 grams durum wheat or all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup water plus a couple more tablespoons, if necessary
- (You can also make the dough with eggs (see link below)
For the filling:
- 750 grams halloumi cheese, grated
- 4 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons dried mint
- Extra halloumi and dried mint for sprinkling on top
For Chicken Broth:
- Chicken with skin and bones on
- 8 1- 10 cups of water
- 1 tbsp sea salt
Instructions
- Boil the chicken and reserve the broth.
- Prepare the dough. Make the traditional dough or follow the instructions in the recipe or that for Toretellini by adding eggs.
- Grate the cheese and mix in the dried mint. Add the eggs one by one and mix until we have a nice mixture which holds together and cheese has been absorbed by the eggs.
- Roll out a thin phyllo either with a pasta machine or manually.
- Place 1 tsp of cheese mixture at the edge and leaving a gap of about 3cm (1 inch) in between continue adding cheese.
- Lightly brush the dough with some water.
- Cover with remaining phyllo and press the gaps with your finger.
- Cut the ravioles with a drinking water glass, to give a half a semicircle shape or cut them with a ravioli cutter.
- Bring chicken broth to a boil. If your broth contains salt, do not add any extra salt as halloumi is salty. Place ravioli in the boiling broth (or water) and cook for about 10 – 15 minutes stirring occasionally, as they will float.
- Remove with a slotted spoon into a platter and sprinkle some grated halloumi mixed with dried mint on top.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition Information
Yield 80 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 62Total Fat 3gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 1gCholesterol 18mgSodium 154mgCarbohydrates 6gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 4g
"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."
Tyrini Sunday Recipes
Here are some creations of mine with cheese:
Dakos Savoury Greek Cheesecake
A savoury cheesecake I made during Christmas, based on the Greek Cretan recipe for Dakos.
Bourekia me Freskia Anari - Pastries with Fresh Anari Cheese
Boureki (plural bourekia) is a type of pastry made of a thin flaky dough known as phyllo and are filled with anari (anthotyros or myzithra, as it is known in Greece), which is similar to ricotta.
Moustokouloura with Fresh Grape Juice and Anthotyros
Moustokouloura cookies can be made either with fresh grape juice or grape molasses. They are perfect as a snack or for breakfast!
Chicken Tortellini Carbonara
This chicken tortellini is a Greek-style carbonara as we add cream and yoghurt to the sauce.
Turkey Ravioli with leftovers
These Turkey Ravioli are made with homemade phyllo, stuffed with leftover roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cheese and other ingredients.
Tyropitari
Tyropitari pronounced Tee-rho-pee-TAH-ree, is a homemade Greek pastry filled with feta cheese and deep fried, which is served as an appetizer.
Tyropita with Kourou Phyllo
Tyropita Kourou is a cheese pie made with a type of phyllo made with butter and yoghurt, which I would describe somewhat like tart dough.
Cypriot Muffins in Phyllo Cases
Halloumi Muffins are based on my Kypriaki Tyropita (a savoury halloumi cake) but made in muffin tins which are lined with phyllo pastry.
Greek Creased Cheese Pie (Patsavouropita)
Creased Cheese Pie is a different Greek pie called Patsavouropita (pronounced. pah-tsah-vou-RHO-pee-ta), which is very easy to make and tastes amazing. This Greek pie is made by creasing each phyllo sheet and dipping it in a batter made with soda water, eggs and feta.
Flaounes (Cypriot Easter Cheese filled Bread)
Flaounes pr. flah-OU-ness (singular flaouna) is a traditional Cypriot Easter cheese bread made with an aromatic yeasted phyllo dough, filled with a special Cypriot cheese, called Pafitiko, made during the Easter period especially for flaounes, flavoured with Masticha (mastic resin), mahlepi (mahleb) and mint.
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Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,
Jennie
Saturday 4th of June 2011
Love pasta. This recipe sounds amazing!!!!!!!
heni
Sunday 13th of December 2009
Thanks Ivy for having the pix up ... I had been wanting to see them from your old blog account! Love it!