Potato Leek And Bacon Ravioli Recipes

POTATO, LEEK, AND BACON RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Cook the whole, unpeeled potatoes in a pot of unsalted water to cover at a steady boil for 20 minutes or longer, until just cooked through. Don't let them crack or get mushy on the outside. Let them cool briefly, then peel and slice them into rounds, 1/4 inch thick.
• Heat the oil and the bacon pieces in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 or 4 minutes, until the bacon is sizzling and has rendered much of its fat. Stir in the leeks and cook another 3 minutes or so, until they're wilted and sizzling. Spread the potato slices in the pan, season with salt and pepper, and toss with the bacon and leeks.
• Cook for 8 minutes or more over medium-high heat, breaking up the potatoes into chunks. Spread and press the filling flat in the pan, and let caramelize for a couple of minutes. Turn the pieces, press, and fry; then repeat. When the filling is thoroughly cooked and has started to color, scrape it into a mixing bowl. Cool briefly, then crush the potatoes some more with a fork (I like to have little chunks left); add salt, pepper, and cheese to the filling to taste.
• Roll dough strips following the master method, page 189. For each raviolo, scoop up a heaping tablespoon of potato filling, shape it round, and set in place. Cover and cut ravioli.
• Cook and sauce ravioli as on page 192. Remove pan from heat, sprinkle the freshly grated cheese over, and serve.
• Butter and Fresh Sage Sauce (page 118) is the best, but Fresh Tomato Sauce (page 183) would go well too.

POTATO, CARAMELIZED LEEK, AND BACON-STUFFED PUFF PASTRY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Caramelize the leeks by cooking them in 1 tablespoon olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper in a large skillet over medium heat for 10 minutes.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 20 by 10-inch rectangle, move the pastry to a baking sheet and start by layering the potato slices on one half of the rectangle (we are going to fold the other empty half over and on top in order to seal it up, sort of like a calzone). Season the potatoes with salt and pepper, then add the crumbled bacon and leeks. Top with the Parmesan and seal up the puff pastry square, then crimp the edges. Brush the top of the puff pastry with the egg and cut 3 slits in the top of the puff pastry to allow the steam to escape.
• Bake for 20 minutes until golden brown and puffed. Serve warm.

POTATO-LEEK SOUP WITH BACON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make the croutons: Melt 1 tablespoon butter, then mix with the paprika in a bowl. Add the bread cubes and toss. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate. Discard all but about 1 tablespoon fat from the pan. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then add the leeks and garlic; cover and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, 2 cups water, the potatoes and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are tender, about 10 minutes.
• Puree half the soup in a blender (remove the filler cap to let steam escape), then return to the pot. Add the cream and bring to a simmer. Add the peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve topped with the croutons, bacon and parsley.

LEEK, POTATO, AND BACON CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven 325 degrees F.
• Butter an 8-by-8-inch square flameproof casserole dish. Halve the leeks lengthwise, and then cut them crosswise into half circles (There should be about 1 3/4 cups.). Put the cut leeks in the basket of a salad spinner, or a colander set in a bowl, and fill with water. Swish the leeks around to flush out any grit. Lift the basket from water--don't pour the water off or you will pour any grit right back over the leeks.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat and fry the bacon until crispy, about 5 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to cool, then crumble. Discard all but 1 tablespoon of the pan drippings, add the butter and leeks, and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, put the potatoes in a small saucepan with the garlic, thyme, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and water, to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat, then drain. Discard the thyme and garlic and add potatoes to the leeks.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs and half-and-half, then stir in the leek mixture, 1 cup of the cheese, the bacon, and nutmeg. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and some pepper. Transfer the mixture to the prepared dish, cover with foil and bake until just set but still moist, about 55 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.
• Position a rack in the upper part of the oven and preheat the broiler. Scatter the remaining 1 cup cheese over the casserole and broil until the cheese browns, about 3 minutes. Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Unmold or serve from baking dish.

BACON RAVIOLI WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Put the flour in a food processor. With the motor running, pour in the beaten eggs and pulse until the dough gathers around the blades. Turn out the dough and pat into a rectangle. Wrap in plastic wrap and set aside 30 minutes at room temperature.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Pulse the leeks, bacon and carrots in a food processor until finely chopped. Transfer to a skillet; add 1 cup water and cook over medium heat, stirring, until evaporated, about 7 minutes. Add the nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat to medium high; cook until the vegetables start to brown, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, stir in the parsley and let cool. Mix in the ricotta, gruyere and egg yolks; cover and chill until ready to make the ravioli.
• Dust the dough with flour and cut into 6 pieces. Pat 1 piece of dough into a 4-by-2-inch rectangle (keep the rest covered with plastic wrap). Feed a wide side through a pasta machine at the thickest setting. Continue to feed the dough through the machine, reducing the thickness setting each time, until the pasta is about /16 inch thick. Lay the pasta sheet on cornmeal-dusted parchment paper and cover with a kitchen towel. Repeat with the remaining dough.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment and dust with cornmeal. Uncover 1 sheet of dough; lay out with a long side facing you (keep the remaining sheets covered). Place small mounds of filling, about 2 inches apart, in a line along the bottom edge. Brush the top half of the sheet with water and fold the dough over to cover the filling; press around each mound to seal. Cut into squares with a pizza wheel or chef's knife; transfer to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling. If not using immediately, wrap the baking sheet in plastic and freeze for up to 3 days.
• Make the sauce: Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and cook, stirring, until tender, about 4 minutes. Add the scallions and garlic; cook, stirring, 1 more minute. Add the tomatoes and cook 4 more minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil and parsley.
• Cook the ravioli: Bring 3 inches of salted water to a boil in a large pot. Add the ravioli in batches and cook until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and transfer to a baking sheet (reserve the cooking water). Cover the ravioli loosely with foil to keep warm.
• Add 1 1/2 cups of the ravioli cooking water to the sauce, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Swirl in the remaining 2 tablespoons butter and season with salt and pepper. Divide the ravioli among plates; top with the sauce.

LEEK, POTATO & BACON BAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the stock in a large pan, bring to the boil, then add the potatoes and the leeks. Bring back to the boil for 5 mins, then drain well, reserving the stock in a jug.
• Meanwhile, butter a large baking dish. Layer up the potatoes and leeks higgledypiggledy, seasoning as you go, then scatter the bacon over the top. Season well, pour over 200ml of the reserved stock, then spoon over the cream (if using) and cover with foil. Can be made up to 1 day ahead and chilled. Bake for 40 mins, uncovering halfway through so that the bacon crisps.