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Mandilli (Handkerchief ) Pasta

Mandilli, Handkerchief Pasta, with Ricotta, Pesto and Spicy Red Sauce

heidi medina
A beautiful delicate homemade pasta dough filled with ricotta cheese and pesto layered over Spicy Red Sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese. Shortcut alerts and gluten free option in recipe notes.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

Fresh Pasta

  • ¾ to 1 cup 00 flour or all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. black pepper
  • 1 to 2 Tbsp. water use only if needed

Spicy Red Sauce

  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 medium-size onion
  • 1 small carrot grated
  • 1 tsp. Savory Spice Shop's Cantanzaro Herbs or Italian Spice
  • ¼ to ½ tsp. Arrabbiata Herb and Spice Mix to desired spiciness
  • 4 cloves roasted garlic
  • 1 whole roasted red pepper diced
  • 1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes pureed
  • Salt and Pepper to taste

Pesto

  • 1 cup spinach
  • ½ cup basil or your choice of herbs
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ¼ cup almonds or pine nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts or cashews
  • 3 to 4 Tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Juice from half a lemon

Assembly

  • 1 15 oz container of whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 3 oz. sliced fresh mozzarella
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil

Instructions
 

Pasta Dough

  • Add flour to a mixing bowl, forming a well in the center.
  • Pour olive oil, eggs, salt and pepper into the well. Gently draw the flour into the liquids, bringing the dough together.
  • Continue to knead the dough and add more flour as needed if the pasta is too wet. Or if still too dry add a little water until holding together. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until dough is smooth and elastic.
  • Form pasta dough into a ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Allow to rest on the counter or in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  • To roll pasta, use a pasta machine or a rolling pin.
  • Divide dough into 8 pieces. Roll out until dough is slightly see through, around 1/16" thick and sheets are around 12" x 12". Follow your pasta machine directions for rolling if using. If using rolling pin, flour large flat surface and roll each piece of dough out.
  • Lightly flour each pasta sheet and gently fold and set aside under a slightly damp towel while you finish rolling out the rest of the sheets.

Spicy Red Sauce

  • While pasta dough is resting, heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  • Add onions and carrots, cooking for about 3 to 4 minutes before tossing in the spices, garlic and roasted red pepper. Cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the pureed tomatoes to the pan and simmer sauce until reaching desired thickness.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Set aside until needed.

Pesto

  • Using a blender or food processor, spinach, basil, nuts, cheese, garlic and 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Pulse to blend.
  • Add lemon juice and more olive oil until reaching desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Set aside until needed.

Assembly

  • Preheat oven to 350 F (180 C). Coat a large casserole dish with olive oil.
  • Pour 2 to 3 cups of Spicy Pasta Sauce in the bottom of the pan. Set pan to the side while you fill the pasta.
  • On a flat surface, cut each pasta sheet in half.
  • Spread each pasta sheet half with 1 tablespoon of pesto, followed by 2 to 3 tablespoons of ricotta cheese evenly spread on one side of each half. Fold the other half of the sheet over the ricotta.
  • Place the filled and folded pasta sheet in the prepared pan, starting at the top.
  • Continue layering each filled pasta sheet in the pan, overlapping about half way up the last sheet.
  • Once you filled all your pasta sheets or used up the ricotta cheese, place slices of the fresh mozzarella spaced randomly around the pan.
  • Cover pan with foil and pop into the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes or until pasta is bubbly.
  • Remove foil and turn oven to broil. When cheese to golden brown, remove pan from oven and allow to rest about 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Shortcut Alerts: You can use already made pasta sheets, including gluten free sheets (cook if not using fresh sheets), pasta sauce, pesto and grated mozzarella for a faster dish.
The recipe also good with homemade ricotta cheese if you have time to make it.
Keyword Italian Food, Pasta, Pesto
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