BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI

 BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI

DINNER AT HOME

I need to blog about Giovanni Rana's Butternut Squash Ravioli again.  Simply delicious!  One of the easiest and best tasting meals you can make it just minutes.  The Ravioli tastes home made and the Butternut Squash filling is rich and not too sweet.  I heat a stick of butter until it starts to turn a very light brown.  Then add Sage leaves, a little lemon juice and cook until the Sage starts to crisp.  After cooking the Ravioli in boiling water remove them and add them to the Butter/Sage sauce.  Plate the Ravioli and then add a good bit of Parmesan Cheese.  Be sure to remove the crispy Sage leaves and only leave a few for presentation.  

GIOVANNI RANA BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI

GIOVANNI RANA BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI IS THE BEST!

SIDE SALAD TO ACCOMPANY THE RAVIOLI

BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI WITH SAGE BUTTER SAUCE AND PARMESAN

PASTA PRIMA BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAGE RAVIOLI

PASTA PRIMA BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAGE RAVIOLI

DINNER AT HOME

Purchased the Pasta Prima Butternut Squash and Sage Ravioli at Costco remembering how good it was the last time we tried it.  Turns out the one we liked before was the Giovanni Rana brand.  Believe me there is a big difference.  The Giovanni Rana brand is far superior.  The Pasta Prima product has less Butternut Squash inside the pasta and far less flavor.  The quality control is also worse with Pasta Prima.  There were several Ravioli in the box that were completely empty.   Just plain pasta and no filling.  We found these Ravioli to be very bland.  The best part of the dish was the Butter, Shallot, Garlic, Sage and Thyme Sauce that I made.  Topped the pasta with fresh grated Parmesan Cheese and my sauce.  Delicious sauce but lack luster pasta.  I would not buy the Pasta Prima brand again but would not hesitate to buy the Giovanni Rana brand.  Here is how I made a terrific and easy sauce.  Sauteed one tablespoon butter and added shallots and garlic.  Cooked until slightly brown and then deglazed the pan with 1/4 cup of white wine.  When the wine reduced, I added 7 tablespoons of butter and melted until brown.  Added fresh Sage and Thyme and cooked for a couple of minutes.  This sauce is the bomb and would be great on any pasta.  Click the link below for my post on the Giovanni Rani Butternut Squash Ravioli.  It is a superior product.

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2013/01/giovanni-rana-butternut-squash-ravioli.html

GREAT LOOKING DISH

NOT MUCH FILLING IN THE RAVIOLI - SOME WERE COMPLETELY EMPTY

NOT MUCH FILLING OR FLAVOR 

GIOVANNI RANA BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI

 GIOVANNI RANA BUTTERNUT SQUASH RAVIOLI

FROM COSTCO

This is hands down one of the best pasta dishes you can buy in a store.  Our entire family and guests were amazed how good these little pillows of squash taste.  The pasta cooked up perfectly and the butternut squash filling was sweet and delicious.  I cooked the pasta for three minutes and then added the ravioli to a butter and sage sauce.  Topped with Parmesan Cheese and that was it.  Fantastic!  You can serve a small portion as an appetizer as we did one night, or serve as main dish.  This Ravioli is as good or better than anything I have ever had at an Italian restaurant. 

SERVED WITH BUTTER, SAGE AND PARMESAN CHEESE WITH SMALL SALAD ON THE SIDE