Sweet Potato Ravioli With Brown Butter Pecan Sauce Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/5/22
Tested by
Laura Manzano
laura manzano
Tested by Laura Manzano
Laura Manzano is a freelance food stylist, recipe developer, and writer living in Brooklyn, New York. Her favorite food is all sandwiches.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Sweet Potato Ravioli with Brown Butter Pecan Sauce

bhofack2 / Getty Images
Prep: 90 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 110 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 3 to 3 1/2 dozen ravioli
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1067 Calories
58g Fat
106g Carbs
32g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1067
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 58g 74%
Saturated Fat 27g 136%
Cholesterol 432mg 144%
Sodium 840mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 106g 39%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 18g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 11mg 56%
Calcium 367mg 28%
Iron 7mg 40%
Potassium 612mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

A little thyme flavors the sweet potato and ricotta filling in these homemade ravioli, and the brown butter and pecan sauce makes them extra-special. A creamy Parmesan sauce would be nice on these as well.

"It's amazing to me how just a little effort can transform a few humble ingredients into a truly sophisticated dish. These ravioli reminded me how fun and easy it is to make your own pasta at home, and how fancy you'll feel while eating them!" —Laura Manzano

Sweet Potato Ravioli W/Butter Pecan Sauce/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Pasta:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour, more as needed

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon olive oil

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the Filling:

  • 2 cups cooked mashed sweet potato

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese

  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, more for serving

  • 1 large egg yolk

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 large egg, whisked with 2 teaspoons water for sealing the ravioli

For the Brown Butter Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup (4-ounces) unsalted butter

  • 1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, or about 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more for the pasta water

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the pasta dough ingredients.

  2. On a clean flat surface, mound the flour. Make a deep well in the center of the flour and add the eggs, oil, and salt.

  3. Working with a fork from the center of the well outward, mix the eggs, oil, and salt into the flour a little at a time. Try to keep the mound intact as you mix so the eggs won't flow out until you have a kneadable dough.

  4. Knead the dough, continuing to add a little more flour, if needed. Dampen your hands with water as you knead if your dough is too dry and stiff. The dough should have a smooth, firm, elastic texture, similar to Play-Doh. Kneading should take about 10 minutes. A slight finger indent in the dough should bounce back pretty quickly.

  5. Wrap the dough in plastic and let sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax, which will make it easier to roll. Meanwhile, prepare the filling.

Prepare the Filling

  1. Gather the filling ingredients.

  2. Combine the sweet potatoes, ricotta, Parmesan, egg yolk, thyme, salt, and pepper. Refrigerate, covered, while you roll the dough.

Assemble and Cook the Ravioli

  1. Divide the dough into quarters. Working one piece at a time (cover the remaining 3 pieces), use a pasta roller to roll pasta sheets, about 6-inches wide x 36-inches long. Be sure to keep dusting the pasta and the pasta rollers lightly with flour as you work to prevent sticking. Roll the remaining dough into sheets, keeping them covered with a damp kitchen towel until ready to use.

  2. If you're using a ravioli form, dust it with flour first or the dough will stick. Follow manufacturer's directions for forming the ravioli. Mound about 2 to 3 teaspoons of filling in the center of each ravioli. Alternatively, if you don't have a ravioli form, fill dough sheets on a flat surface.

  3. Dab a little of the egg wash along the dough edges around each ravioli before placing second dough sheet over the filled sheet. Separate individual ravioli following ravioli form directions, or with a cookie cutter or pastry wheel.

  4. If using right away, cook in a large pot of well salted gently boiling water until al dente, about 2 to 3 minutes. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water for the sauce. Drain well.

  5.  If not cooking right away, spread the uncooked ravioli on a flour-dusted baking sheet and freeze in a single layer. Put into freezer bags and keep frozen until ready to cook.

Prepare the Brown Butter Sauce 

  1. Melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet. When the butter foams, add the pecans. Cook, stirring constantly until the butter is browned and aromatic, and the pecans are lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Don't let the mixture cook past light brown or it could burn.

  2. Stir in the thyme, salt, and pepper.

  3. Add the cooked ravioli to the skillet and toss to coat until just heated through. Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time until the sauce reaches desired consistency. Adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve immediately with more grated cheese on the side, if desired.