Meatball and spinach ravioli bake

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meatball and spinach ravioli bake recipe

This recipe excited me because I’ve wanted to make it for a while. It also involves pasta, so nothing is better than that. Initially, I conceptualized it being with tortellini, but good fresh-filled tortellini is difficult to come by in South Africa, so ravioli – a much more common variant is. I’ve combined fabulous things to make this dish. Spinach and ricotta ravioli, a homemade Italian tomato sauce, meatballs and buffalo mozzarella. These are all cooked separately and then brought together in a large skillet like a marriage made in heaven and baked. I also added some Parmesan because obvs.

meatball and spinach ravioli bake

We are just waving goodbye to winter here in the Southern Hemisphere so that also means saying cheerio to all the rich comforting food. It’s definitely time to make way for lighter and healthier summer-inspired dishes. 

meatball and spinach ravioli bake

So I relished and enjoyed this delicious ravioli and meatball bake like it was my final meal. I’m waving goodbye to my most beloved pasta for a while (well as much as I possibly can). I’ve used a good quality shop-bought fresh pasta ravioli as this is more convenient, but you can, of course, make your own. 

meatball and spinach ravioli bake
meatball and spinach ravioli bake

I’ve used 250gms as this is the quantity it is sold in, but I think around 350 or 400gms would be better in terms of getting the pasta/ meatball to sauce ratio spot on. You can of course use any short noodle if you can’t get hold of a filled pasta pocket.

Enjoy!

meatball and spinach ravioli bake

A few of my other favourite pasta dishes:

Recipe – serves 2 – 4 depending on appetite size and level of greed

spinach & ricotta cannelloni bake

spaghetti meatballs

pasta with broccoli, anchovies, and garlic

Creamy chicken with ravioli & spinach

Meatball and spinach ravioli bake

 Spaghetti and meatballs

Chicken meatballs with spaghetti

Tortellini with Italian sausage meatball bake

Meatball and spinach ravioli bake

My best pasta recipes

Meatball and spinach ravioli bake

A comforting and easy finner made with store-bought ravioli, meatballs and spinach covered in cheese.
Print Recipe
meatball and spinach ravioli bake recipe
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 250 gms – 400gms spinach and ricotta filled ravioli shop-bought
  • 150 g net weight ball of buffalo mozzarella (fior di latte)
  • Parmesan to grate over and serve – as much as you like
  • 3 – 4 Tbsp olive oil to fry the meatballs
  • Fresh basil leaves as garnish optional

Tomato sauce:

  • 1 small red onion or half a large finely chopped
  • 3 T olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 tins of peeled tomatoes
  • ¼ cup dry white wine or 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar and ¼ cup water
  • 1 small stock cube crumbled (chicken or vegetable)
  • a good pinch of dried chilli flakes or two
  • 6-8 basil leaves chopped
  • Splash or Worcestershire sauce optional
  • Salt and pepper

Meatballs:

  • 2 garlic cloves crushed
  • 500 g free-range lean beef mince
  • 60 g dried breadcrumbs
  • 10 g parsley finely chopped (about 2 ½ tablespoons after chopped)
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • salt & pepper a good few pinches
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  •  

Instructions

  • Heat a non-stick frying pan and add the olive oil.
  • Fry the onions over low heat until softened. Add the garlic and briefly cook. Add the wine to deglaze the pan and then add the tomatoes, stock cube, chilli and basil and cook until the sauce has thickened. Add a splash of water if it gets too thick. I normally cook this for around 25 minutes and while the oven is heating up.
  • Preheat the oven to 180C / 350 F
  • While the sauce is on the go, mix all the meatball ingredients (mince, garlic, breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper and tomato paste) together – hands are best for this job, and roll into small to medium-sized meatballs.
  • Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan and fry the meatballs until they turn brown on all sides. They may still be a bit raw in the middle but this is fine. 
  • Bring a large pot of salty water to the boil and cook the ravioli for 3 minutes until just below al dente. Drian and set aside.
  • When all of the above are done, combine the meatballs and ravioli in the ovenproof skillet with the tomato sauce. Tear the ball of mozzarella into small shreds and scatter over the surface. Grate over some Parmesan cheese and bake for 20 minutes.

Notes

The tomato sauce can be made in advance.
Leftovers can be frozen and reheated.
Author: Sam Linsell

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9 Comments

  1. Hello!!!

    I am making this this weekend. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. thebrickkitchen says:

    You are going to have such an amazing time in Vietnam! I was there in june (did a post on favourite street food places in Saigon if you are interested at all for when you’re there) and the food was incredible. The vibrancy of the markets, the people, the constant noise – I loved it. AND this pasta bake looks like something I need to make soon – stunning photos too.

  3. We are looking forward to some sun here in South Australia too, although I suppose it won’t be too long before it gets too hot …
    You’ll love Vietnam – the people and the food are both wonderful.

  4. Thanks Amanada, I saaw on FB that friends in Sydney were swimming over the week end. I cant wait for Vietnam, Im already making lists of what I HAVE to eat.
    Sam

  5. HI. Im just looking at it now and what a fantastic blog. Congrats on your Saveur Award too :). Lovely to see a NZ blogger. Im so going to spend some time on it. Thanks for the comment. Sam

  6. Joyce Warner says:

    Excuse me – American here: This sounds VERY yummy! How much ravioli (weight) is that in ounces/pounds? I might have to make this for supper!

  7. Hi Joyce – its between 8 – 12 ounces. Enjoy!

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