Monday 4 November 2013

Pumpkin and Spinach Rotolo













I wrapped pumpkin and spinach in a blanket of pasta and fed it some tomato sauce. Then I wrapped myself in an actual blanket and fed myself some pumpkin and spinach wrapped in a blanket of pasta. Some days are just like that.



Pumpkin and Spinach Rotolo
adapted from Jamie Oliver's Save with Jamie
Serves 4 - 6

1 kg pumpkin, cut into wedges ( I used a Naranka Gold)
1 red onion, finely chopped
olive oil
1 spring of thyme, leaves picked
500g frozen spinach
1 whole nutmeg, for grating
4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely sliced
700ml tomato passata
6 fresh pasta sheets, measuring approx. 15cm x 20cm each (I made my own pasta dough, recipe here)
50g goats cheese
20g Parmesan cheese, finely grated

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C.

Put the pumpkin wedges, skin side down, onto a baking sheet and bake in the oven for about 45 minutes, until tender. Remove from the oven, set aside until cool enough to handle. Scrape the flesh from the skin and mash the flesh with a fork until smooth. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.Set aside. Turn the oven temperature to 180 degrees C.

Heat some olive oil in a frying pan over medium-low heat and add the red onion. Add the thyme and a pinch of salt and saute for about 10 minutes, until the onion is soft. Add the frozen spinach, cover with a lid and allow to cook for 15 minutes, until the liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat, season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and allow to cool.

Heat some oil in a shallow 28cm casserole pan on medium heat. Add the garlic and fry until just starting to turn golden. Pour in the passata and add about 1/2 cup water. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Lay the pasta sheets out on a work surface. Divide and spread the pumpkin puree over the pasta. Sprinkle over the cooked spinach and dot with dollops of goats cheese. Roll up the sheets and cut each roll into four pieces.. Place them side by side in the tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan and bake for 35 - 40 minutes until hot and bubbling and golden on top.




11 comments:

  1. I'll take the whole pan, please.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful looking dish. I would never imagine pumpkin with a tomato sauce either!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much Patty. The Italians often pair tomatoes and pumpkin (the Thai's do too on some of their curries). The sweetness of the pumpkin cuts the acidity of the tomatoes.

      Delete
  3. Wrapped, wrapped and wrapped! Love it. It's really original and it gives me lots of ideas :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Gabrielle. You've got to love a meal that's all wrapped up in neat little bundles, right?

      Delete
  4. I want to stick my whole face in to that! And of course you made your own pasta. You are a rockstar!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha Maria. You and me both with the face plant.

      Delete
  5. And you've done it again.... genius in a dish. This looks amazingly delicious. I am a huge fan of pasta but my laziness often puts me off doing dishes like this one. Hm, can I come over? I'll bring the wine!

    ReplyDelete