Description
Homemade ravioli sauce delivers rich Italian comfort in minutes. Cheese, herbs, and cream blend seamlessly, creating a classic sauce perfect for pasta lovers who crave authentic flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 oz refrigerated ravioli
- 10 oz Rotel tomatoes with green chilies, juices reserved
- 1.5 cups (360 ml) half and half
- 0.75 cup (180 ml) chicken broth
- 3 tbsps salted butter
- 3 tbsps cream cheese, softened
- 0.33 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 0.5 tsp onion powder
- 0.5 tsp dried basil
- 0.5 tsp dried oregano
- 0.5 tsp mustard powder
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Preparation: Gather and organize all ingredients and kitchen tools for efficient preparation.
- Butter Foundation: Melt unsalted butter in a spacious skillet over medium-low heat, creating a golden base for the sauce.
- Aromatic Infusion: Introduce minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, developing a rich flavor profile without browning.
- Roux Development: Dust all-purpose flour into the butter-garlic mixture, cooking briefly to eliminate raw flour taste and create a thickening agent.
- Spice Layering: Integrate tomato paste, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, and mustard powder, stirring to distribute flavors evenly.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually whisk in chicken broth and half-and-half, maintaining smooth consistency and preventing lumps.
- Sauce Dynamics: Elevate heat momentarily to trigger a gentle boil, then reduce to a controlled simmer for flavor melding.
- Creamy Transformation: Fold in cream cheese, allowing it to melt and create a luxurious, velvety texture.
- Tomato Incorporation: Add diced tomatoes, preserving juice for potential sauce adjustment.
- Cheese Finale: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese, stirring until fully integrated and sauce reaches desired consistency.
- Ravioli Embrace: Cook ravioli according to package instructions, then delicately fold into the sauce using a silicone spatula.
- Optional Heat: Garnish with red pepper flakes for a subtle spicy undertone, if desired.
- Serving Preparation: Plate immediately while sauce remains warm and luscious.
Notes
- Prep Like a Pro: Organize all ingredients and tools before starting to streamline your cooking process and reduce stress.
- Watch That Butter: Melt butter slowly over medium-low heat to prevent burning and develop rich, nutty undertones.
- Whisk with Purpose: Continuously whisk when adding broth and half-and-half to prevent lumpy sauce and ensure silky smoothness.
- Cheese Melting Magic: Add cream cheese and Parmesan gradually, stirring constantly to create a luxuriously creamy sauce without clumping.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Appetizer
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 335
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 706 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 59 mg