Celebratory pasta dish; Caramelized onions, blue cheese and such

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Butternut squash ravioli, melted blue cheese, caramelized onions, baby arugula and prosciutto

This dish is exactly as the title says...




This was a fun dish that I had a base idea for and then created as I went (well, as I went through my parents' refrigerator!)








Very very simply, I made fresh butternut squash ravioli, then mixed in blue cheese so the hot pasta melted it. I mixed in fresh baby arugula. I made caramelized onions, mixed that in and then topped with lightly pan-toasted prosciutto 


Order of operations:
  • Caramelized onions:
    • *cheat:(15-20minutes) Chop the onions  in sloppy 2-3" long by 1/8" slices and place them in a medium-hot pan with a dash of olive oil. 
      • After about 8 minutes, you will see the onions begin to brown. Pour in your REAL maple syrup and let simmer until the onions are uniformly brown and translucent. (I suggest you use the "by taste" method)
    • LONG WAY AROUND (45 minutes): If you have plenty of time, repeat step 1 of the above instructions, but instead of adding your maple syrup, you will allot about 45 minutes on a low simmer and stir occasionally.
  • Pan-toasted Prosciutto:
    • While the water for the pasta is heating to a boil, warm a non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Once the pan is heated, place the prosciutto in flat, single layers in the pan. 
    • The meat is very thin and will overcook very easily. I suggest flipping the slices over after about 15 seconds each-- you can always add more time.
    • As your pieces are done "toasting," place them to the side, on a cutting board to cool down and turn crisp.
    • Once cooled down chop or crush into 1-3" pieces (or to the size that suits your aesthetic preferences)
  • Ravioli:
    • The water takes longer to boil than the ravioli takes to cook-- plan on 3-5 minutes for cook time. 
    • Strain and place in a mixing bowl
    • Pour in your blue cheese and gently mix in, so you do not break open the ravioli
  • Once the blue cheese has been mixed into your pasta has, gently mix in the caramelized onions, followed by the baby arugula. 
    • Serve and garnish with the prosciutto 



Shopping list:
  • 2 packages fresh butternut squash ravioli
  • 2 medium sweet onions
  • 1/4 cup REAL maple syrup*
    • *(this is the cheat to caramelize the onions quickly if you spending a lot of time caramelizing the onions on their own.)
  • 1 cup (or two handfuls) fresh baby arugula
  • 1/8LB fresh prosciutto (I like to get mine at the deli counter, freshly sliced)
  • 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese











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