Maultaschen
I didn’t have much of an idea of what to prepare for this month along German fusion lines. So I decided to try German/Italian. As I was perusing the internet, I found a recipe for the German version of Ravioli (target,) and thought I’d give it a whirl. Essentially, egg noodle dough combined with German influenced-flavors like mustard, bacon, and marjoram. According to story, this dish was, in part, formed so that the Swabians could keep eating meat during Lent (resulting from concealment amidst the spinach.)
Ingredient List
2 2/3 cup flour
½ teaspoon salt
3 egg yolks (plus about 1 egg white…fail.
)
1 egg yolk
1 Tablespoon EV Olive Oil
Water as required to form dough
3 slices bacon
½ cup onion
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 slices Italian bread (old) soaked (2 Tablespoon water)
½ Package thawed frozen spinach, squeezed/chopped
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon Yellow/Green 7 Pod flakes/powder
¼ teaspoon dried thyme
¼ teaspoon dried marjoram
Ground beef as required
¼ teaspoon salt
Ground black pepper as required
2 cubes Beef Bullion
Saucepan of water
Dough (credit to the internet):
- Mix flour, egg yolks, salt, olive oil, and water to make dough. Knead dough for a few minutes, then pour some canola oil into a bowl; place dough inside. Cover dough with saran wrap, then let sit for about one hour.
- When ready to prepare Maultaschen (Meat Pocket,) remove dough from bowl and place on floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll dough very flat. After filling has been prepared (and placed on the rolled out dough,) use a sharp knife to cut some straight lines across the dough between the filling mounds. In addition, cut a line in the opposite direction between the filling.
- Using an egg yolk, brush egg around the outer parts of each Maultaschen-so that when the dough is folded over the top: dough will stick.
- When beef broth is heated, fold dough over filling and pinch edges closed. Carefully place maultaschen in liquid to cook for 15 minutes.
- Garnish with Parsley when ready. Serve in beef broth.
Meat filling (credit to the internet):
- Places three pieces of bacon into a skillet. Allow them to cook thoroughly. Remove bacon from the pan. Chop bacon up into pieces. Set aside-leaving bacon residue in pan.
- Slice up about ½ cup of onion into small pieces, then toss them in the skillet with the leftover bacon residue. Allow them to brown nicely, then remove and set aside.
- Take prepared ground beef, and add it to a mixing bowl. Add cooked bacon, onions, and old Italian bread that has been slightly soaked in water.
- Chop up ½ package de-thawed spinach; add to mixing bowl.
- Prepare a quantity of mustard in a bowl (I used Dijon) mixed with ¼ teaspoon of 7 pod powder. Add about one tablespoon to mixture.
- Add to the aforementioned ¼ teaspoon dried thyme, ¼ teaspoon marjoram, 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder, and ground pepper as required.
- Add one egg yolk.
- Mix ingredients well, then refrigerate until needed.
- When ready to prepare maultaschen, form filling into small balls with hands or spoon-and place on rolled out dough.
Beef Broth (guess work)
- Add some water to a pan, and add cubes of beef Bullion as required. Allow mixture to heat well.
- When ready to cook, place prepared maultaschen in beef broth and cook for 15 minutes.
- Save some beef broth for serving.