Pea, Bacon and Yolk Ravioli with B-well oil pesto

A friend of mine joked saying what am I going to say about an oil in a post, well chefs love any new product and this was a gift from B-well, it is a new range of oils endorsed by CANSA and the Heart and stroke foundation. I can by no means guarantee its health benefits but what I do know is that you should not fry pure extra virgin olive oil and I myself cook with a blend daily.

This oil has a very high ratio of olive oil in the blend and uses best quality olives and canola seeds, adding the other oils raises the smoke point of the oil allowing for use while frying and with a high enough olive ratio it can be drizzled on salads and used in marinades too.

They running a competition on their website and Facebook page where you can upload a recipe using the product with great prizes to win. Below is my B-well recipe.

Pea, Bacon and Yolk Ravioli with B-well oil pesto

serves 2

I chose this recipe as it uses the oil raw and cooked and as a flavour agent in the pesto, it did a great job, the bottle is made with an easy pour top and the olive taste was not too overpowering. I have also had a ravioli craving for ages now so today was a good time to try the oil and cure my craving. Enjoy my dish with a nice woody Chardonnay on this wintry day.

Pasta dough

Serves 2

200g 00flour or cake flour

2 eggs

pinch of salt

1 tsp B-well Extra Virgin Olive and Canola oil

Place the flour in a bowl, mix in the salt, make a well in the centre, add the eggs and the oil.

Mix together starting in the centre until combined, knead until smooth only adding flour if necessary.

Cover and allow to rest while the filling is being made.

Once rested , roll out using a pasta machine going from the thickest setting to the second last setting.

lay on a floured surface.

Using the filling below, place teaspoons full along the bottom half of the pasta sheet with 2.5cm intervals in between, brush between with egg and fold the top half down over the fillings. Use your hands to gently work the air bubble out from around each mound of filling, cut square or round, rest.

I made one with an egg yolk resting in the pea puree which was delicious but optional and expensive.

Bring a pot of salted water to a simmer and blanch the ravioli for 4-5 minutes. Strain.

Serve with your choice of sauce or try my pesto below.

Pea and Parmesan filling

Serves 2

1/2 onion finely chopped

1 garlic clove chopped

10ml B-well Extra Virgin Olive and Canola oil

1.5 cups of frozen peas

2 tbsp grated Parmesan

salt and pepper

squeeze of lemon juice

1/2 packet streaky bacon

Fry the garlic and onion gently in a pan with the oil until softened.

Pour 2 cups of boiling water over the peas, when soft strain and cool with icy water to keep the green colour, strain.

Blend everything together with a hand blender and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate until ready.

Fry the pieces of bacon until crisp and use when plating.

Herb Pesto with sunflower seeds

Serves 2

1 big handful of mixed herbs, I used mainly parsley and basil with a little dill and mint

15ml sunflower seeds toasted

20ml grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 piece of garlic

35ml B-well Extra Virgin Olive and Canola oil

Salt and pepper

Squeeze of lemon

Blend with a hand blender adding the oil slowly while mixing, adjust seasoning.

To Assemble

Place on a plate, top with pesto, plain blanched peas, Parmesan shavings, crispy bacon and baby fine herbs. Drizzle with B-well Extra Virgin Olive and Canola oil.

This recipe may be made vegetarian by omitting the bacon and I would add danish feta for a salty taste.

Recipe and pictures copyright by Tamsyn Wells