Trader Joe's Ricotta and Lemon Zest Ravioli

If you buy fresh pasta from Trader Joe's, you might have noticed they've updated the packaging on most of the ravioli products. They are now brightly colored. This means one of two things: either they've changed the product or they've only just updated the packaging.

Taste

In this case, they've altered the name from previous years. They've dropped the name "Girasoli" and added the word ravioli. But overall, the taste seems pretty spot on from previous years.

Girasoli in Italian translates roughly to sunflowers. Based on the ingredients lists, there is nothing sunflower-related. It's clearly a commentary on the shape of these as they look the most homemade of all the stuffed pasta shapes available. To me, these were closest to a ravioli that looks like it was closed with a fork.

For $2.99 there are three portions in the box, but realistically, I would say there are two servings here.

Cooking couldn't be easier. The pasta was tender in about 3 minutes. The filling on any ravioli is truly the star here. It's very simple: ricotta, lemon zest, breadcrumbs, and salt. The filling is extremely smooth. There is some extra texture here from the zest, but nothing that was overwhelming. It's easy to go overboard with lemon zest, but this has a good balance to it.

When you use the zest, you get lemon flavor minus the acidity. If you are ever cooking and you want the acidity, add lemon juice. Just a little kitchen tip from me to you.

As far as a sauce, the box suggests keeping it simple. I tend to disagree. Any sauce that would play well with lemon would work here. I would say try it plain to start and use your best judgment. I can see a pesto working with this pasta or try my recipe Lemon Cream Sauce with Shallots and Capers. If the recipe works with lemon, it should work with this.

Overall

The timing was correct on the package leading to tender and delicious bites with just enough lemony brightness to the flavor.

Would I buy this again?  Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Ricotta and Lemon Zest Ravioli. This flavor has been hard to come by. In Trader Joe's that's usually a good sign. If it's hard to find, it's probably good.

Visual rundown

The box of Trader Joe's Ricotta and Lemon Zest Ravioli:

Calories and ingredient

Directions

The finished and fully cooked product:

Previous Product Prior to 2019

The box Trader Joe's Girasoli Ricotta and Lemon Zest with the cooking directions at the bottom:

The nutritional information and the ingredients:

The Bottom Line

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Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!

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