Fresh Mozzarella-stuffed Caramelle Pasta

Total Time: 40 mins Preparation Time: 35 mins Cook Time: 5 mins

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons water
• 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 26 ounces marinara sauce (optional)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted

Recipe

• 1 in a medium mixing bowl, combine salt and flour creating a well in the center. add the slightly beaten eggs and mix. mixture should form a stiff dough, but the addition of the water may be necessary.
• 2 lightly flour a surface and knead dough for 5 minutes. (i use the dough hook on my kitchenaid mixer to do all of the above.).
• 3 with a pasta machine or rolling pin, roll the dough 1/8" thickness (very thin, but not too thin to hold the mozzarella.) cut into 25 small rectangles.
• 4 brush each rectangle with melted butter. place one cube of mozzarella into the center of each rectangle. fold over the long edges and pinch together.
• 5 pinch the ends together close to the mozzarella and give each end a twist. each mozzarella packet should look like a rolled up taffy. set aside until all of the pastas are made.
• 6 meanwhile, bring 4 quarts of salted water to a boil.
• 7 once the pastas are ready, boil in batches of 5 caramelles until they float back to the surface (about 3-4 minutes.) remove to a warmed serving bowl. complete the cooking and finish pasta with some melted butter and garlic sprinkled with parmesan or with some marinara and a sprinkle of fresh basil.