
Pan-seared ravioli with sage butter is a classic Italian pasta dish featuring delicate, filled pasta pockets crisped in a pan and tossed in a nutty, aromatic brown butter sauce infused with fresh sage leaves. The ravioli can be filled with a variety of ingredients, most traditionally ricotta cheese and spinach, and the sauce is a simple yet elegant combination of butter, sage, and often a touch of Parmesan. It hails from the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, the heartland of fresh pasta.
This dish is high in carbohydrates from the pasta and fat from the generous amount of butter in the sauce, with a moderate amount of protein from the cheese filling and any added Parmesan. A typical serving provides a good source of calcium and phosphorus from the dairy, and a rough calorie estimate is between 500-700 calories per serving, depending on the size of the ravioli and the richness of the sauce.
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 18 g |
| Carbs | 42 g |
| Fat | 24 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 680 mg |
| Potassium | 250 mg |
| Iron | 3.2 mg |
| Calcium | 180 mg |
| Vitamin A | 150 µg |
| Vitamin C | 4 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.8 µg |
| Phosphorus | 220 mg |
| Selenium | 22 µg |
Per 1 serving (about 240 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
Culturally, this dish showcases the Italian principle of 'cucina povera' (poor kitchen), transforming simple, humble ingredients like butter and sage into a luxurious and flavorful sauce through technique. Nutritionally, the sage not only adds a distinctive, earthy flavor but also contains antioxidants and has been traditionally used to aid digestion, which can help balance the richness of the butter.