Ravioli with Spring Vegetable Purée

1. Prepare white sauce and set aside (recipe below).

2. Snap asparagus spears and discard tough ends. Roughly chop stalks and tips and set aside. Break off tough outer leaves of artichoke and discard. Slice off top two-thirds of remaining leaves and trim edges. Cut artichoke into quarters and, using paring knife, cut away fuzzy choke. Roughly chop artichoke.

3. In large saucepan, combine asparagus, artichoke, scallions, potato, 1 Tbs. butter, parsley, thyme, salt and 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to low, partially cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 25 minutes. Add peas and cook until tender, about 3 minutes. The water should be evaporated by this time.

4. Transfer vegetable mixture to food processor or food mill and purée until smooth. Stir in additional butter to taste and season with salt and pepper. Purée should not be watery. If it is, return to saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until excess moisture cooks away. Cool completely.

5. Lightly dust baking sheet with flour. Lay 16 wonton skins on work surface. Pile 2 tsp. filling in center of each square. Using pastry brush dipped in water, paint thin film of water around edge of each wonton square. Lay second square on top and gently stretch it over filling. Press edges together tightly, forcing out all air, then run ravioli crimper around edges to seal tightly. Place on prepared baking sheet. (If holding for more than 1 hour, cover with plastic wrap; chill until ready to cook.)

6. To cook ravioli, bring large saucepan of lightly salted water to boil over high heat. Adjust heat so water is at a gentle boil. Add ravioli and cook until they float to surface (taste test), 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, rewarm white sauce. Using slotted spoon, lift out ravioli, add to sauce, and move pan back and forth to coat. Serve with a sprinkling of pepper, basil and Parmesan.

Aromatic White Sauce:

This herb-scented béchamel sauce is a lighter but luscious alternative to rich cream sauce. Though thickened with flour, it has the texture of cream, and when cooked the full length of time it shouldn’t have a floury taste. Always prepare this sauce before making the ravioli so the herb flavors have a chance to infuse.

1. In small saucepan, combine milk, onion, peppercorns, parsley, bay leaf and thyme. Slowly heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed.

2. Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Whisk in warm milk mixture and pinch of salt and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 25 minutes. Add more salt if needed and nutmeg. Strain through a fine-meshed sieve before using.