Spinach & ricotta rotolo

• spinach↗1kg kg
• garlic clove↗1

  finely sliced

• butter↗50g g
• chopped marjoram2 tsp tsp

  or oregano

• ricotta↗500g g
• parmesan↗50g g

  (or vegetarian alternative), grated, plus a little extra to serve

• quantity Theo's pasta dough½

  (see tip below)

• good-quality olive oil↗

  for drizzling

• olive oil↗2 tbsp tbsp
• garlic clove↗1

  finely sliced

• x 400g can chopped tomatoes1
• a pasta machine

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Begin by making the Simple tomato sauce, heat the olive oil in a saucepan, add the garlic clove and cook until just softened. Add the chopped tomatoes and season. Cook slowly for 25 mins, stirring now and then, until very thick. Do this a day or two ahead of assembling the rotolo, or freeze it for up to 2 months.

2. 2

   Wilt the spinach in a pan over a medium heat, then leave to cool. Squeeze well to remove the excess water, then roughly chop the spinach. Season and leave to cool completely.

3. 3

   Gently fry the garlic in the butter until softened, then remove from the heat and add the marjoram. Tip into a bowl and add the spinach, ricotta and Parmesan.

4. 4

   Roll out the pasta (see step-by-step images). Cut the sheets into 3 or 4 pieces, each roughly 40cm long, and place them on a white tea towel. Using a little water and a pastry brush, stick the sheets together, allowing a 1cm overlap.

5. 5

   Using a spatula, spread the filling over the pasta as evenly as possible, leaving a 1cm border around the edge.

6. 6

   Fold over the edge of the pasta nearest to you and, using the tea towel and the weight of the pasta, roll it away from you like you would a Swiss roll.

7. 7

   Brush the open edge of the pasta with a little water and press together to seal.

8. 8

   Wrap the pasta roll tightly in the tea towel and tie a piece of string round it every 10cm or so (or use a butcher’s knot – see step-by-step images). Tie the ends with string to secure them, leaving a long piece of string at each end to act as a handle.

9. 9

   Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil (a fish kettle is ideal, but a deep roasting tin filled with water works well too) and cook the rotolo for 20 mins. Remove from the water and leave to cool. Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5.

10. 10

    Gently unwrap the rotolo and cut it into 3cm slices. Arrange the slices in a baking dish. Spoon over the Simple tomato sauce, sprinkle with Parmesan and drizzle with a little olive oil. Bake for 15 mins until the pasta is hot and crisping around the edges.