Thanksgiving with Decoy Wines: Pumpkin Ravioli & Goat Cheese Phyllo Bites

Written by Living the Gourmet, a trusted food and lifestyle site since 2008.

^{Thank you Decoy for sponsoring this post. Complete your own Thanksgiving tablescape with Decoy Wines this holiday season. Please enjoy responsibly.}

This Thanksgiving, we're reimagining the holiday table with a few seasonal favorites that blend comfort with sophistication. Our menu begins with Pumpkin Ravioli in Orange & Sage Butter Sauce, continues with Goat Cheese & Cranberry Phyllo Bites, and pairs beautifully with Decoy Wines for a warm, approachable celebration of fall flavors.

Change, as I've learned, can be the most delicious ingredient in tradition - especially when it leads to a new favorite like this pumpkin ravioli recipe, inspired by my family's original homemade pasta.

Read on for the full printable recipe, ingredient overview, and recipe notes. Let's get cooking!

The Perfect Ravioli

Sometimes what we perceive as 'perfect' is simply what we have become 'accustomed' to, or what we regard subconsciously as 'pleasant enough.' Add on fond memories, a touch of 'good old times syndrome,' and suddenly the 'strife' or 'unpleasantness' of coming up with something new and better simply doesn't appear to be worth the trouble. The adage, "why fix what isn't broken?" comes to mind.

To that point, I recall a professor of mine remarking, and I paraphrase from memory, that "If mankind were offered perfection, the whole of humanity would be united for a brief instant behind a single cause - to escape and destroy their collective perfection. The evolution of life, at its core," he continued, "is the constant overcoming, and adapting to, the strife that is inherent in an ever-changing planet. Unchanging perfection, therefore, invariably destroys itself via a slow descent into decay. Change cannot be escaped."

Now, why am I talking about this? Because I myself had a brush with 'change' recently, and the 'change' involved what I had considered to be my 'perfect' ravioli recipe.

Pumpkin Ravioli with Orange & Sage Sauce

To begin, my standard ravioli recipe is, of course, my mother's, and has more fond memories attached to it than I can possibly recount. Growing up, we had two types of ravioli, sweet and spicy, both of which were basically the same batch of ingredients, but with one having a dash of sugar and orange zest, and the other a generous helping of red pepper and, if we were feeling particularly adventurous, some diced friggitello with the seeds left in. Nevertheless, the base recipe remained the same, and is the one that I have, invariably, prepared over the years.

These 'perfect' ravioli could be served at virtually any large family gathering, but especially during the holidays. Naturally, when we were coming up with today's Thanksgiving spread, my daughter suggested that we do something a little different for the holiday, and her idea was a 'Thanksgiving-themed' ravioli, and that brings us to today's core recipe Pumpkin Ravioli with Orange and Sage Sauce.

Ingredient Checklist and Notes for Pumpkin Ravioli

All-purpose flour
Eggs
Water
Olive oil
Pumpkin puree
Parmesan Cheese
Garlic
Salt
Pepper
Ground nutmeg
Italian Parsley
Orange zest
Butter
Walnuts
Fresh sage

Key Ingredients

Fresh sage, butter, and orange zest for a bright, aromatic sauce
Pumpkin and ricotta filling with parmesan and nutmeg
Walnuts for texture and warmth

Serving Tips

Lightly pan-fry your ravioli in the butter sauce for 2 minutes per side until golden brown. Serve immediately with a sprinkle of parmesan and a glass of Decoy Red.

A Bite Sized Delight

A holiday starter that combines tangy goat cheese with sweet cranberry sauce and crisp phyllo shells is just what your Thanksgiving menu needs. These bites look elegant but come together effortlessly.

Key Ingredients:

Goat cheese
Fresh sage
Salt
Pepper
Heavy cream
Fresh cranberries
Sugar
Water
Orange peel

Recipe Tips

Goat Cheese and Cream Cheese: Opt for just goat cheese if you want the full tang. If you happen not to like goat cheese, cream cheese has a milder profile and mellows the tang.
Homemade Cranberry Sauce: If you ever have the option, homemade is always the way to go. Our cranberry-orange sauce adds so much brightness to these bite-sized cups. The fresh cranberries and orange slices create a natural jammy glaze.
Add Texture: Candied pecans add a little extra sweetness to balance the tartness of the cheese and cranberries, but they also add extra crunch.
Keep It Crispy: Speaking of crunch, keep filo shells crisp by filling just before serving.

🥂 A Toast to Change and to Thanksgiving Traditions Reimagined

Naturally, this 'Perfectly Autumn' spread almost demands that you find your perfect wine pairing, and a particular label came to mind almost immediately, and if you're a regular here you'll likely recognize them from last month's Beef Bourgeon- Decoy by Duckhorn.

As I've said many times before in my wine reviews and pairings, the 'perfect pairing' is one that elevates and complements the occasion and the meal, rather than overpower or dominate it, and that's precisely what we're looking to do here today.

The Wines

Decoy Sonoma County Red Wine is a merlot led blend of zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, petite sirah, and petit verdot. The wine introduces itself with toasted oak dominated aromatics laced with blackberry and cherry essences, with hints of cassis deeper into the glass. On the palate, the profile is a patchwork of ripe dark fruits, laced in spiced caramel, which are carried on lush tannins, ending off on a pleasantly textured, lasting finish.
Decoy Pinot Noir greets with currant and ripe cherry essences, set against a backdrop of what I'll describe either as earthy dried leaves or antique cedar. It's a surprisingly, and pleasantly, clashing aromatic profile. On the palate, blackberry and red fruit essences dominate, tempered by a notable acidity, and a very pleasantly textured finish.

Wine Tip: When pairing for Thanksgiving, choose wines that complement rather than compete - ones that elevate your meal's natural warmth and spice.

Thanksgiving Pairing Notes

Decoy Sonoma County Red Wine: For pairing, the phrase that comes to mind on sampling this is 'easy drinking' - even though I honestly hate that phrase, but it nevertheless is an apt description. Herbal notes will excellently complement the oak notes in the wine's aromatics, while deep, savory, and substantial dishes will pair well with the dark fruit flavors off the palate. In other words, think herbed roasts, pasta entrees, or even a decent burger. The herbal butter and citrus zest in our Pumpkin Ravioli bring out the wine's richness and earthy undertones.
Decoy Pinot Noir: While the textbook pinot noir pairings, such as braised duck, fatty fish, or game fowl would serve excellently, I personally think that this particular bottle is all but pleading to paired with savory, substantial starters - simply because of how 'accessible' or 'easy' this particular wine feels and tastes on drinking. Cured meats, caponata on crusty bread, or Goat Cheese & Cranberry Filo Bites, where the creamy filling and bright cranberries mirror the wine's acidity and depth.
Finish with Dessert: A light Caramel Pumpkin Flan or Basque Apple Tart complements either wine perfectly.

Hosting Tip: Serve wines slightly below room temperature (around 60°F for reds) to highlight their fruit-forward notes.

Pumpkin Ravioli and Goat Cheese Phyllo Bites

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Author: Living the Gourmet
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 2 dozen ravioli 1x

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Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Ravioli dough:

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 eggs
1/2 cup water*
2-3 tablespoons olive oil

For the Pumpkin Filling:

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup ricotta cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, grated
1 egg
Salt and pepper, to taste
Pinch of finely grated nutmeg
3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 teaspoon orange zest

For the Orange & Sage Sauce:

4 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
4-6 leaves fresh sage
1 teaspoon orange zest or rind of 1/4 orange
Salt and pepper, to taste

Goat Cheese & Cranberry Filo Bites

12 oz. bag of fresh cranberries
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of water
2-3 slices of orange with skin
4 oz. goat cheese, 4 oz of cream cheese (or you may substitute 8 oz. of cream cheese for the goat cheese)
3 fresh sage leaves, stems removed
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
4 tbs. heavy cream
Phyllo shells
Candied pecans, for topping

Instructions

For the Ravioli:

Make a well in the middle of the flour and crack your eggs into the center. Add olive oil and whisk carefully with a fork. As you incorporate the flour, gradually add water one spoonful at a time until a soft dough comes together. Note you may need to add more water and that is fine.
Form the dough into a disk and rub a little oil over it. Wrap in clingfilm and set aside to rest while preparing the pumpkin filling.

For the Pumpkin Filling & Orange & Sage Sauce:

In the bowl of your food processor, combine all the ingredients for the pumpkin filling and blend until smooth and creamy.
Divide your ravioli dough into quarters, and then in half. Shape each piece of divided dough into a ball. NOTE: as you work one dough, make sure to keep the others covered in the oiled clingfilm to keep the dough from drying.
Roll out the dough onto a well-floured surface until about 1/8-inch thick. You should be able to see your hands through it. Using a ravioli cutter or pasta wheel, slice your dough into squares about 1.5 inches. If you want your ravioli a little larger, you can cut them to fit your preference.
Drop about 1/4 pumpkin filling into the center of each square then fold over and cover. Press the edges of each ravioli then pinch with a fork to ensure they are sealed. Transfer your ravioli to a lightly floured baking tray.
Once you are finished, bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Drop in your ravioli and wait until they float to the top. Once they are done, carefully transfer them to a plate.
For the sauce, simply melt the butter with the oil. Add in the walnuts, salt, and pepper. As the butter begins to bubble and brown add in the sage leaves and orange rind. Then give your ravioli a quick fry until they get a little golden, about 2 minutes each side.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

For the Goat Cheese & Cranberry Filo Bites:

Place cranberries, orange slices, water and sugar in a saucepan; cover and bring to a boil for a minute or two; uncover and let sit to thicken.
Fill each phyllo cup with a teaspoon of the goat cheese mixture.
Top with a small dollop of fresh cranberry sauce and place a candied pecan on top.
Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4-6

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Thanksgiving is a celebration of warmth, gratitude, and sharing something special. Whether it's the familiar comfort of pumpkin or the elegance of a Decoy pour, this menu brings together flavor, family, and a touch of something new.

From our kitchen to yours, we wish you all a blessed holiday season!

Thanksgiving with Decoy Wines: Pumpkin Ravioli & Goat Cheese Phyllo Bites

The Perfect Ravioli