I have been a chef in fine dining for years, but I learned this recipe in one the first sous chef positions I had at an old Italian restaurant. I like this recipe because it's fast, kid friendly, and I have found from fine dining to southern cooking, everyone loves this recipe because everyone loves fried foods and pasta.
The number one reason I love this recipe is because you can go all natural by making your own sauces or even pasta or you can go the economical and fast method by using frozen/ready made sauces.
Go to your local grocery store, head to the frozen food section, and find frozen ravioli. I love this recipe because you can choose if you want all veggies or a seafood route. Do not use canned ravioli. For best results, thaw the ravioli 1-2 hours before frying
If you have a fryer of some sort, fry until the ravioli floats. If you are like me, with frying pan in hand, use about 3 tablespoons 100% Vegetable shortening (you can choose just regular old Crisco, I figure, if I am frying I mine as well try to go healthy, if that makes sense).
Now, I always make my own Alfredo or tomato sauce and freeze it in portions for occasions like this, but you can also pick up just a quick ready made sauce of your choice - Alfredo, tomato, or even a can of cream of mushroom would work. Start heating sauce using medium setting when you start heating up your oil.
When you warm up your shortening, start with the stove set to low, then work your way up to medium. Do not exceed medium.
Cook ravioli four at a time until the pasta forms a hard crust (6-7 minutes). Flip the ravioli twice while frying. Be careful not to cook the pasta to long, it will cook the stuffing out of the ravioli.
Grab your a couple of your kids brown lunch bags, they absorb all of the oil from the ravioli and don't leave stuff on the ravioli like paper towels. Let the ravioli only rest for about 2 minutes.
Your sauce should get ready to serve when your ravioli is coming out of the oil, so plate ravioli first, then smother with sauce and enjoy! If you want to dress it up, grab a couple sprigs of basil or grate some fresh Parmesan cheese on top.
| Servings: | 2 |
| Time: | 15-20 Minutes Preparation Time 7 to 8 mins Minutes Cooking Time |
By Mandy Leigh from Burlington, NC
You can make an interesting, crunchy, economical snack with pasta. Try Crunchy Bow Ties. Bring a large pot of water to boil, add salt. Cook the bow tie pasta half way done. Drain well. This will take several batches.
Years ago, my grandfather used to make a dish that he called "Fried Macaroni". All I can remember is that he used macaroni, wheat germ, and sugar. And it was fried, at least at the end of the recipe. Does anyone know of a recipe that sounds like this at all?
You can bake the mac and cheese in a flat pan. When cool, cut into squares, dip each square in beaten egg, then bread crumbs and the deep fry. That is how I do it. Hope that helps. Good luck.
My mom used to make something similiar, I think.
After the macaroni was cooked, she put it in a frying pan with some oil, breadcrumbs and onions (and I guess whatever else you'd like) and fry it lightly till the breadcrumbs coated the macaroni.
Fried Macaroni And Cheese
CDKitchen http://www.cdkitchen.com
Category: Macaroni And Cheese
Serves/Makes: 6 | Difficulty Level: 3 | Ready In: < 30 minutes
Ingredients:
8 ounces medium or sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups dry elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon paprika (optional)
3 large fresh eggs (room temperature), beaten
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon oil or bacon drippings
Directions:
Grate cheese of choice and set aside. Cook 2 cups dry elbow macaroni to al dente stage according to directions. Drain well in colander.
Recipe Location: www.cdkitchen.com/
Recipe ID: 4177
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The way my mother did Fried Macaroni is; cook macaroni drain then put in a skillet and after macaroni is hot pour some beaten egg over it and cook till egg is done. I still do left over macaroni this way.
My mom used to do this: Fry some chopped onion until transparent in a good bit of butter. Toss in leftover elbow macaroni and then some breadcrumbs, salt & pepper.
Recipe for Janet's Fried Pasta. Cook spaghetti until almost done, but not quite. Mix eggs and cheese in a bowl, add cooled pasta and any optional items if desired. Mix well. In large Teflon coated skillet, add just enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom.
