Ziti Fritta is a delicious starter at Olive Garden that I enjoy. The crunchy outside and gooey cheesy inside make it a delightful snack. I love this dish, so I made it at home. Here’s the story of my cooking adventure, including the recipe, how to make it, and some helpful tips from me.
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What is Ziti Fritta?
Fried ziti is an Italian dish called ziti fritta. This dish is made by cooking ziti pasta and then coating it with batter or breadcrumbs. After that, it’s fried until it turns golden and crunchy. The outcome is a crispy outside with a soft and chewy inside. Ziti fritta is a popular snack or appetizer.
You can eat it with different dipping sauces like marinara, alfredo, or pesto to make it taste even better. This food has a yummy and different way of making pasta. It uses Italian ingredients and fries the pasta to make it crispy.
Ingredients
For this delicious Ziti Fritta, you will need the following ingredients:
For the Ziti and Filling:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Breading:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for extra crunch)
- Oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil works well)
For Serving:
- Marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ziti
- Cook the Ziti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Make the Filling
- Mix the Cheeses: In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- Add the Eggs: Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and then add them to the cheese mixture. Stir until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Assemble the Ziti Fritta
- Stuff the Ziti: Using a small spoon or a piping bag, carefully fill each ziti tube with the cheese mixture. This step requires patience, but it’s essential for the delicious cheesy center.
- Set Up Breading Station: Prepare three separate bowls – one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of Italian-style breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Bread the Ziti
- Coat the Ziti: Roll each stuffed ziti in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the beaten eggs, ensuring it’s fully coated, and then roll it in the breadcrumb mixture. Press the breadcrumbs gently to ensure they adhere well.
Step 5: Fry the Ziti
- Heat the Oil: In a large, deep skillet or pot, heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is at the right temperature for frying.
- Fry the Ziti: Carefully add a few pieces of breaded ziti to the hot oil, frying them in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Drain the Ziti: Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried ziti and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
- Plate the Ziti: Arrange the fried ziti on a serving platter.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
Personal Tips and Tricks
- Filling the Ziti: using a piping bag made filling the Ziti tubes much easier and less messy. If you don’t have a piping bag, a small spoon also works, but it requires more patience.
- Breading Consistency: Mixing panko breadcrumbs with Italian-style breadcrumbs added an extra crunch to the Ziti Fritta, which I highly recommend.
- Oil Temperature: Maintaining the oil at the right temperature is crucial for achieving a crispy exterior without making the ziti greasy. A cooking thermometer is very handy for this purpose.
- Making Ahead: You can prepare and bread the stuffed ziti ahead of time and refrigerate them for a few hours before frying. This is particularly useful if you’re planning to serve them for a party.
Nutritional Information (Per Serving)
The following is an approximate nutritional breakdown per serving (based on 6 servings):
- Calories: 450
- Total Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Cholesterol: 140mg
- Sodium: 850mg
- Total Carbohydrates: 45g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 3g
- Protein: 20g
Conclusion
Making Olive Garden’s Ziti Fritta at home was a fun and satisfying experience. The crunchy outside and the cheesy inside tasted really good together. This recipe is great for when you have people over or just want to enjoy a tasty snack. By doing these steps and adding your style, you can make Olive Garden food at home.
Ziti Fritta Olive Garden Recipe
Servings: 6
Calories: 450kcal
Ingredients
For the Ziti and Filling:
- 1 pound ziti pasta
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Breading:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 large eggs beaten
- 2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch
- Oil for frying vegetable or canola oil works well
For Serving:
- Marinara sauce store-bought or homemade
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Ziti
- Cook the Ziti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside to cool slightly.
Step 2: Make the Filling
- Mix the Cheeses: In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Mix until well combined.
- Add the Eggs: Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and then add them to the cheese mixture. Stir until fully incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Step 3: Assemble the Ziti Fritta
- Stuff the Ziti: Using a small spoon or a piping bag, carefully fill each ziti tube with the cheese mixture. This step requires patience, but it’s essential for the delicious cheesy center.
- Set Up Breading Station: Prepare three separate bowls – one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of Italian-style breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs.
Step 4: Bread the Ziti
- Coat the Ziti: Roll each stuffed ziti in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the beaten eggs, ensuring it’s fully coated, and then roll it in the breadcrumb mixture. Press the breadcrumbs gently to ensure they adhere well.
Step 5: Fry the Ziti
- Heat the Oil: In a large, deep skillet or pot, heat the oil to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is at the right temperature for frying.
- Fry the Ziti: Carefully add a few pieces of breaded ziti to the hot oil, frying them in batches to avoid overcrowding. Fry until they are golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 minutes per batch.
- Drain the Ziti: Using a slotted spoon, remove the fried ziti and place them on a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy
- Plate the Ziti: Arrange the fried ziti on a serving platter.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve hot with a side of marinara sauce for dipping.
