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It’s universally agreed that the most delicious appetizers are invariably those that are cheesy and crispy.
Olive Garden’s Stuffed Ziti Fritta is one mouthwatering delicacy and it’s irresistibly delicious.
Nothing screams a mouthwatering starter like an empty plate left after.
Choose this flavorsome recipe today and make it an every day-go-to delicacy.
The rich cheese blend gives it that moist, milk-like fresh taste that spells yummy in each bite.
It’s called Stuffed Ziti Fritta because it is made of thick pasta stuffed with cheese.
It’s not only deliciously crispy and crunchy, but also sublimely simple to make.
It’s a tried and tested crowd-pleaser that even the pickiest eater won’t resist.
Since the thought of this Italian delicacy makes you want to gorge on it, let’s take it straight to your kitchen.
Recipe Tips
1. Pasta Choice- Your choice of pasta should be one with a big hole that can accommodate enough cheese fillings.
Other than Ziti, you can opt for any of these:
2. Cooking time- Only cook pasta for a shorter time than the recommended time because soft pasta is loose, breaks easily and lacks the crunchiness we so desire.
3. Cream cheese- For ease while mixing, make your cream cheese soft early enough.
4. Freezing benefits- Frozen stuffed pasta does not break apart easily.
It also has that final crispy touch. Freeze it for about 20 to 25 minutes.
Ingredients
●⅓ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese
●1 tablespoon of chopped basil
●⅓ cup of softened cream cheese
Breading ingredients
●⅓ cup of grated Parmesan
●2 cups of breadcrumbs (Italian)
●1 tablespoon of seasoning (Italian)
Directions
●In a saucepan, add water and a tablespoon of salt and bring it to boil.
●Add pasta and leave it to cook for about 15 minutes.
●Drain all excess water. Leaving it with some water will leave the pasta soggy.
2.Cheese filling instructions
●Put all the cheese in a bowl.
●Put the mixture in a blender and blend until it is smooth and consistent.
●Place it in a refrigerator to chill.
●In a medium-sized bowl, add the beaten eggs.
●Add the seasoning and whisk to form an egg wash.
●In a separate bowl, put the parmesan cheese and the breadcrumbs and mix.
●Get the cheese mixture from the refrigerator and cut the edge of the zip-top bag
●Squeeze the cheese mixture into the pasta.
●Put each stuffed pasta on a chopping board.
●Dip each pasta into the egg wash.
●Roll each pasta onto the bread crumb mixture until they are well covered.
●Place the pasta back on the chopping board.
From here, you either decide to fry or bake your Stuffed Ziti Fratta.
Frying directions
●Pour vegetable oil onto a saucepan and preheat up to 370 degrees.
●Dip the stuffed pasta in the saucepan with oil.
●Keep flipping until they turn golden brown on all sides.
●While frying, keep them apart to avoid crowding.
Baking Directions
●In a medium-sized baking tin, add a little sauce at the bottom and spread to prevent the stuffed pasta from scorching.
●Toss the stuffed pasta into the baking pan.
●Spread sauce on top of the pasta.
●Preheat the oven to 345 degrees F on the middle rack.
●Bake at 345 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Storage Tips
●If you want to store them for frying later, put them in an airtight jar to prevent any air from getting into them. Trapped air will make your stuffed pasta go bad.
●If you are storing it as a leftover, let it cool first, then store it in a tightly closed jar.
●For both cases, keep it refrigerated for 1 to 3 days.
Whether you are storing it as a leftover or for frying at a later date, keep it in an airtight jar in a freezer for only 3 months.
I don’t recommend freezing your already-fried stuffed pasta because it will lose its original taste over time.
Olive Garden’s Ziti Fratta’s original taste is best achieved when it’s consumed immediately when it’s ready.
Tips for Reheating
When reheating, use an air fryer because it’s quick and simple to use.
With an air fryer, you won’t need to defrost your already frozen pasta.
●Preheat to 345 degrees F.
●Only put a layer at a time of the Stuffed Ziti Fratta on the basket to avoid crowding.
●Fry at 345 degrees F for 2 to 4 minutes.
How to Serve
There are two ways you can serve this delicacy:
1.As an entrée with a dipping sauce.
2.As a main
dish with a side salad- For those times you may want to turn your Stuffed Ziti Fritta into a main meal, serve it with these side dishes:
●Tomato and broccoli salad
●Spinach with butter dressing
Health Facts
●Stuffed Ziti Fritta contains 500 calories in a serving, which is a healthful amount of calories to take.
●Cheese is the main stuffed ingredient. Cheese gives your body the calcium it needs in order to maintain normal blood pressure and for healthy bone and teeth formation. According to a study, daily consumption of 1 ¾ ounce cheese decreases the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes by about 8%.
●It contains basil, a flavorful leafy herb that protects your body from infections and lowers your blood sugar levels. This aromatic herb is full of antioxidants that fight free radicals in our bodies, which can increase the risk of contracting cancer and arthritis. It also regulates blood sugar levels and lowers cholesterol levels.
Conclusion
Next time you have some family and friends over, give them this cheesy creation.
Why would you make reservations at Olive Garden yet you can deliver the same tasty Stuffed Ziti Fritta but this time in large portions?
Make this Italian special and be assured your guests will lick it off their spoons.
A Bite of Olive Garden’s Stuffed Ziti Fritta
Olive Garden’s Stuffed Ziti Fritta is one mouthwatering delicacy and it’s irresistibly delicious.
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 3
Calories 931 kcal
- 1 box pasta
- ⅓ cup marinara sauce
- ⅓ cup Alfredo sauce
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup Romano cheese
- ⅓ cup Parmesan
- ⅓ cup ricotta
- ⅓ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped basil
- ⅓ cup softened cream cheese
- 2 beaten eggs
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon seasoning
Pour vegetable oil onto a saucepan and preheat up to 370 degrees.
Dip the stuffed pasta in the saucepan with oil.
Keep flipping until they turn golden brown on all sides.
While frying, keep them apart to avoid crowding.
In a medium-sized baking tin, add a little sauce at the bottom and spread to prevent the stuffed pasta from scorching.
Toss the stuffed pasta into the baking pan.
Spread sauce on top of the pasta.
Cover using foil paper.
Preheat the oven to 345 degrees F on the middle rack.
Bake at 345 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Calories: 931kcalCarbohydrates: 108gProtein: 37gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 21gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 1490mgPotassium: 349mgFiber: 6gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1463IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 994mgIron: 6mg
Keyword A Bite of Olive Garden’s Stuffed Ziti Fritta
