Faux Fried Ravioli

If you have ever been to an Italian restaurant and ordered 'Fried Ravioli', you know exactly why I have a maaaad obsession with it.  The only problem is, I crave it waaay too much.

I figured since it is not the healthiest item on the menu, I really needed to recreate a more nutritious version of it. 

So I could eat it all the time...

And boy, is it as tasty as ever.   

By coating cheesy, creamy ravioli in tons of salty Parmesan and Italian breadcrumbs, and baking them until they become crispy pop-em-in-your-mouth bites, you will have a faux-fried ravioli that tastes exactly like a real, greasy fried rav from your favorite Italian restaurant.  With half the fat and half the guilt!

I promise, once you eat one, you won't be able to stop.

Dip 'em warm Marinara sauce and you are good to go.   

Ingredients:

1 package favorite frozen ravioli (I used three cheese & spinach ravs)

3 egg whites, beaten

1/4 tsp Freshly ground pepper

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese 

Extra virgin olive oil

1 jar favorite Marinara sauce

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil.  Add ravioli once water is boiling and cook for 2 minutes.

Drain the ravioli carefully.  I used a hand strainer to carefully take pasta out of water and place in a larger strainer.

In a dish, add three egg whites and pepper and salt.  

Whisk with a fork until foamy.

In a separate dish add breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.

Spray a large cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  Set up a dredging station for the ravs.  

Carefully take a ravioli (avoid breaking & spilling the filling) and with one hand dip ravioli in egg white and coat.

 Using your other hand place ravioli in breadcrumb/Parm mixture and cover.

Coat ravioli in mixture.  Shake off excess breadcrumbs & Parm. 

 Place rav on baking sheet and repeat until you use all of the ravs.

Drizzle the tops of the ravioli lightly with extra virgin olive oil.

Bake ravioli for 5 minutes.  Then broil until tops are brown & crispy!  While ravs are baking, warm up your favorite Marinara sauce to dip! Enjoy!