I am very lucky that my mother-in-law is an amazing cook, and she lives right down the road, which is beneficial when I don’t feel like cooking dinner. A few years ago she taught me how to make fried ravioli, my now go-to dinner for nights that I don’t feel like spending an hour in the kitchen. Start to finish it takes about 30 minutes and tastes like it took hours.
After I learned how to make this delicious twist on regular ravioli, I make sure to always have my pantry stocked with cooking oil, canned tomatoes and tomato paste. In my refrigerator there are always wonton wrappers and some sort of cheese. I love to use fresh herbs in all of my cooking and recently started an herb garden from kitchen scraps (stay tuned for a how-to on kitchen scrap gardening). These raviolis are great to make as a snack during the day, as an appetizer at parties, or for dinner.
I like to switch up the filling and try out different spreads. I’ve used everything from mozzarella cheese balls to a garlic and herb cheese spread. My favorite is goat cheese filling. I’ll use garlic and herb goat cheese and mix it with some red pepper flakes, fresh basil, fresh oregano, some sea salt and a pinch of flour. The flour helps keep the filling from evaporating during the frying process. I’ve also made sweet raviolis by mixing cream cheese with some honey and sugar and frying them. Fried raviolis are so easy to make and the filling can be something different every time.
I like to make my own sauce by mixing the tomato paste with diced tomatoes, fresh herbs, and some water. If you don’t have time to make homemade sauce, use a jar of marinara sauce and add some herbs to it. If you want to make a dessert-like ravioli, sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar over the top when they are done frying and then drizzle with honey or chocolate sauce.
Ingredients
- For the Ravioli:
- 1 package wonton wrappers
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- 2 teaspoons oregano
- 2 teaspoons parsley
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes (add more for more spice)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 2 cups cooking oil
- For Sauce:
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- 1 tablespoon rosemary
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- For Ravioli:
- Pour oil into skillet until it is about 1-2 inches deep. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. Test by dropping a water droplet into oil. If it makes a popping sound it is hot enough.
- Mix goat cheese, oregano, parsley, red pepper flakes, salt and flour together in small bowl.
- Peel apart wonton wrappers and lay them out flat.
- Make quarter sized balls of cheese and place in the center of wonton wrappers.
- Pour some water into a small bowl.
- Carefully wet sides of wonton wrapper around the cheese ball. Wet entire side of another wonton wrapper and place it on top of the wrapper with the cheese ball. (Do two-three at a time so they don't dry out).
- Take fork and smash the top and bottom wonton wrappers together around the sides of the ravioli.
- Place ravioli in hot oil.
- Fry on one side until corners are brown, flip ravioli and fry on other side for about 10-15 seconds.
- Pull out of hot oil and place on paper towel. Sprinkle salt over raviolis.
- For Sauce:
- Mix all ingredients in sauce pan on low heat stirring occasionally.
