Best Caesar Salad With Fried Ravioli Recipes

THE BEST CAESAR SALAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the croutons: Put the olive oil and butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. When the butter is completely melted add the garlic and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Carefully swirl the pan to combine. Set aside for 10 minutes to allow the garlic to infuse the oil mixture.
• Put the bread pieces on a baking sheet. Evenly pour the garlic mixture over the bread and toss to coat. Spread the bread in a single layer and bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir the bread halfway through cooking to ensure even browning. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with black pepper and Parmesan. Set aside to cool.
• For the salad: Soak the anchovies in a small bowl of water for 5 minutes. Rinse with cold water, drain and pat dry. Finely chop the anchovies and garlic, then use the side of your knife to mash them to a paste.
• Add the anchovy paste, egg yolk, Dijon mustard and lemon juice to a large bowl and whisk to combine. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the olive oil in a steady stream until emulsified. Stir in 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan. If needed, add water, 1 teaspoon at a time to thin the dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add the lettuce and croutons to a large bowl and gently toss with the dressing until coated. Top with grated Parmesan and serve immediately.

TOASTED RAVIOLI SALAD WITH CREAMY MARINARA DRESSING

Steps:

• For the dough: Place the flour on a large work surface. Make a well and add the eggs, olive oil and salt in the center. Using a fork, whisk the egg mixture, slowly incorporating the surrounding flour into the egg mixture until all the flour is mixed in. Use your hand to combine the rest of the dough. Knead, sprinkling extra flour on the work surface if the dough is sticking, until the dough is smooth and elastic and the center springs back when poked, about 10 minutes. Form the dough into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 1 hour.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, heat the spinach in the microwave just until the spinach is warm, about 1 minute. Strain the spinach, then place the spinach inside a clean kitchen towel and wring out all the excess liquid. Add the spinach to a bowl along with the mascarpone, mozzarella, salt, garlic powder and egg and mix to combine.
• Set a stand mixer pasta attachment or a table pasta roller attachment to the widest setting. Cut the dough in half and keep one half covered as you work with the other half. Flatten out the dough you are working with, adding a little bit of flour as you flatten. Feed the flattened dough through the pasta attachment once, catching the dough with the back of your hands. Add a little more flour and fold the pasta in thirds. Flatten the dough down and run it through the widest setting 2 more times. Then run the dough through each setting, decreasing the number each time you add the dough until you get to the thinnest setting. Your dough is now ready to be molded into raviolis.
• Cut the pasta sheet in half and drop teaspoon-size dollops of filling over the dough, spacing them 1 inch from the edges and 2 inches apart from each other. Brush water around the perimeter of the pasta. Place the other half layer of pasta on top. Press down and around the filling, taking care to get the air out and seal the filling in. Use a ravioli stamp to cut the pasta. Place each piece on a parchment lined pan. If you do not have a ravioli stamp, use a knife to cut squares around the filling and use the prongs of a fork to seal the pasta all the way around the filling. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
• Heat enough canola oil so that it comes to 2 inches up the side of a high-sided pan to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a rack.
• Dip each ravioli in the milk and shake off the excess. Dredge in the breadcrumbs and place back on the a parchment lined sheet pan. Fry in batches, without crowding the pan, around 2 minutes on each side. Remove from the oil using a spider or a slotted spoon. Place on the lined baking sheet to drain and immediately sprinkle with salt.
• For the creamy marinara dressing: Mix the marinara and ranch in a bowl, then set aside.
• For the salad: Combine the romaine, onion, tomato, olives and some Parmesan in a large bowl, then add a little dressing and toss to combine. Plate and add the desired amount of toasted raviolis, a drizzle of more dressing and more Parmesan.

CAESAR SALAD WITH FRIED RAVIOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil for ravioli. Salt water and cook a minute less than package directions for either fresh or frozen pasta, then drain thoroughly. Heat about 3 tablespoons EVOO in a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat. Combine cornmeal, 1/2 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano and lots of black pepper on a plate. Coat the drained ravioli in the cornmeal and cheese mixture. Shake off excess and fry the ravioli until golden on each side, 4-5 minutes total. Remove them to a paper-towel lined plate and season with some salt.
• For the salad, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, grated garlic, mustard, anchovy paste, hot sauce and Worcestershire then stream in the EVOO, about 5 tablespoons. Coat the romaine in dressing then season with pepper and a handful of grated cheese. Top salad with crispy ravioli and serve.