Fried Stuffed Ziti

From issue #3.
Photography by Photography by Aaron McLean.
Fried Stuffed Ziti

This dish is adapted from a recipe by Giuliano Bugialli, and was taught when he visited Epicurean as our guest a few years ago. It is important to use top quality dried pasta for this dish so it can withstand the stress of being stuffed and fried.

Serves: 8-10

INGREDIENTS

250g dried ziti pasta (large rigatoni)
2 tablespoons olive oil

Stuffing
120g fresh mozzarella, finely chopped
120g ricotta, drained very well
4 heaped tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
120g prosciutto, finely diced
2 egg yolks
small handful of flat leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped
sea salt and freshly ground pepper

To serve
500ml vegetable oil
3 eggs
1-2 cups flour
1-2 cups fine, lightly toasted breadcrumbs

METHOD

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil and cook the pasta until almost cooked. Drain and refresh under cold water to halt the cooking and toss with the olive oil. Cover and set aside.

Stuffing: Combine the cheeses with the prosciutto, egg yolks and parsley. Season, mix well and transfer the mixture to a piping bag. This is the easiest way to fill the pasta tubes. A strong plastic bag with the corner cut off will work very well too. When all the pasta is filled, cover and set aside until ready to serve.

To serve: Beat the eggs lightly in one dish and place the flour and breadcrumbs in two more dishes. Heat the oil in a fry pan over a medium heat. The oil should be about 200°C. Lightly flour the pasta, dip in egg and then the breadcrumbs. Fry a few at a time until golden. Drain on paper towels and serve hot, sprinkled with salt and extra grated Parmesan. Serves 8-10 as a snack with drinks