Nonna's Fried Macaroni
Original Recipe
Notes
The cooked pasta must not be fresh. This dish works best when the pasta has been cooked 12-24 hours prior to pan frying. Any type of cooked pasta will work, but we typically use penne or spaghetti. Some recipes call for butter, but our family uses extra virgin olive oil. If the leftover pasta is already sauced, that will add even more flavor to the dish. My son likes his pasta plain, so I add a little marina sauce to the leftover pasta as I fry it.
Ingredients
- 2-4 cups of leftover cooked pasta at room temperature
2 tablespoons of olive oil for the pan
2-3 tablespoons of red sauce
Parmigiano reggiano or pecorino romano cheese to taste
Dried or fresh parsley (optional)
Directions
- Heat a nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the olive oil to coat the pan.
- Add the leftover cooked pasta to the pan.
- Let the pasta sit and sizzle (about 3-5 minutes) without stirring to form a crispy base on the bottom of the pasta.
- Begin to stir the pasta, adding a little more oil if needed to achieve desired crispiness.
- Add the sauce slowly, beginning with increments of one tablespoon at a time. Be careful not to add too much, as the pasta will become soggy.
- Once the sauce has been incorporated, continue to cook over medium-high heat until your personal desired level of crispiness forms on the pasta (I always leave mine a little longer).
- Top with Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese to taste.
- Garnish with dried or fresh parsley if desired.
- Serve immediately.
Information
- Category
- Main Dishes, Pasta
- Cuisine
- Italian
- Yield
- 2-4 servings
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Cook Time
- 30 minutes
- Total Time
- 34 minutes, 59 seconds