Toasted ravioli facts for kids
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| Type | Fried dish |
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| Main ingredients | Flour, eggs, water |
Toasted ravioli is a tasty appetizer that comes from St. Louis, Missouri. It's made by taking ravioli, covering it in breadcrumbs, and then deep-frying it until it's crispy. This popular snack was first created and became famous in St. Louis at two restaurants called Mama Campisi's and Charlie Gitto's. Both of these places are in an Italian-American neighborhood known as "The Hill."
How Toasted Ravioli Was Invented
Most stories about toasted ravioli say it started in "The Hill" neighborhood of St. Louis. This area has a lot of Italian-American families.
One popular story says that a chef named Fritz at Mama Campisi's restaurant accidentally dropped some ravioli into the deep fryer instead of a pot of boiling water. A customer named Mickey Garagiola was at the bar and was the first to try this new, accidental treat. Soon after, this crispy ravioli started appearing on menus all over The Hill.
Another restaurant, Charlie Gitto's (which was called "Angelo's" back then), also claims to have invented it. Their story says that in 1947, a chef named Mario Battocletti accidentally dropped pasta into hot oil instead of water.
Someone named Louis Oldani is said to have given the dish its name, "toasted" ravioli. He thought "toasted" sounded more appealing than "fried."
Lombardo's Restaurants, which are also in the St. Louis area, say they were among the first to bring toasted ravioli to the United States from Sicily. The current owner, Tony Lombardo, even has old menus from the 1930s that list it. Many people think Lombardo's makes some of the best toasted ravioli in St. Louis!
What's Inside and How to Eat It
Toasted ravioli usually has some kind of meat filling wrapped inside square ravioli pasta. The ravioli is then covered in breadcrumbs and deep-fried. It cooks until the pasta shell becomes a little crispy, dry, and golden brown.
People usually serve toasted ravioli with marinara sauce for dipping. Sometimes, parmesan cheese is sprinkled on top to add more flavor. Toasted ravioli can be made ahead of time and frozen. This makes it easy for restaurants to prepare them quickly, even without special cooking skills.
