Fried spaghetti pie!

Fried spaghetti pie! OH MY, OH MY! Just when you though pasta could be anymore diverse and interesting that it already is, along comes another winner.

It was on a recent trip to Italy that we finally got to see a spaghetti pie up-close and for a few euros, actually got to sample one.

Spaghetti pie is infamous in Naples, Italy, where little is left to waste and you can find these pies in all sorts of flavors, shapes and sizes, referred to as ‘frittate di maccheroni’, ‘spaghetti fritta’ or ‘maccheroni frittatine’. Each one as delicious as the last. The brilliant news is that are inexpensive and not complicated to put together and make perfect finger food for you next gathering.

For a little extra indulgence, once you have cooked your pie, you could cut it into pieces, bread or batter it for a spaghetti pie extravaganza!

Fried spaghetti pie! – serves 4 – 6

4 cups leftover, cooked pasta, preferably from the day before and preferably a long pasta like spaghetti, bucatini or even macaroni
3 tablespoons Pasta Nostra creamy herb and white wine sauce
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, smoked if possible
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

The above ingredients are a simple base that you can add to: cooked bacon, cooked mushrooms, peas, other cheeses, herbs – well, you get the idea

Crack the eggs into a large mixing bowl with the cream sauce, salt and pepper then whisk with a fork.
Heat an frying pan over medium heat. Add the extra virgin olive oil, then the pasta allowing it to spread evenly around the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes or until lightly browned.
Now pour the egg mixture over the pasta as evenly as you can. As it sets, lift up the edges with a spatula so more of the egg can run underneath. Allow the egg to set a little before distributing the cheese all over the top.
Place a lid over the frying pan and continue cooking your spaghetti pie over a low to medium heat for 8 – 10 minutes or until it is golden brown on the bottom. Now flip that frittata! Yep, turn the spaghetti pie over and allow it to cook for a few more minutes on the other side, without the lid.
When ready, the spaghetti pie will separate from the bottom when you shake the pan back and forth. When this happens, slide the pie onto a serving dish and allow to stand for about 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Serve hot or chilled – whatever the occasion calls for. For example, to enjoy as a midnight snack, your slice of spaghetti pie may need 30 seconds in the microwave.