Get creative with the whole family at dinnertime

When it comes to cooking a delicious meal for our family, we love to be as creative as possible. Constantly preparing the same dishes time and time again can get boring, making dinnertime more of a chore than a fun way to get the whole family spending time together while cooking. 

This is why we love using versatile ingredients that can be served in so many different ways. A firm favourite for our family is pasta and it turns out, many other households love coming up with creative pasta dishes too, according to a study carried out by Ottimo!

The survey found that Irish people love creating unique dishes with Ottimo’s three delicious varieties of vegetarian-friendly pasta. From curry and coleslaw, spicy nduja, garlic prawns, mushrooms & sage, brussel sprouts and even steak & onions, there are so many different meal ideas that the public love preparing with the fresh frozen pasta brand.

The most popular serving suggestion was butter and parmesan cheese - now that sounds like a bit of us! Launched in 2022, Ottimo is the ultimate in pasta perfection, taking fresh pasta and freezing it, good to go at any time of the day or night and it is made right here in Ireland!

There are three yummy varieties to choose from and they can be ready in just 4 minutes as they can be cooked from frozen - very handy for those busy evenings when you’re too tired to stand over the hob for an age.

Choose from three delicious Ottimo varieties:

• Fantastico Four Cheese Ravioli – not quite square ravioli pockets that are filled with a mouth-watering creamy mix of four cheeses.

• Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni - fabulously tasty little pasta parcels that are filled with fresh spinach and a creamy ricotta cheese.

• Non Quadrato Mushroom Ravioli - ravioli pockets that are filled with mushrooms and simply seasoned with salt & pepper.

If you’re looking for some dinner inspiration for when you pick up your Ottimo pasta, have a look at our favourite recipes below.

Crispy Air Fryer Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni served with Marinara Sauce

Serves: 4

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 250g Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni

• 1 egg, beaten

• 150g panko breadcrumbs

• 50g parmesan

• 1 tsp. dried oregano

• ½ tsp. onion powder

• ½ tsp. garlic powder

• Spray oil

• Marinara sauce, warmed, to serve

• Handful chives, finely chopped, to serve

Method:

1. Place a large pot of salted water on a high heat and bring to the boil. Add the tortelloni and cook for 3 minutes, then drain and place onto a tray to cool down for at least 15 minutes.

2. When cool to the touch pre-heat your air fryer to 190 C.

3. Place the egg into one bowl and place the breadcrumbs,  parmesan, oregano, onion, and garlic powders into a separate bowl and mix together with some seasoning.

4. Dip the cooled tortelloni first in the egg mixture then into the breadcrumbs mixture, patting the breadcrumbs into the tortelloni to cover completely.

5. Repeat until all the tortelloni are coated. Add the crumbed tortelloni to the air fryer in one layer and spray with the oil.

6. Cook for between 7 - 10 minutes until golden and crispy.

7. Serve with the warm marinara sauce and some chopped chives.

Four Cheese Ravioli with Lemony Courgettes and Broad Beans

Serves: 2

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 250g Ottimo Fantastico Four Cheese Ravioli

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 25g unsalted butter

• 1 garlic clove, finely sliced

• 1 courgette, diced into small pieces

• 100g broad beans, podded

• 100ml white wine

• Zest of 1 lemon

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Place a large pot of salted water on a high heat and bring to the boil.

2. Whilst the water comes to a boil, place a frying pan over a medium heat and add the oil and butter and allow to heat until the butter melts.

3. Add the sliced garlic and chopped courgettes and cook gently for 5 - 7 minutes until the courgette is soft and the garlic fragrant.

4. Add the broad beans and wine and cook for a further 4 minutes.

5. Add the Ottimo filled pasta to the boiling salted water and cook for 4 minutes.

6. Drain the pasta from the water and add to the pan with the vegetables - tossing to coat the pasta in the sauce then stir through the lemon zest and season with salt and black pepper.

7. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Spinach & Ricotta Tortelloni with Greek Salad Inspired Sauce

Serves: 2

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 250g Ottimo Spinach and Ricotta Tortelloni

• 1 tbsp. olive oil

• 25g unsalted butter

• 1 garlic clove, finely sliced

• 1 tsp. dried oregano

• 1 red onion, finely sliced

• 100g cherry tomatoes, halved

• 100g baby spinach

• 30g black olive, chopped

• 50g feta, crumbled

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Place a large pot of salted water on a high heat and bring to the boil.

2. Whilst the water comes to a boil, place a frying pan over a medium heat and add the oil and butter and allow to heat until the butter melts.

3. Add the sliced garlic, oregano and red onion and cook for 5 minutes until the onion softens slightly.

4. Add the cherry tomatoes, turn the heat up and cook for 3-5 minutes until the tomatoes start to burst.

5. Break up the tomatoes with the back of a spoon so they begin to form a sauce then stir through the baby spinach and black olives.

6. Allow the spinach to wilt then season with salt and black pepper.

7. Add the Ottimo filled pasta to the boiling salted water and cook for 4 minutes.

8. Drain the pasta from the water and add to the pan with sauce, tossing to coat the pasta in sauce.

9. Serve into bowls and garnish with the crumbled feta.

Non Quadrato Mushroom Ravioli with Buttered Spinach and Peas

Serves: 2

Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 250g Non Quadrato Mushroom Ravioli

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 75g unsalted butter

• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

• 125g baby spinach

• 100g Green Isle Garden Peas

• Handful of chives, finely chopped

• Sea salt

• Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Place a large pot of salted water on a high heat and bring to the boil.

2. Whilst the water comes to a boil, place a frying pan over a medium heat and add the oil and butter and allow to heat until the butter melts.

3. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

4. Add the pasta and frozen peas to the boiling salted water and cook for 4 minutes then drain and add to the pan with the garlic, along with the spinach.

5. Toss to coat everything in the sauce and allow the spinach to wilt then serve in bowls scatter with the chives and plenty of black pepper.

6. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Ottimo is available in selected supermarkets nationwide, priced at €3.50 for a 300g pack and is brought to you by Green Isle. Visit Ottimo's Instagram page here, and enter their latest competition for a chance to win a holiday in Italy worth €1,000!

 

Brought to you by

Ottimo is available in selected supermarkets nationwide, priced at €3.50 for a 300g pack and is brought to you by Green Isle. Visit Ottimo's Instagram page here, and enter their latest competition for a chance to win a holiday in Italy worth €1,000!