Recipe: Macaroni Grill Bella Napoli (Using fried pasta sheets), and Italian Nachos (Like Carino's)

Hi Jeannee:-) The first recipe from Macaroni Grill uses fried pasta sheets which would be similar to fried triangles of fresh lasagne so it does give instructions for doing that. The second recipe is evidently similar to the Italian Nachos served at Johnny Carino's but uses wonton wrappers. Someone who had tried the second recipe said that they liked this recipe better than those at Johhny Carino's. They also said that they made a beautiful presentation with the red of the tomato and green of the onion on a white background of melted cheese. I have not tried either recipe, nor have I ever eaten at Johnny Carino's so I don't know if either of these recipes will help. If you do try either recipe, please let us know how they turned out for you.

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MACARONI GRILL BELLA NAPOLI

for the Asiago Cream Sauce:
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/16 teaspoon chicken soup base
1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
1 ounce cold water
FOR THE PASTA CHIPS:
1/2 pound pasta sheets, may substitute won tons
Oil, for deep-frying
2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese
TO ASSEMBLE:
1 piece cooked Italian sausage
1 piece cooked, sweet Italian sausage
Chopped tomato
Banana peppers, sliced
Kalamata olive, sliced
2 to 3 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 to 1 cup grated Asiago cheese

TO MAKE THE ASIAGO CREAM SAUCE:
Make cream sauce first by heating the cream until very hot and just bubbly, but not to a boil. Add the chicken base and 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese. Stir constantly with a wire whisk and bring temperature back to just bubbly.

Dissolve cornstarch in the 1 ounce cold water and add to the sauce. Bring to a slow simmer to cook out starchy taste. Transfer sauce to a container for use later. (May be refrigerated.)

TO MAKE THE PASTA CHIPS:
Cut the pasta sheets into triangles and deep-fry in oil, heated to 375 degrees F. Fry to a nice chip color. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with2 tablespoons grated Asiago cheese.

Assembly:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and put rack at top of oven.

Put half of the pasta chips onto an oven safe plate. Pour cream sauce of the chips then top with the remaining chips. Sprinkle with sausage, tomatoes, peppers, olives, mozzarella, and 1/2 to 1 cup Asiago. Put it the oven and bake until cheese just starts to brown.

Yield: 4 servings

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ITALIAN NACHOS
Source: MommyMakes/RecipeZaar
Makes 6-8 servings

"I LOVE the Italian Nachos at Johnny Carino's. This is a recipe I am working on to get my fix at home."

FOR THE PASTA CHIPS:
12 wonton wrappers
1 egg white, frothed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon oregano or italian seasoning mix
FOR THE NACHOS:
1 (10 ounce) container refrigerated four cheese pasta sauce or Alfredo sauce
1/2 lb Italian sausage, cooked and crumbled
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1 (2 1/4 ounce) can sliced ripe olives
2 tablespoons pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped (more to taste) or banana peppers, chopped
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Cut wontons into 4 triangles each and toss lightly in olive oil. Cover a cookie sheet with a single layer of wontons. Brush with egg white and sprinkle with oregano or Italian seasoning.

Bake at 400 degrees F for 6 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, heat the sauce, brown the Italian sausage and drain fat.

TO SERVE:
On a platter layer the pasta chips, sausage, and sauce. Top with the tomato, onions, olives and peppers. Finish with shredded cheese and red pepper flakes. Place in warm oven for 5 minutes to melt cheese and serve.