Ravioli is such a fantastic and classic dish to eat.

Contents show

This Italian pasta can be filled with a number of different ingredients based on your personal preferences. Ideally, the pasta should be served al dente.

8 Classic Side Dishes You Should Serve With Ravioli

It’s created in the shape of square parcels, all containing a delicious filling.

Ravioli is then traditionally topped with a nutty cheese and served with a sauce. It is truly delicious pasta to choose, especially if you’re looking for a more filling option.

While you can choose to eat ravioli on its own, we would recommend pairing it with a side dish. If you want to keep things traditional, you can serve the ravioli with some classic side dishes.

In this article, we will be discussing the 8 best classic side dishes we would recommend that you serve with ravioli, for the ultimate, delicious meal.

Polenta

When it comes to classic Italian dishes, it doesn’t get much better than polenta.

It derives from northern Italy, and it’s a great option to serve alongside ravioli. It’s an acquired taste to an extent, but we think it tastes fantastic.

Polenta is created using boiled cornmeal, though other grains can be incorporated into it as well. It’s a fairly runny side, which makes it great to use as a dipping sauce for the ravioli.

As the taste isn’t overpowering, it’s a good option to consider as it won’t take away from the taste of the ravioli.

Interestingly, polenta can be grilled, fried and baked because when it cools it can be solidified. You can serve it based on your own preferences.

Italian Bread

If you’re looking for a good classic side dish to serve with the ravioli, Italian bread is a must. While you can technically choose any bread to serve with the ravioli, Italian bread is a far better option.

Not only does Italian bread taste soft, fluffy, and fantastic, but it allows the ravioli dish to taste more authentic, and closer to how it would traditionally be served in Italy.

There are many types of Italian bread you can choose to serve with the ravioli. However, we would personally recommend either Ciabatta or Focaccia.

Roasted Vegetables

Oven roasted vegetables are a classic staple in many countries across the world, and it’s easy to see why.

Not only are roasted vegetables super tasty and delicious, but they are also a light and healthy option to serve too.

There are so many choices when it comes to roasted vegetables. For ravioli, our preferences include sweet potatoes, parsnips, and carrots. However, you can certainly branch out from this depending on what your favorite vegetables are.

You can add any type of seasoning to the roasted vegetables, and this seasoning may vary depending on what filling the ravioli contains.

Some fantastic options to consider are a simple salt, pepper and honey glazing.

Garlic Bread

You really can’t go wrong with garlic bread. This is why it’s so easy to see why it’s a staple side dish for so many Italian meals, especially pasta.

Garlic bread is full of flavor, and is a classic side dish to consider.

There are many types of garlic bread to choose from, from a baguette, tear and share, to ciabatta.

The option you choose will be down to personal preference. Dipping the garlic bread into the sauce is a popular option when it comes to eating this combination.

You can also place some of the ravioli onto the bread and eat it that way – delicious!

If you want to add something extra to the garlic bread you can top it with cheese.

Balsamic Roasted Cipollini Onions

If you are not well versed in Italian food, you may be unsure of what Cipollone onions are. The name is Italian, and essentially it means “little onions”, which describes this side dish well.

While these may be small onions, they have a lot of flavor, and are a fantastic accompaniment to ravioli.

These specific onions are not as potent as other onions, and in general, have a slightly sweeter taste. They are particularly great when served with a balsamic dressing.

We would recommend frying them to begin with, and then roasting them for a short while before serving. This allows them to be soft and crunchy.

When you are cooking these onions, don’t forget to add butter to them, this allows them to become bursting with flavor, and the butter compliments the onions and the balsamic vinegar well.

Rapini

Rapini is a popular type of vegetable in Italy, which can also go by the name of broccoli rabe.

While it may have broccoli in its name, it’s not a type of broccoli, though the resemblance to broccoli can be seen.

Broccoli rabe is an interesting vegetable because it has a slightly bitter taste. This bitter taste is not unpleasant at all, and provides a great contrast against the creaminess of the ravioli.

You can choose to serve this as part of your ravioli dish, or on the side to add as and when it is wanted.

This is entirely up to you. If you season the rapini with some salt, pepper, garlic and olive oil as you fry it, this provides a fantastic flavor.

Parmesan Cheese

When it comes to Italian pasta dishes, they really aren’t complete without the addition of Parmesan cheese.

This cheese is popular with Italian dishes, and it’s clear to see why. Not only is it delicious and creamy, but it takes an Italian pasta dish to the next level.

Parmigiano Reggiano is a type of hard cheese that is specifically used as a grating cheese to top dishes.

It’s created using cow’s milk in particular, and you can add as much or little to the ravioli as you so wish.

Technically speaking, Parmesan cheese tends to be an addition to the ravioli, rather than being a separate side.

However, we prefer to serve it as a side dish so that you can add more to the ravioli if this is something you require.

Frico Chips

Frico chips are a classic and traditional Italian dish that’s a popular choice to serve as a side.

Many people are unaware of this side dish, and are missing out as a result of this. The dish originates from north-east Italy.

Frico is made using heated cheese and potatoes. However, you can add other ingredients to the Frico chips too.

A popular choice when it comes to ravioli in particular is zucchini. This works particularly well with the flavors from the cheese and the ravioli.

Frico chips are crunchy and full of flavor, and once you’ve tried them once, you will realize just how moreish they can be!

They’re the perfect side to serve if you’re looking for a lighter accompaniment.

Summary

We hope you have found this article useful and insightful. As you can see, there are a number of different classic side dishes that can be served with ravioli.

You really are spoiled for choice and aren’t limited in any way. While all of these dishes are different and unique from each other, they are all fantastic, and certainly worth serving.

Which classic side dish will you choose to serve with ravioli first?

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Eat Ravioli Properly?

When it comes to eating ravioli, there is a specific way to eat it when looking at food etiquette.

As it’s served in a deep bowl, you will want to use a spoon to eat the ravioli, rather than a fork. This is how it’s traditionally eaten in Italy.

What Wine Goes Well With Ravioli?

There are two types of wine that go well with ravioli, a white wine that is bold, and a medium red wine.

Our personal preference is red wine, but a bold white wine can be great too. Ideally, you will want to choose an Italian wine, to go with this traditional Italian dish.

Can You Eat Ravioli Alone?

Yes, you can certainly eat ravioli alone if you want to. While we would always serve it with a side dish, it can be eaten alone.

By serving it with a side dish, you are adding to the meal and allowing it to become more filling. However, ravioli is a fairly filling meal to eat overall, and is fine to eat alone.

8 Classic Side Dishes You Should Serve With Ravioli

Ingredients

Polenta
Italian Bread
Roasted Vegetables
Garlic Bread
Balsamic Roasted Cipollini Onions
Rapini
Parmesan Cheese
Frico Chips

Directions

Pick a recipe from the list above
Click the recipe name and visit the website
Collect the ingredients and cook the food
Enjoy – don’t forget to leave a review

Recipe Video

Author
Recent Posts

Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!