Agnolotti Vs. Ravioli: Differences, How To Tell Them Apart?

Have you ever wondered why many people believe that agnolotti and ravioli are similar dishes? Well, it is because one dish is made out of the other. Our next paragraph clarifies and tells more about agnolotti vs. ravioli to give you an overview of these two words.

Agnolotti is a type of square or rectangular ravioli made from small sheets of folded-up pasta. Pasta squares stuffed with various fillings, like small ravioli, are also called agnolotti. In contrast, ravioli is a small square pasta filled with meat, cheese, and spinach or a dish made with ravioli.

The difference between agnolotti and ravioli is not as hard as you may assume. Besides being dishes, there is more to learn about these words. Read on to find out their definitions, usage, and differences.

Definitions Of Agnolotti And Ravioli

The dictionary is the go-to source when looking for the definitions of words you do not understand. However, since there are many online and offline dictionaries, you may be confused by the different meanings of the same word. So, we researched the definitions from various sources and prepared the following section. Here are the definitions for agnolotti and ravioli:

Definition Of Agnolotti

Agnolotti is a special pasta rolled into thin sheets and folded over meat, cheese, and other fillings. It is typically cut into small semicircles. The plural form for Agnolotto is Agnolotti.

Here is an example in a sentence, “My mum makes the best agnolotti in the entire neighborhood.”

The agnolotti is a pasta typical of the Piedmont region in Italy. It is made with small pieces of flattened pasta dough stuffed with roasted meat or vegetables. For example, in a sentence, “The Italians make the best agnolotti I have ever tasted in my life.”

Definition Of Ravioli

Ravioli is an Italian dish consisting of small square pasta parcels stuffed with meat, vegetables, or cheese. The small square or circular pasta parcels are made with savory fillings. Here is an example in a sentence, “The Italians do not approve of how Americans make ravioli.”

This word also refers to any dish made with ravioli. For example, in a sentence, “The ravioli dish we ate last night was the best I have ever tasted.”

Ravioli came about in the 1610s. It originates from the Middle English word “raffyolys” or “rafyols” used in the late 14th century. In 1841, this word was re-borrowed from Italian by Modern English. The plural for the Italian “ravioli” is “raviolo. ”

How To Properly Use Agnolotti And Ravioli In A Sentence

Use the word agnolotti in the following contexts:

• The noun for pasta rolled into thin sheets, folded over savory fillings, and sliced into small semi circles or squares. For example, “The Italian restaurant sells big agnolotti.”
• Referring to a dish made up of agnolotti. For example, “Please do not eat the agnolotti I left in the fridge.”

Note that agnolotti is an uncountable noun. Therefore, its plural form is still “agnolotti.” However, in Italian, agnolotti is the plural for agnolotto.

Use the word ravioli in a sentence when:

• Referring to a dish consisting of stuffed round or square pasta parcels. For example, in a sentence, “One of the best items on this menu is the ravioli.”
• Referring to a dish made with ravioli. For example, in a sentence, “You cannot make ravioli if you do not know how to make pasta.”

The noun ravioli can be countable or uncountable. Therefore, you can apply it as an uncountable noun in general contexts. So, in these scenarios, the plural remains the same “ravioli.” An example sentence is, “I ate two plates of ravioli last night.”

In contrast, you can apply it as a countable noun in specific contexts, like when speaking of different types or collections. So, in these scenarios, the plural is “raviolis.” For example, in a sentence, “The chef taught us how to make various types of raviolis yesterday.”

Agnolotti Vs. Ravioli: More Things That Tell Them Apart

These words refer to timeless Italian dishes loved globally. Therefore, besides their definitions, you can differentiate these words by looking at elements like preparation, history, and serving. Below are apparent differences between agnolotti and ravioli.:

Preparation

You prepare the agnolotti by rolling out a dough made of flour and eggs. Next, use a rolling pin to slice it into tiny squares. From there, stuff the small squares with meat or vegetables. Lastly, insert the small square into a larger one prepared with the same technique and cook it in meat broth for a few minutes (5 to 10). The tiny stuffed square is called the ravioli.

Related: TSP or TBSP

You prepare ravioli by creating small squares with dough made from flour and eggs. Next, stuff the square or rectangular pasta with ricotta, meat, vegetables, and cheese. From there, seal the filling between two thin egg pasta dough layers. Finally, you can deep fry or bake it.

Origin

The Italians came up with the agnolotti as a way for farmers to use their leftover meat. Therefore, the creators of this dish applied various recipes, depending on the ingredients. It is still a popular dish around Italy’s Monferrato, Alessandria, and Astri provinces.

In contrast, the history of ravioli dates back to the 14th century. Its traditional recipe included mixed vegetable herbs, eggs, and cheese. However, the dish traditionally got simmered in a broth instead of frying or baking.

Serving

You can serve ravioli with any tomato or cream-based pasta sauce. Additionally, it can function as a main course, an appetizer, or a side dish. The same applies to agnolotti. Therefore, this is more of a similarity than a difference.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation for agnolotti is “/anno-loti/.” However, in Piedmontese, it is pronounced as “/anu-lot/.” In contrast, the correct pronunciation for ravioli is “/ra-ve-o-le/.” This pronunciation applies in English and Italian.

List Of Examples Of Agnolotti And Ravioli Use In Sentences

These words are pretty easy to use. However, since they have Italian roots, you may not find good example sentences of their applications. So, we took the privilege to prepare some. Here are some example sentences for each word:

Example sentences of agnolotti

1. James and Mark fought because Mark ate James’ agnolotti.
2. I am searching for an Italian restaurant in New York that serves agnolotti.
3. You cannot prepare agnolotti if you do not know how to prepare ravioli.
4. My mother spent hours watching YouTube videos to learn how to prepare agnolotti.
5. One of the best dishes I ate while in Italy was the agnolotti.

Example sentences of ravioli

1. I was annoyed at my mother because she ignored my request to prepare ravioli for my in-laws.
2. It would be best to have the pasta roller attachment or an entire pasta roller set to make ravioli.
3. The girls love visiting Martha’s house on Wednesdays because she always prepares ravioli from scratch.
4. The restaurant does not sell authentic ravioli; instead, they buy it from Italian food stands.
5. I knew Mark was lying about visiting Italy when he said he did not know what ravioli was.

Conclusion

Of these two words, ravioli is the most popular one. However, if you understand the meaning of ravioli, you should not have any issues with the definition of agnolotti. This is because agnolotti is pasta stuffed with ravioli. It is as simple as that!

So, you do not have to be Italian to understand the differences between ravioli and agnolotti and how to use these words in sentences. Let us know what you think about this article and what was the most interesting fact you have learned about these words.