Italian Fusion Sizzler

Growing up in India, sizzlers were very popular, and not one kind SO many different variations of them. Having a sizzler in the winter months is just a perfect idea so here is my take on an Italian fusion sizzler, the way I had it growing up. The sizzler has creamy pasta, veggie patty, sautéed veggies with paneer, french fries, and mac and cheese balls all served with a red sauce! Everything on its own is so delicious but together as a sizzler is YUMMY! Honestly, I don’t know why but all of this separately is not as fun as having it on a sizzling plate. This video doesn’t have the best sizzle thanks to the fire alarm starting and then me continuing the video outdoors which made the plate cold, but you get the point!

Happy Cooking!

Servings: 6-7 sizzlers

Prep Time: 1-2 hours

Cooking Time: 1-2 hours

Total Time: 2-4 hours

Ingredients: 

Pasta in a white sauce with corn:

• 7-9 oz pasta of your choice

• 1.5 tbsp butter

• 1.5 tbsp flour 

• 1 cup whole milk

• 1/2 cup pasta water 

• 1/4 cup heavy cream 

• 1 tsp Salt as per taste

• 1/4 tsp Pepper

• 1/2 tsp Chili flakes

• 1/2 tsp Oregano 

• 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder or ajwain

• 1/2 tsp Garlic powder

• 1/2 cup corn kernels

• 1/4 tsp Sugar 

• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese 

Sautéed veggies with Paneer:

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 250-300g paneer cut into 1-1.5 inch cubes

• 1-2 bell peppers cut into thin slices (use any color you want)

• 2 shallots or 1 large onion cut into thin slices

• 8-10 mushrooms cut into thin slices

• 1 head of broccoli cut into florets

• 1 cup grated carrots

• 4-5 scallions chopped

• Salt as per taste

• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning (mix of rosemary, basil, oregano, parsley, and chili flakes)

Burger patty:

• 6 burger patties (1 per sizzler) of your choice- You can use store-bought patties and cook them or make your own. Click here for the recipe if you want to make vegetable patties at home. I used store-bought quinoa black bean patties.

Red sauce:

• 1.5-2 cups of red sauce which can be a pizza sauce or marinara or arrabbiata sauce homemade or store-bought. I used a homemade arrabbiata sauce. Click here for a pizza sauce recipe.

French fries:

• About 6-7 oz of french fries (you can increase or decrease this) You can make french fries at home or use store-bought and cook them. I air-fried frozen french fries.

Mac & Cheese Balls/Snack :

• This is optional but you can add mac and cheese balls or another snack like jalapeno pooers. Again you use either homemade or cook store-bought.

Other assemblies:

• 4-6 tbsp Butter

• Cabbage in pieces or shredded

• 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1/2 cup water

Directions: 

1. I prepared the burger patty, mac and cheese balls, french fries, and red sauce before I started making the pasta and veggies. I put them all to air fry (apart from the sauce which I had ready from before) while I was making the pasta. You can time the components as you like, ideally you want everything still warm when you plate them.

Pasta in a white sauce with corn:

1. Put water with some salt to boil in a saucepan and boil the pasta till al dente. I like to boil the pasta when the sauce is being cooked so I can directly add the boiled pasta to the sauce.

2. Put a pan on low-medium heat and add butter.

3. Once it melts add flour and saute for 2-3 mins.

4. Keep the pan on medium heat and add 1/2 cup milk and mix well. The flour will mix with the milk and it will thicken, keep stirring and the lumps will go away. Use a whisk if you’re not sure about lumps

5. Add 1/2- 3/4 cup more milk, heavy cream, and pasta water. Mix till it is a smooth sauce.

6. Add corn, oregano, chili flakes, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and mix.

7. Let it cook and simmer for 2-3 mins till it thickens.

8. Add boiled pasta and mix it in for 1-2 mins till the sauce coats it well.

9. Add the mozzarella cheese, mix and keep aside.

Sautéed veggies with Paneer:

1. In a pan add olive oil and let it heat up.

2. Once it’s hot add paneer cubes and cook till golden brown and crispy. Flip them over and cook till both sides are crispy.

3. Once the paneer cubes are cooked, remove them from the pan and keep them aside.

4. To the pan add the onions, broccoli, and mushrooms. Saute on medium heat for 4-5 mins till the onions are translucent and the mushrooms are half-cooked.

5. Add the carrots, peppers, and scallions and cook it for 2-3 mins.

6. Add Italian seasonings, salt, pepper, and paneer cubes & mix. Cook for 2-3 mins till it is well incorporated. Keep the veggies aside.

Assembly: Please be careful while assembling and handling hot things. Also please be aware that the windows are open so it doesn’t get too smoky & start the fire alarm

1. Start heating up your red sauce. You want that to be hot so it sizzles on the plate.

2. Mix the water and oil and keep it aside. The oil won’t mix into it but you want the droplets dispersed.

3. Place the sizzling plate on flame/induction to heat it up. It should be very hot.

4. Spread some butter on the sizzling plate when hot and top with cabbage.

5. On one side put the pasta, then in the middle place the patty and top with mac and cheese balls if you’re making them. On the other side of the patty put the veggies and paneer and top it with french fries.

6. Put the hot red sauce over and along the sides of the patty to make it sizzle.

7. Before placing the sizzling plate on the wood plate sprinkle some of the oil-water mixture on the wood plate and then place the sizzling plate. That will cause it to sizzle and smoke more.

8. Serve immediately!

Notes/Tips:

• You can make a sizzler as complicated or easy as you want by using more or fewer components. Using store-bought components definitely helps reduce time and work.

• You can some of the components from before and reheat them like the pasta and sauce.

• I would always say to toss the veggies last so they are fresh and the paneer doesn’t get chewy.

• The oil-water mix helps keep it sizzling and smoky for longer.