I feel I might need simply made the final pasta dish… spinach and ricotta stuffed shells!
These enormous pasta shells are filled with garlicky sautéed spinach and creamy ricotta cheese, doused in a wealthy tomato sauce, and topped with a melty cheese topping. I actually cannot consider any higher mixture – all my favorite issues smooshed collectively.
It is laborious to go unsuitable with a tacky pasta bake, however this has bought to be my favorite one but.
These stuffed shells have a little bit of every part I like.
Spinach and ricotta is a superbly traditional mixture (I’ve used it to make dumplings, stuffed potatoes, and lentil slice, amongst different issues…), and when it is contrasted with the tangy tomato sauce, it is simply stunning!
These large pasta shells are the right scoops to maintain every part contained. They’re critically satisfying to eat.
Plus, they’re tremendous easy to make – excellent for a comfy Sunday night, or to feed your hungry household. This recipe is a particular crowd-pleaser!
Soar to:
❤️ Why You may Love This Recipe
- It is creamy, it is wealthy and tangy, it is tacky, it is gooey, it is hearty and comforting… Critically, I can not overstate simply how insanely scrumptious these stuffed shells are!
- The recipe is straightforward and simple to place collectively, with no pointless steps.
- You possibly can velocity issues up through the use of a very good high quality shop-bought sauce – or take the time to make your individual from scratch.
- The dish may be ready prematurely if wanted, so it is excellent for serving to friends.
- Any leftovers (for those who’re restrained sufficient to have them!) can simply be microwaved to reheat, or frozen till wanted.
🥗 Elements
This is what you will have to make this recipe:
- massive pasta shells – also referred to as conchiglioni.
- tomato sauce. I used a very good high quality shop-bought tomato sauce, as I wished to maintain issues tremendous easy. In the event you’d choose to make your individual sauce, I extremely suggest my sluggish cooker tomato sauce, which may be made with barely any effort!
- ricotta cheese
- recent spinach. You possibly can swap this for frozen spinach, for those who choose.
- egg – to assist agency up the creamy filling because it bakes.
- garlic
- nutmeg. You possibly can skip this if you do not have it at hand, but it surely does add a very nice heat to the creamy pasta stuffing.
- parmesan-style cheese. ‘Actual’ parmesan is not really vegetarian, as it’s made with animal rennet. Be sure you discover a vegetarian model (typically simply referred to as ‘Italian laborious cheese’) as a substitute!
See the printable recipe card beneath for detailed ingredient portions.
👌 High tip
If you cannot discover massive pasta shells in your native grocery store, you should purchase them on-line – discover them on Amazon US / Amazon UK.
Alternatively, you could possibly use one other ‘stuffable’ kind of pasta, like cannelloni or manicotti.
🔄 Recipe Adjustments
There are a couple of methods you could possibly adapt this recipe to make it simply best for you.
- So as to add some additional veg, attempt scattering some cooked peas or peppers via the dish with the pasta shells.
- Or, for those who chop your greens finely sufficient, you’ll be able to add them to the spinach and ricotta stuffing. Some finely chopped mushrooms, for instance, might be sautéed together with the spinach and garlic.
- Use grated cheddar or mozzarella on high of the shells for an much more melty, gooey end.
- To make this recipe even faster to make, you may as well simply adapt it to make use of some other small form of pasta. Simply dollop the creamy spinach filling via the cooked pasta within the baking dish, moderately than stuffing the shells individually. It is going to all style the identical in the long run!
📋 Directions
This is how one can make these tasty stuffed shells – see beneath for the printable recipe with detailed elements and directions.
Step 1: Boil the pasta shells in keeping with the directions on the packet.
These massive shells have a behavior of getting cupped collectively within the pan (spooning in slightly pasta cuddle), so poke them round a bit with a fork to ensure they’re all completely separate as they cook dinner.
Step 2: Sauté the spinach with some garlic.
Contemporary spinach is infamous for cooking down a lot, so it’s a must to use fairly a big amount to start with. You possibly can add it to the pan slightly at a time if it is at risk of spilling over!
Step 3: When the spinach is cooked, mix it with the ricotta cheese, some grated parmesan, and an egg. I like so as to add slightly floor nutmeg too, in addition to loads of salt and pepper.
Step 4: Stuff the spinach and ricotta combination into the cooked pasta shells, and place them right into a baking dish.
It is no downside if the stuffed shells must be stacked on high of one another – and please do not be too tidy about it! This does not have to take all day. It is going to find yourself tasting the identical, regardless of how messy you are being.
👌 High tip
Add a skinny layer of tomato sauce to the underside of the baking dish, beneath the pasta. It will forestall the pasta from sticking to the dish, and in addition ensures that you simply get some tomatoey flavour all through each chunk.
Step 5: High the shells with the remaining tomato sauce and grated parmesan. Cowl the dish with a lid (or some kitchen foil, if you do not have an appropriate lid), and bake till every part is piping scorching and the cheese is good and gooey.
💭 Stuffed Shells FAQs
Sure – you’ll be able to put together every part prematurely, however cease simply earlier than baking it. The ready dish may be saved within the fridge for a day or two, then baked once you’re able to serve. In the event you’re utilizing a baking dish that is chilly from the fridge, ensure you do not preheat your oven – permit the dish and the oven to heat up slowly collectively, to stop any breakages.
Sure – pasta bakes usually freeze rather well! Simply switch any leftovers to an air-tight container, and freeze. I’d suggest defrosting the dish first, then reheating within the microwave to ensure it stays moist.
Any ‘stuffable’ pasta form, like cannelloni or manicotti, can be utilized instead of the conchiglioni on this recipe. Alternatively, you’ll be able to even use any smaller pasta form, and skip the ‘stuffing’ step. Simply dollop the spinach and ricotta combination across the dish, together with the cooked pasta.
🧀 Extra Tacky Pasta Bakes
📖 Printable Recipe
Spinach and Ricotta Stuffed Pasta Shells
These stuffed shells are the last word pasta dish! With garlicky sautéed spinach, creamy ricotta cheese, and a wealthy tomato sauce – all smothered in a melty cheese topping. Irresistible!
In the event you’ve cooked this recipe, remember to go away a star score!
Servings: 3 individuals
Energy: 663kcal
Directions
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Boil the pasta shells in loads of water till cooked al dente. Make certain the shells do not interlock within the pan, in any other case they will not cook dinner evenly.
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Whereas the pasta is cooking, warmth a touch of oil in a frying pan. Add the roughly chopped spinach and the chopped garlic, and cook dinner over a medium warmth for a couple of minutes, till the spinach has wilted and any extra liquid has cooked off. If in case you have a small pan, you’ll be able to add the spinach a handful at a time, after which add extra because it begins to cook dinner down.
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When the spinach has all wilted, add it to a mixing bowl, together with the ricotta cheese, half of the parmesan (maintain again the remaining for topping), the egg, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Combine completely to mix.
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Unfold a few third of the tomato sauce into the bottom of a baking dish – mine measured roughly 8 x 8 inches.
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When the pasta is cooked, drain it, and rinse the shells beneath chilly water till they’re cool sufficient to deal with. Stuff every shell with a few teaspoon of the spinach and ricotta combination, and place it within the dish on high of the tomato sauce. It is wonderful if the shells overlap, or if you could make two layers. There is not any must be too neat about it.
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When you will have used up the entire pasta shells and the stuffing combination, high with the remaining tomato sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan.
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Cowl the dish with a lid (or some kitchen foil, if you do not have a lid), and bake at 190°C (Fuel Mark 5 / 375°F) for round 20-25 minutes, or till every part is piping scorching and the cheese topping is melty. Serve topped with recent herbs, if desired.
Notes
Leftovers may be frozen in an air-tight container. I’d suggest defrosting the dish first, then reheating within the microwave to ensure it stays moist.
Diet
Serving: 1 portion – Energy: 663 kcal – Carbohydrates: 67.3 g – Protein: 35.9 g – Fats: 28.3 g – Saturated Fats: 11.4 g – Ldl cholesterol: 166 mg – Sodium: 1865 mg – Potassium: 672 mg – Fiber: 4.9 g – Sugar: 6.9 g – Calcium: 641 mg – Iron: 7 mg
Dietary data is approximate, and can rely in your precise elements. Please calculate your individual dietary values for those who require accuracy for well being causes.
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