Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with a culinary masterpiece that combines the richness of ricotta cheese with the delicate embrace of pasta shells. These Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Shells are an explosion of flavors and textures, offering a delightful symphony of creamy ricotta, savory fillings, and perfectly cooked pasta. Embark on a journey of culinary exploration as we unveil the secrets behind this delectable dish, providing you with step-by-step instructions and a treasure trove of variations to suit every palate.
From the classic combination of spinach and ricotta to the indulgent blend of sun-dried tomatoes and pesto, each recipe promises a unique sensory experience. Whether you prefer a vegetarian delight or a meaty extravaganza, this article has something for everyone. Discover the art of crafting the perfect homemade pasta dough, or simplify your meal prep with store-bought shells. With detailed cooking instructions and helpful tips, you'll be whipping up this impressive dish like a seasoned chef in no time.
STUFFED SHELLS WITH SPINACH, RICOTTA, AND COTTAGE CHEESE
This is one recipe that my family never gets tired off. Works great all the time! I like to serve this with toasted Italian bread and salad. Leftovers can be used for lunch.
Provided by basementbakery
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta
Time 1h25m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 7 to 8 minutes; do not overcook. Drain and rinse shells with cold water.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
- Place frozen spinach in a microwave-safe bowl and add water. Heat in the microwave for 4 minutes. Stir and allow to cool. Squeeze spinach dry and transfer to a large bowl.
- Add cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, onion, egg, garlic, oregano, basil, nutmeg, salt, and pepper to the bowl with the spinach and mix well.
- Pour and spread 1/2 to 3/4 cup pasta sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Fill each cooked pasta shell with spinach mixture and arrange, filled-side up, in the baking dish, keeping 1/2 inch between shells. Carefully pour remaining sauce on top of shells and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top. Cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil.
- Bake in the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, about 40 minutes. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 512 calories, Carbohydrate 68 g, Cholesterol 56.5 mg, Fat 13.9 g, Fiber 7.4 g, Protein 28.6 g, SaturatedFat 6.7 g, Sodium 1016.6 mg, Sugar 14 g
STUFFED SHELLS WITH GROUND TURKEY AND RICOTTA CHEESE
Left over ricotta cheese led me to making this recipe. Instead of the basic marinara sauce I made a bechamel sauce. Now if you are looking for a low fat recipe - this is not it. This is rich and creamy and delicious!
Provided by Golden Sunflower
Categories One Dish Meal
Time 1h
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Prepare bechamel sauce. I use recipe #117939. After the straining and the sauce was still warm add mozzarella cheese. Keep warm.
- Cook shells to al dente and let cool to touch.
- Saute onion, garlic and turkey until no longer pink. Add frozen spinach, nutmeg, pepper and generous amount of salt.
- In a medium bowl mix warm turkey mixture with ricotta cheese. At this point taste and adjust seasoning.
- Cover the bottom of Pyrex dish with some bechamel sauce.
- Stuff shells, place in dish and cover with remaining sauce.
- Bake at 350 until heated through.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts : Calories 215.9, Fat 13.7, SaturatedFat 6.9, Cholesterol 78.6, Sodium 158.9, Carbohydrate 4.4, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 1.1, Protein 18.6
RICOTTA CHEESE-STUFFED SHELLS
Steps:
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, cook onion, in oil in large skillet until tender. Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste and broth. Season to taste with salt and pepper, if desired. Combine eggs, ricotta cheese, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Spoon filling into shells. Arrange in 3-quart baking dish. Spoon sauce over shells. Bake, covered, at 375F, 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, 5 minutes more until heated through and cheese is melted.
STUFFED SHELLS (SPINACH & RICOTTA CHEESE) RECIPE - (4.7/5)
Provided by lknowles
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- 1. Set an oven rack to the highest position and heat oven to 400° F. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; drain and run under cold water until cool. 2. Spread the marinara sauce in the bottom of a large broilerproof baking dish. 3. In a bowl, combine the ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Spoon the mixture into the shells and place them on top of the sauce. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake until the shells are heated through, 10 to 12 minutes. 4. Increase heat to broil. Broil the shells until the cheese begins to brown, 2 to 5 minutes. Serve with the salad, if desired. Nutritional Information * Per Serving * Calories 794 * Fat 47g * Sat Fat 24g * Cholesterol 141mg * Sodium 1,390mg * Protein 44g * Carbohydrate 49g * Sugar 9g * Fiber 5g * Iron 3mg * Calcium 798mg
Tips:
- Use fresh ricotta cheese: Fresh ricotta cheese has a creamier, more delicate flavor than store-bought ricotta cheese. If you can, make your own ricotta cheese at home using whole milk.
- Season the ricotta cheese filling generously: Don't be afraid to season the ricotta cheese filling with salt, pepper, and herbs. This will help to enhance the flavor of the filling and make it more flavorful.
- Use a variety of cheeses: In addition to ricotta cheese, you can also use other cheeses in the filling, such as Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, or asiago cheese.
- Cook the shells al dente: Be careful not to overcook the shells, as they will become mushy. Cook them until they are al dente, or slightly firm to the bite.
- Use a good quality tomato sauce: The tomato sauce is an important part of this dish, so use a good quality sauce that you enjoy. You can use a store-bought sauce or make your own at home.
- Bake the shells until they are golden brown: Bake the shells until they are golden brown and bubbly. This will help to ensure that the shells are cooked through and that the cheese is melted and gooey.
Conclusion:
Ricotta cheese stuffed shells is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal or a special occasion. With a few simple tips, you can make sure that your ricotta cheese stuffed shells turn out perfectly every time. So what are you waiting for? Give this recipe a try today!
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love