This put up could include affiliate hyperlinks. For extra info, please see our affiliate coverage.
Every jumbo pasta shell is generously full of a creamy mixture of ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, sautéed spinach, and nestled right into a skillet of wealthy marinara sauce. After a fast journey to the oven, the stuffed shells come out effervescent with melty cheese and aromatic marinara. Serve with do-it-yourself garlic dinner rolls.
Stuffed Shells that stand out from the group!
Pasta is one in every of my favourite issues to cook dinner, and I all the time attempt to make my pasta dishes considerably distinctive. For this recipe, I’m utilizing jumbo shells (conchiglioni) full of a traditional spinach and ricotta filling, however with just a few twists:
- I exploit toasted pine nuts each within the filling and on high of the shells so as to add a wealthy, nutty crunch.
- I sauté the garlic and spinach earlier than including them to the ricotta combination, to boost taste and scale back moisture, protecting the filling agency. Contemporary lemon zest and juice brighten the general taste.
- No-boil shortcut: I cook dinner the shells simply shy of al dente to forestall over-softening. This methodology ensures that the shells retain their construction and take up the marinara sauce with out falling aside.
- I exploit high-quality substances like freshly grated mozzarella, parmesan, and premium marinara sauce (resembling Rao’s or Mezzetta) to raise the dish to restaurant-quality.
The Elements
- Contemporary substances: You will want garlic, recent spinach, an egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and recent basil for garnish.
- Pantry: You will want jumbo pasta shells (Conchiglioni), olive oil, salt, pepper, and pine nuts.
- Dairy: I exploit ricotta cheese, low-moisture mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese.
- Tomato sauce: Use a high-quality store-bought marinara – I like to recommend Rao’s or Mezzetta manufacturers.
- Tip: the under photograph depicts each single ingredient you want. Take a screenshot on your purchasing listing!
How To Make Stuffed Shells (step-by-step pictures)
Be aware: This can be a step-by-step overview. Discover the complete recipe with measurements within the recipe card under.
Preheat the oven to 375°F and cook dinner the jumbo shells simply shy of al dente—they’ll end up within the oven. In a skillet, sauté garlic and spinach with a bit salt and pepper till wilted (smashing it with a spatula speeds issues up).
In a medium bowl, combine the spinach with ricotta, mozzarella, parm, an egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, and toasted pine nuts—as a result of we’re fancy like that. Pour marinara into the identical skillet.
Stuff these shells generously, and nestle them into the sauce. Cowl, bake till bubbly, then uncover for the ultimate golden contact. End with extra parm, basil, and the remainder of the pine nuts. Serve instantly!
Ideas for Success
- You might be welcome to high the stuffed shells with extra grated mozzarella if you happen to like, however it may well overwhelm the fragile texture and taste of the spinach and ricotta if utilized in massive portions.
- Ensure to cook dinner the shells al dente! In the event you totally cook dinner them earlier than baking, you’ll overcook them within the closing bake, making them mealy and dry.
- If the ricotta is just too moist, you possibly can drain the surplus moisture utilizing cheese fabric or a strainer.
- Strive to not overfill the shells. If there’s so much bulging out, scoop a bit out.
- In the event you can solely discover untoasted and unsalted pine nuts, toast them in a pan on medium warmth with no oil. Ensure to stir each 30 seconds in order that they don’t burn. As soon as they’ve turn into a contact brown, sprinkle them with salt and take away them instantly to a flat tray or plate to chill earlier than utilizing them within the recipe.
Serve with
Stuffed Shells
Forestall your display from going darkish
Directions
-
Preheat the oven to 375 levels. Comply with the cooking instructions in your jumbo pasta shells package deal, however ensure that to cook dinner them simply slightly below to al dente.
-
In a medium forged iron skillet, warmth the olive oil over medium warmth and saute the garlic and spinach with a pinch of salt and pepper collectively till the spinach is wilted. You’ll be able to smash the spinach with a spatula to assist extra moisture evaporate throughout cooking. If the spinach leaves are massive, ensure that to cut it roughly.
-
Mix the spinach and garlic in a big bowl with the egg, ricotta, mozzarella, parm, ½ cup pine nuts, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to style.
-
Pour the marinara into the identical forged iron skillet, stuff the shells with the spinach ricotta combination, about 2 heaping tablespoons per shell, and place them into the sauce.
-
Cowl with foil and bake for 25-Half-hour, till the marinara is effervescent and the pasta has cooked via. Take away the foil, and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
-
Take away from the oven, garnish with parmesan cheese, remaining pine nuts, and freshly chopped basil.
Vitamin
Vitamin Info
Stuffed Shells
Quantity per Serving
% Every day Worth*
* P.c Every day Values are based mostly on a 2000 calorie weight loss program.
Vitamin Disclaimer:
The dietary info on this web site is simply an estimate and is offered for comfort and as a courtesy solely. The accuracy of the dietary info for any recipe on this website isn't assured. It shouldn't be used as an alternative to an expert nutritionist’s recommendation.
Substitutions
- Cottage cheese: This cheese will be lighter in fats content material than ricotta. Nonetheless, it's typically wetter. Ensure to empty it for a minimum of 10 minutes in both a strainer or cheese fabric previous to utilizing.
- Mascarpone: For a creamier richer different, substitute the ricotta with mascarpone.
- Kale, Swiss Chard, Arugula, Frozen Spinach: You'll be able to substitute the recent spinach with any of those different choices. For the frozen spinach, ensure that to defrost it and take away all the moisture previous to mixing.
- Manicotti Tubes: You'll be able to fill par-cooked manicotti tubes with the spinach ricotta combination in case you have a tough time discovering jumbo pasta shells.
- Vodka sauce, meat sauce: You might be welcome to make use of every other sort of tomato sauce for this recipe!
- Garlic parm bread crumb topping: If you wish to sub the pine nuts for an additional crunchy topping, a scrumptious different is to mix about 1 cup of bread crumbs, 1 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of butter, a bit salt and pepper right into a small pan and toast barely. Sprinkle this in your stuffed shells previous to baking.
- Frozen spinach: You'll be able to substitute recent spinach with the identical quantity of frozen spinach. Simply ensure that it’s fully thawed and all water has been squeezed out.
Variations
- Spicy: If you wish to add some spice, be at liberty so as to add ½ teaspoon of crushed purple pepper into the spinach ricotta combination!
- Meat: You'll be able to add some floor turkey, hen, beef, or pork to this recipe so as to add much more protein!
- Vegan: When you have entry to vegan cheeses, be at liberty to exchange all the cheese together with your favourite vegan varieties.
- Pesto: You'll be able to add pesto to both or each your ricotta stuffing and marinara previous to baking!
Storage & Reheating Directions
- To refrigerate: The cooled pasta will be saved in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- To freeze, place the pasta in an hermetic container. You'll be able to freeze the pasta for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge in a single day earlier than reheating.
- To reheat, place the pasta on a microwave secure plate, cowl with a paper towel to forestall splatter, and warmth between 30 seconds to 1 minute or till it reaches your required temperature.
Extra Pasta Recipes
