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Thursday, 29 December 2011

Stuffed Shells with Ricotta and Spinach

Stuffed Shells are a ton of fun to build and can be a fun way to involve friends, and family in helping to get dinner ready.  A very quick and easy recipe to put together, in no time at all, you'll be sitting down to something that seems so simple, yet tastes like a million bucks.

Chop a small onion finely, saute in olive oil seasoned with salt, pepper and a teaspoon of dill.  When soft, mix in 2 bags of fresh spinach (700-800g in total), saute until wilted, set aside, and let cool.  Mix in 1 package of Ricotta (500g), 1/3-1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese and 1 beaten egg.  Blend together and fill shells.

Boil your jumbo shells in well salted water until al dente, drain, let cool till you can handle them while filling.

Place enough sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish to just cover it, rest your stuffed shells into the sauce.  When I cover the tops of the shells with the sauce I try to leave some of the nice green and white colors peek through, so I don't smother it.  I mostly try to cover the bare outsides of the shell with sauce, leaving the Spinach Cheese mixture uncovered.  Grate fresh Parmesan cheese on top.

Bake in a preheated oven set at 350 degrees for 30 minutes till heated through well.

Plate for serving and enjoy : )


Mixing Ricotta with Spinach mixture


Adding Parmesan

Add 1 beaten egg

Place stuffed shells in a dish covered in sauce

Little soldiers

Peek a Boo

Top with Parmesan (my new grater : )

The ONLY brand of jumbo shells at the store, weird...one choice : ) They worked perfect

Dinner is served

And a second helping : )