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Turn ordinary pasta shells into a heartwarming Italian meal packed with a trio of fancy cheeses and garden-fresh spinach, all cooked in savory tomato basil sauce until golden and bubbling.
In our Italian home, we always saved manicotti for our Sunday feasts. Filling those shells together turned cooking into a treasured family event. Even today, when I smell this dish baking, it takes me back to those wonderful family moments.
Must-Have Components:
- Manicotti shells: Go for top-notch pasta that can handle boiling without tearing
- Ricotta: Get whole-fat, ideally fresh-made for extra smoothness
- Fresh spinach: Try to use baby spinach for softer texture and quicker prep
- Mozzarella: Whole milk, grated fresh for better melting
- Parmesan: True Parmigiano-Reggiano gives richer flavor
- Fresh herbs: Mix of basil and parsley adds brightness
Step-By-Step Guide:
- Getting The Pasta Ready:
- Fill a big pot with salty water and bring to a boil. Cook the manicotti for 8-10 minutes till slightly firm. At the same time, dunk spinach for 1 minute, cool it in ice water, drain and squeeze in a clean towel to get all the water out.
- Making The Stuffing:
- Mix drained ricotta, 1 2/3 cups of grated mozzarella, fresh Parmesan, cut-up herbs, crushed garlic, and the spinach in a big bowl. Add plenty of salt, pepper, and maybe some chili flakes if you want. Stir until everything's mixed well.
- Filling The Shells:
- Put the mix in a big piping bag with a 1/2 inch tip. Take one shell at a time and squeeze filling into both ends so it's full in the middle too. Place your filled shells on a tray lined with parchment.
- Putting It All Together:
- Spread 1 cup of sauce across the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Lay out your stuffed manicotti in one layer, with tiny gaps between them. Pour the rest of the sauce over top, making sure all shells are covered. Sprinkle with the mozzarella you kept aside.
- Baking It Up:
- Cover with foil and bake at 350°F for 20 minutes. Take off the foil and bake 5-10 minutes more until the cheese turns golden and sauce bubbles at the edges.
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When I was a kid in our Italian family, we learned that properly fixing spinach was super important. My grandma showed me that taking the extra time to squeeze out all the water means your filling will always turn out just right.
Prep Ahead Ideas:
Fix the whole dish, wrap it tight with plastic wrap and then foil. Keep in the fridge up to 24 hours. When you want to cook it, take off the plastic, put the foil back on, and add 15-20 minutes to your first covered cooking time.
Freezing Advice:
Let the finished dish cool all the way down. Wrap twice with plastic and foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in your fridge overnight before cooking. Add 20-25 minutes to cooking time if it's still cold.
Sunday Batch Cooking:
Make twice as much, put in two baking dishes. Eat one for dinner, freeze the other for later. Works great for busy nights or when friends drop by unexpectedly.
What To Serve With It:
Pair with a fresh Caesar salad topped with homemade garlicky croutons. Don't forget crusty Italian bread for mopping up sauce. A light red wine like Chianti goes really well with this.
Sharing With Everyone:
Let everything cool a bit before serving. Use a wide spatula to put 2-3 shells on each plate. Top with some fresh chopped basil and extra Parmesan. Offer more sauce on the side.
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This beloved dish brings together cozy Italian flavors with healthy spinach. After years of making it, I've found that controlling moisture and being generous with seasonings are the real secrets. You'll end up with a family meal that's both fancy and filling.
Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I prepare manicotti early?
- Sure, assemble it up to a day ahead, keep it in the fridge, and bake when ready.
- → Is freezing manicotti an option?
- Absolutely, freeze the uncooked dish for up to 3 months and thaw before baking.
- → How do you stuff manicotti easily?
- Grab a piping bag or cut a corner off a plastic bag to make it simpler.
- → Can I swap out the cheeses?
- Yes, try options like provolone or fontina for a twist.
- → Why did my shells break apart?
- Keep the pasta a little firm when boiling, so it doesn’t overcook.