Welcome to a delightful cooking experience with this classic Manicotti recipe! This dish, filled with creamy cheese and smothered in marinara, is sure to impress your family and friends. Let's dive into the deliciousness!
Cheese Filling
This part’s so satisfying — mixing together all that cheesy goodness!
Assembling the Manicotti
Trust me, rolling up those noodles with the cheese filling is a fun and rewarding step!
Ingredients
- Manicotti:
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- Cheese Filling:
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Instructions
- Make the sauce:
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Step 1- Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, eggs, salt, pepper, and herbs; set aside.
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Step 2- Prepare noodles: Pour 1 inch boiling water into a large casserole dish. Add dry noodles, a few at a time, allowing them to soak until pliable, about 5 minutes. Use a fork to help separate the noodles if needed, to prevent them from sticking together. Remove noodles from water and place in a single layer on a plate.
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Step 3- Assemble: Spread the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly with 1 1/2 cups red sauce. Place one pliable noodle in front of you and scoop about 1/4 cup cheese mixture in a line along the bottom short end. Roll all the way up into a tube shape and arrange in the baking dish seam side down. (You should be able to fit 8 manicotti in each row, allowing all 16 to fit in the dish).
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Step 4- Bake: Pour remaining red sauce over the filled pasta. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake at 375 degrees for about 40 minutes, until bubbly. Remove cover and sprinkle on remaining 1 cup Parmesan. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 5-7 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
- Calories: 450, Fat: 20g, Carbs: 55g, Protein: 25g
Cooking techniques
This recipe uses boiling and baking techniques to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. Soaking the noodles allows them to become pliable, making them easier to roll and fill!
Variations or substitutions
Feel free to mix up the cheeses! You can experiment with different types of cheese for the filling, such as cottage cheese or different herbs for a unique flavor.
Storage tips
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the assembled manicotti before baking for a quick meal later!
Notes
For a lighter version, you can use part-skim ricotta cheese and reduce the amount of mozzarella.
