August 01, 2008
Giant Stuffed Pasta Shells
Posted by: Mamma : Category: Italian Pasta Recipes, Italian Recipes
This pasta recipe takes a bit of work but if you are having a dinner party and you are wanting to WOW the crowd this Italian recipe will suffice.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs Fresh Spinach or 2 (10 oz) packages frozen chopped spinach
2 green onions finely chopped
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
36 each Jumbo shells
3 cups Marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce
8 ounces sweet Italian sausage (this item can be left out if wish to have without meat)
Directions:
- Place fresh spinach in large saucepan, cover and cook over moderate heat until wilted. About 4-5 minutes. Drain and cool. When cool squeeze dry and chop fine.
- With a large skillet on moderate heat cook the 8 ounces of Italian sausage (remove casings first), until brown or about 5 minutes. To reduce grease use a slotted spoon to place the meat onto a plate with paper towel. Cool and chop fine.
- Using same skillet saute 1 small finely chopped , 1 clove garlic (minced). Stir frequently for about 5 minutes.
- Using a large bowl combine onion mixture, sausage, spinach, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 cup ricotta cheese, 1 egg, 1 tbsp minced parsley, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Cook pasta as per package instructions…do not overcook. Drain off about half of the water and refill the pot with cold water. Remove shells and place on kitchen towel.
- Preheat oven 375 deg F.
- Spread tomato sauce over bottom of shallow 2 quart casserole dish. Stuff pasta shells with sausage and spinach mixture and place them on the sauce. Spoon remaining (2 cups) of sauce overall and sprinkle with rest of parmesan cheese (1/2 cup).
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until heated and bubbling
Serves 4
Let Mamma Feed you … Mangia
