This cannelloni with spinach and ricotta recipe is a standard Italian baked pasta dish, usually served right here in Italy as a starter for Sunday lunch and vacation meals. It makes use of a basic ricotta and spinach filling that’s stuffed into cannelloni tubes that are baked in a creamy béchamel sauce topped with savory Parmigiano Reggiano.
Historical past
The origins of cannelloni and manicotti are debated amongst Italian pasta makers and meals historians. In Italy, this pasta is thought solely as cannelloni, whereas within the USA, they name it manicotti or maniche, that means sleeves.
Though Italians used the time period ‘cannelloni’ way back to the 1600s. They had been referring to several types of rolled and stuffed meals, a few of which had been candy however none had been made with egg pasta dough.
Home made cannelloni pasta acutally solely dates again to the twentieth century There’s a widespread perception that in 1924, a chef named Chef Salvatore Coletta invented cannelloni in a resort in Amalfi.
The story goes that Chef Coletta ready a dish he referred to as cannelloni, which he offered to Don Alfredo Vozzi, the proprietor of the Cappuccini Lodge in Amalfi. After tasting it, Don Vozzi despatched Coletta to point out the dish to Don Andrea Barbaro, proprietor of the Lodge Luna. Don Andrea Barbaro ended up so impressed that they celebrated by ringing the bells of the convent church.
Contemporary cannelloni is historically made out of crammed and rolled-up lasagne sheets. Many Italian homecooks and eating places nonetheless make this pasta that means right this moment. Nevertheless, there are additionally dried variations of those pasta tubes accessible commercially. These are what I used for this recipe.
The spinach and ricotta filling is a basic in Italian delicacies, widespread all through Italy. Italians use it in numerous pasta dishes reminiscent of tortellini and ravioli. This basic mixture is liked for its simplicity and its stability of taste.
Substances
- Dried Cannelloni Tubes: The filling is stuffed contained in the cannelloni tubes. If unavailable, substitute with dried manicotti or massive precooked pasta shells.
- Parmigiano Reggiano: Use this for topping and within the filling. This cheese provides a pointy, nutty taste. To make this dish vegetarian, select a parmesan various made with out animal rennet.
- Additional Virgin Olive Oil: Provides taste to the dish. Use a high-quality oil for the most effective style.
- Contemporary Spinach: The star of the filling. If not accessible, different leafy greens like kale will be substituted.
- Cow’s Ricotta: Offers the creamy texture of the filling. Guarantee it is well-drained to keep away from a watery filling.
- Eggs: Binds the filling components collectively.
- Nutmeg: Provides a touch of heat spice to the filling and béchamel sauce.
- Milk: Varieties the bottom of the béchamel sauce.
- ’00’ Flour: A superb Italian flour very best for making a clean béchamel sauce.
- Butter: Used within the béchamel sauce and for cooking the spinach. Provides richness and taste.
Professional Ideas
Filling Consistency: When making ready the spinach and ricotta filling, make sure the ricotta is well-drained. Extra moisture could make the filling too runny and have an effect on the ultimate texture of the dish.
Béchamel Sauce Thickness: Put together a béchamel sauce that is barely on the thinner facet, because the starch from the dry pasta and baking course of will thicken it.
Filling the Tubes: A piping bag with a big nozzle is essentially the most environment friendly method to fill the cannelloni tubes. If you do not have a piping bag, a teaspoon works properly; simply be sure you fill from each ends for even distribution.
Layering the Sauce: Begin with a skinny layer of béchamel on the underside of your baking dish to forestall sticking. After arranging the crammed tubes, cowl them fully with the remaining sauce to make sure each chew is moist and flavorful.
Step by Step Directions
1) Begin by preheating your oven to 390°F (200°C).
2) In a pot, add the spinach and 1 tablespoon of water, then prepare dinner for about 1 minute till it’s simply wilted. Drain properly, squeezing out as a lot water as doable. As soon as cooled, chop the spinach finely.
Tip: You possibly can squeeze out the water from the spinach by wringing it in a clear tea towel or together with your arms.
3) Place the chopped spinach in a bowl along with the ricotta, egg, pepper, nutmeg, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Combine properly with a spoon or fork, then season with salt.
4) Soften butter in a saucepan over low warmth. Stir within the flour to kind a paste (roux).
5) Step by step add the milk, stirring always. After incorporating about half the milk, change to a whisk and proceed whisking, step by step including the remaining milk till the combination thickens.
6) Season with nutmeg and salt. The béchamel must be barely thinner than typical for this recipe.
7) Fill the cannelloni tubes with the spinach and ricotta combination. You possibly can make the most of a piping bag fitted with a big, clean nozzle to fill every tube with the ricotta and spinach combination. Alternatively, a teaspoon will be efficient; fill every cannelloni tube from one finish, then flip and fill from the opposite finish to make sure even distribution of the filling.
8) Unfold a skinny layer of béchamel sauce within the backside of a baking dish. Organize the crammed cannelloni in a single layer. Cowl with the remaining béchamel sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmigiano Reggiano excessive.
9) Cowl the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Take away the foil and proceed baking for one more 5-10 minutes till the cheese is golden brown.
10) Enable the cannelloni to relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving.
Storage and Leftovers
To retailer leftover cannelloni with spinach and ricotta, enable the dish to chill to room temperature first. You possibly can both switch the cannelloni to an hermetic container or wrap the baking dish through which they had been cooked. This may hold them contemporary within the fridge for as much as 2-3 days.
When it is time to reheat, you will have a few choices:
Oven Reheating: Preheat your oven to 390°F (200°C). Place the cannelloni of their authentic baking dish (if wrapped) or switch to an oven-safe dish. Cowl with foil to retain moisture and reheat till scorching by. This technique helps protect the feel and taste.
Microwave Reheating: For a faster possibility, use the microwave. Place the cannelloni in a microwave-safe dish and canopy loosely. Warmth for about 2 and a half minutes, then proceed in 30-second intervals till completely heated. This technique is quick and handy, although it might barely alter the feel in comparison with oven reheating.
FAQs
Completely! Put together the dish as much as a day forward, cowl it with clingfilm, and retailer it within the fridge. Earlier than baking, enable it to return to room temperature to assist it prepare dinner extra evenly.
No worries! You should use dried manicotti or massive precooked pasta shells instead. Simply make sure the filling is evenly distributed.
Sure, frozen spinach is an appropriate various to contemporary spinach. After cooking, it is vital to completely squeeze out as a lot liquid as doable to forestall the cannelloni filling from changing into too watery.
Extra Cannelloni Recipes You Could Like:
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Trying ahead to listening to from you!
Buon appetito!
Cannelloni with Spinach and Ricotta
This cannelloni with spinach and ricotta recipe is a standard Italian baked pasta dish, usually served on Sundays and holidays. It makes use of a basic ricotta and spinach filling that’s stuffed in cannelloni, that are then baked in a creamy béchamel sauce topped with savory Parmigiano Reggiano.
Substances
- 16 Dried Cannelloni Tubes I used De Cecco
- 1 ¾ oz Parmigiano Reggiano grated (for topping)
- Additional Virgin Olive Oil to style
Cannelloni Filling
- 17 ½ oz Contemporary Spinach cleaned (or different leafy greens like kale)
- 14.1 oz Cow’s Ricotta drained
- 2 Eggs
- 2 ⅔ oz Parmigiano Reggiano or vegetarian parmesan (grated)
- Nutmeg Powder
- Floor Pepper to style
- Salt to style
Bechamel
- 17 fl oz Milk
- 1 ¾ oz ’00’ Flour
- 1 ¾ oz Butter
Directions
Put together the filling:
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In a pot, add the spinach and 1 tablespoon of water, then prepare dinner for about 1 minute till it’s simply wilted. Drain properly, squeezing out as a lot water as doable. As soon as cooled, chop the spinach finely.
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Place the spinach in a bowl along with the ricotta, egg, pepper, nutmeg, and grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Combine properly with a spoon or fork, then season with salt.
Put together the bechamel:
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Soften butter in a saucepan over low warmth. Stir within the flour to kind a paste (roux). Step by step add the milk, whisking always to keep away from lumps. Season with nutmeg and salt. The béchamel must be barely thinner than typical for this recipe.
Put together the baked pasta:
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Fill the cannelloni tubes with the spinach and ricotta combination. You should use a piping bag or a teaspoon for this step.
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Unfold a skinny layer of béchamel sauce within the backside of a baking dish. Organize the crammed cannelloni in a single layer. Cowl with the remaining béchamel sauce. Sprinkle grated Parmigiano Reggiano excessive.
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Cowl the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Take away the foil and proceed baking for one more 5-10 minutes till the cheese is golden brown.
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Enable the cannelloni to relaxation for five minutes earlier than serving.
Stop your display from going darkish
Notes
- If cannelloni tubes usually are not accessible, dried manicotti or massive precooked pasta shells can be utilized as substitutes.
- Utilizing ready-made béchamel sauce is a substitute for home made.
- This dish can be ready with tomato sauce or a mix of béchamel and tomato sauce.
- For a vegetarian model, use a parmesan various made with out animal rennet.
- To fill ready-made cannelloni: You possibly can make the most of a piping bag fitted with a big, clean nozzle to fill every tube with the ricotta and spinach combination. Alternatively, a teaspoon will be efficient; fill every cannelloni tube from one finish, then flip and fill from the opposite finish to make sure even distribution of the filling.
Diet
Energy: 771kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 42gFats: 39gSaturated Fats: 23gPolyunsaturated Fats: 2gMonounsaturated Fats: 10gTrans Fats: 0.4gLdl cholesterol: 196mgSodium: 1427mgPotassium: 1128mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 13050IUVitamin C: 35mgCalcium: 886mgIron: 7mg
Pin for Later:
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