3 Cheese Manicotti Recipes

THREE CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, 3 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, eggs and seasonings. Spread 1 cup spaghetti sauce each in two ungreased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Stuff manicotti shells with cheese mixture; arrange over sauce. Top with remaining sauce., Cover and bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and manicotti is heated through.

3 CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook shells according to the package directions.
• Rinse well in cool water and dry.
• While the pasta is cooking, mix together the cream cheese and 3 cups of Mozzeralla cheese.
• Stuff shells with cream cheese mixture (I use my hands to roll a"snake" of mix and slide it right in the manicotti tube.) Put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 13 by 9 baking dish.
• Place manicotti in dish and cover with remaining sauce.
• Sprinkle 1 cup of Mozzarella over the top.
• Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes at 375.
• Uncover, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, and bake for 15 minutes more.

THREE CHEESE MANICOTTI II

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add manicotti and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• In a bowl, mix 3 cups mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic, egg, and basil. Stuff cooked manicotti with the mixture.
• Spread about 2 cups pasta sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti in the dish, and cover with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese.
• Bake 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan, and continue baking 10 minutes, until mozzarella is melted and bubbly.

THREE-CHEESE BROCCOLI MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, separate broccoli stems and florets. Cut florets in half and cut each stem into several pieces lengthwise.
• Place stems in the boiling water and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Then add florets and cook until just barely tender, about 3 more minutes.
• Use a slotted spoon to transfer broccoli to a bowl of cold water, leaving the water boiling on the stove. Let broccoli sit until cool, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a colander and let sit until very well drained. Leave the bowl of cold water for the pasta.
• Meanwhile, add manicotti to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender but slightly undercooked, 6 to 7 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to gently transfer manicotti into the bowl of cold water.
• Chop cooled, drained broccoli into small pieces. Transfer 3 cups chopped broccoli to a mixing bowl and reserve any extra for another use.
• Add garlic, ricotta, provolone, 1 ¼ cups Parmigiano-Reggiano, eggs, salt, cayenne, pepper, and nutmeg to the broccoli. Mix with a spoon until thoroughly combined. Cover and refrigerate until needed.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bring tomato sauce and water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
• Ladle ½ inch hot sauce into a 9x13-inch baking dish or lasagna pan. Sprinkle in cooked Italian sausage.
• Transfer broccoli filling into a pastry bag. Cut off the tip slightly smaller than the opening of the manicotti. Gently pipe stuffing into 12 manicotti, being careful not to overstuff. Place stuffed manicotti in the sauce in the baking dish, angling as necessary to fit.
• Ladle in just enough sauce to barely cover the manicotti. Sprinkle ¼ cup Parmigiano-Reggiano over top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until hot and bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Garnish with parsley and let sit for 10 minutes.
• Serve two manicotti per bowl, garnished with more Parmigiano-Reggiano.

SKINNY THREE-CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, for filling, coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat. Add mushrooms, carrots, and garlic to hot skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or just until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Stir in ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the eggs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Spoon filling into cooked manicotti shells.
• For sauce, place undrained tomatoes in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Stir in roasted red peppers. Spread about 1/3 cup of the sauce into the bottoms of four 12- to 16-ounce ungreased individual baking dishes or a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti shells in individual baking dishes or large baking dish, overlapping shells slightly if necessary. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti.
• Bake, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes for individual baking dishes or 35 to 40 minutes for large baking dish or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

THREE-CHEESE TURKEY MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook turkey and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the spaghetti sauce, sugar, Italian seasoning, onion powder and garlic powder. Place 1 cup meat sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Drain manicotti. In a large bowl, combine the cheddar-Monterey Jack cheese, ricotta cheese, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese and egg. Stuff into manicotti shells. Place shells over meat sauce. Top with remaining sauce. Sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. , Cover and bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked manicotti casserole for up to 1 month. To use, thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. Bake as directed.

THREE CHEESE MANICOTTI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE MARINARA

Steps:

• To prepare the Italian Sausage Marinara
• Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, add the diced onions, cook 3-4 minutes then add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
• Add the sausage and cook through.
• Add the red wine, tomato paste, diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.
• Add the kosher salt, black pepper, fresh basil, parsley and oregano.
• Reduce to low, cover and simmer 20-30 minutes.
• To prepare the Three Cheese Manicotti
• Bring a large pot of water to boil.
• Add the manicotti shells and cook 4-5 minutes, drain, then set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan, basil, parsley and oregano.
• Place this mixture in a piping bag, or plastic bag with a cut corner.
• Pipe the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells.
• Pour half of the Italian Sausage Marinara in a casserole dish.
• Layer the manicotti shells on top.
• Pour the remaining sauce over the shells.
• Top with the remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Place in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes.

THREE-CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• For crepes:
• Whisk 1 cup water, flour, eggs and salt in medium bowl until well blended (batter should be thin). Add additional water if necessary. Heat heavy small skillet over low heat. Brush pan lightly with oil. Stir batter and ladle 3 to 4 tablespoons into corner of pan, tilting so batter just coats bottom. Cook crepe until bottom is set (do not brown), about 1 minute. Loosen edges with knife. Turn crepe and cook until second side is set (do not brown), about 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter, stirring occasionally and brushing pan with oil as necessary. (Can be prepared ahead. Layer crepes between sheets of waxed paper and cool completely. Wrap tightly and refrigerate 3 days or freeze 1 month. Bring to room temperature before using.)
• For filling:
• Mix ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, Romano, egg and parsley in bowl. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper.
• Pour 3/4 cup spaghetti sauce into large baking pan. Spoon 3 tablespoons filling down center of crepe. Fold both sides of crepe over filling. Arrange seam side down in baking pan. Repeat with remaining filling and enough crepes to finish. Pour remaining 3/4 cup sauce over. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake until heated through, about 30 minutes.

THREE CHEESE CHIPOTLE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan and sauté the onions and mushrooms until they are soft and browned.
• Put the cooked mushrooms and onions in a mixing bowl along with the ricotta and basil.
• Open the can of chipotle peppers and take out 2 peppers.
• Chop them finely and add to the cheese mixture.
• Mix and season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Now take another two chipotles and the remaining sauce in the tin and add them to the pasta sauce. You may have some chipotles left over and you can add them, to your taste. If you are worried about the spice, this is where you can cut back a bit.
• Use a hand blender to purée the chipotles in with the rest of the sauce.
• Add the water and pour 1/3 of the mixture on the bottom of a baking dish (about 9 x 13 or slightly smaller).
• Start stuffing the uncooked manicotti with the ricotta cheese mixture, placing each shell in the baking dish as you go.
• When all the shells are stuffed pour the rest of the sauce over.
• It should be fairly watery and enough to cover the shells.
• Cover with tinfoil and bake in a 200 C fan oven for 30 minutes.
• If you don't have a fan oven, you will need to increase the heat by about 20°C.
• After 30 minutes, take the tinfoil off and cook for a further 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle the parmesan on top and lay the mozzarella over the pasta as well.
• Grill for 3-4 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling.
• Let rest for 10-15 minutes and then serve.