Manicotti With Fonduta Sauce Recipes

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

STUFFED MANICOTTI WITH FRESH MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the crepes (crespelle):
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and melted butter. Gradually whisk in the flour and salt until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour until slightly thickened.
• Spray an 8-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place the pan over medium heat. With a small ladle, pour about 3 tablespoons of the batter into the pan. Turn the pan at a 45 degree angle to coat the pan evenly so the batter forms a perfect circle. Cook the crepe only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Turn the crepe over with a spatula and cook the other side only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Slide the crepe onto a 12-inch platter and continue the process with the remaining batter. Stack the crepes between waxed paper so they don't stick. You can prepare these crepes a day in advance covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. No need to reheat the crepes before filling and baking.
• Make the ricotta filling:
• In a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the ricotta filling. With a large wooden spoon or spatula, stir all the ingredients until well blended. Store covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can make this filling the day before.
• Make the marinara sauce:
• In a large heavy nonreactive saucepan with a lid, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant but NOT browned. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pan and crush further with a potato masher. Simmer 30 minutes, slightly covered, on medium-low heat, stirring every so often.
• Add the parsley, basil leaves and salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for another 10 minutes until the sauce is slightly reduced. Taste and re-season as necessary.
• Put it all together:
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with 1 cup of the prepared marinara sauce.
• Spoon 3 tablespoons of the prepared ricotta filling 1 inch from the edge of a crepe. Roll evenly into a log, keeping the filling even as you roll. Repeat with the remaining crepes. Place manicotti seam side down and side by side in the sauced baking pan.
• Spoon 1 to 2 cups of sauce over the top of the manicotti. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and sides are bubbling. Let rest about 15 minutes before serving to firm up the manicotti filling.

MANICOTTI WITH MARINARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and set a large pot of water on the stovetop to boil.
• In a bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and salt and pepper. Set this filling aside.
• Cook the manicotti in boiling water for minute. After they've cooked for one minute, remove the pot from the heat but do not drain the manicotti squares in a colander as the noodles often stick together. Instead, run cold water into the pot until you can fish the manicotti squares out safely with your fingers. Shake off the excess water as you remove each square. It is usually best to place the squares on a clean cloth to further blot them.
• Lay the squares flat on a cloth, placing the filling across the center of the dough, leaving a little room at the edges on each side. Turn up the edge nearest you so that it lies on top of the filling. Now turn the edge farthest from you towards you so that it lies on top of the first edge. You now have a cannoli-like tube. Spread 1 ladleful of the sauce onto the bottom of a 9 by 12-inch baking pan. Turn the manicotti over and place seam-side down in the baking pan on top of the sauce. Continue until the pan has a layer of manicotti. Spoon 2 more ladlefuls of sauce over the top and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve with additional sauce for individual servings.
• Everyone has his own variation of marinara sauce. Borgatti's is basic and can be used throughout this book whenever marinara is called for. The seasonings and herbs can be adjusted, to taste.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Saute the garlic, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes or until the garlic is softened. Add the remaining ingredients, then raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Simmer for 30 minutes. The sauce can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator and several months in the freezer.

BAKED MANICOTTI (BOLOGNESE RAGU)

Steps:

• I suggest making the filling a few hours ahead of time to allow the flavors of cheese, garlic and herbs to fully meld.
• Beat the eggs and combine them with the Ricotta.
• Fold in the grated cheese, basil, parsley and Prosciutto until all is well combined.
• Cover with plastic wrap and keep in fridge until ready to use.
• Using lasagna noodle (if packaged cook to al dente) add enough stuffing on one end and roll up jelly roll style.
• Lay into baking pan that has been greased or coated with cooking spray.
• I use a 9x14" pan which perfectly holds 12 manicotti: 8 down the center and two on each side.
• Spoon the Ragu over the pasta until completely covered.
• Bake in the oven, uncovered, for 35 minutes.
• Remove and top with the mozzarella.
• Return to the over for an additional 10 minutes to allow the cheese to completely melt.
• Let stand for about 5 minutes.
• Serve with additional sauce on the side.
• For the Bolognese Ragu (Italian Meat Sauce) You want to use a heavy pot or sauté pan for this, something that holds the heat well.
• This will give you better control when you need to have the sauce just barely simmering.
• Melt the butter in the sauté pan over medium heat.
• Add the next 4 ingredients and sauté until the veggies are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground beef and pork.
• Cook the meat while using the edge of the spoon to break up the meat into small pieces.
• Just before the meat begins to brown add the milk.
• Return the mixture to a slow boil and allow to reduce until the milk has mostly evaporated.
• About 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add the wine, return to a boil and allow the sauce to reduce until the wine is mostly evaporated, another 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the sauce is reducing drain and chop the tomatoes, reserving the juice.
• When the wine has mostly evaporated add the tomatoes, along with the reserved juice, and the red pepper.
• Now you want to reduce the flame until the sauce is barely at a simmer- only a bubble or two at a time breaking the surface.
• Maintain this simmer, stirring every 30 minutes or so, until the liquid is mostly evaporated.
• This should take about 3 to 4 hours.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• The long, slow simmering gives the meat a melt-in-your mouth quality.
• Don't be daunted by the cooking time, as it only requires you be around to give it a stir from time-to-time.

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.

RICOTTA MANICOTTI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook pasta, drain, and cool. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together ricotta, eggs, thyme, oregano, and 1 cup Parmesan. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir in mushrooms, if desired.
• Using a plastic bag for filling, stuff cooled pasta shells (about 3 tablespoons ricotta mixture in each).
• Coat bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with 2 cups tomato sauce. Line up manicotti in baking dish, and cover with 2 cups sauce. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan. Bake until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

STUFFED MANICOTTI ALFREDO

Steps:

• Prepare the alfredo sauce. Melt the butter in a med. saucepan. Whisk in cream and Parmesan cheese and seasonings. Simmer for 15 minutes on low heat, being careful not to boil or let stick. Remove from heat.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Prepare the filling. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, 2 1/4 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg and seasonings.
• Make sure shells are drained well.
• Spread a thin layer of alfredo sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Using a pastry bag or zip-top bag, fill the shells and arrange them on the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce on top of the shells. Cover and bake for 35-40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake 10 minutes more or until cheese is just melted, but not browned and manicotti shells are heated through.

MANICOTTI WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place tomatoes in small bowl; cover with 1 cup boiling water. Let stand until softened, about 15 minutes. Dry with paper towel, and cut into 1/4-inch dice; transfer to medium bowl.
• Fill baking dish with very hot water; place manicotti sheets, one at a time, in water. Let stand 10 minutes until softened.
• To tomatoes, add ricotta, 2 tablespoons parsley, basil, egg yolk, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, and mix well to combine. On a clean work surface, place one sheet of manicotti lengthwise. Spoon about 1/3 cup ricotta mixture along front edge; roll to form cylinder. Repeat filling-and-rolling process on all manicotti. Spray 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive-oil spray; spoon about 1/4 cup tomato sauce on bottom.
• Transfer manicotti to the dish in a single layer; cover with remaining 1 1/4 cups tomato sauce, and sprinkle with Parmesan. Cover with foil; bake 10 minutes. Remove foil; bake until top is browned and sauce is bubbling, 12 to 15 minutes. Garnish with remaining teaspoon parsley.

EASY-TO-STUFF MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce. Spread half of the meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish., Drain manicotti; stuff each shell with a piece of string cheese. Place over meat sauce; top with remaining sauce. Cover and bake at 350° until heated through, 25-30 minutes. , Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted, 5-10 minutes longer.

MANICOTTI ALLA ROMANA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until translucent. Saute garlic for 1 minute and stir in ground beef. Cook until well browned and crumbled. Season with salt and set aside to cool.
• Cook spinach according to package directions. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add manicotti shells and parboil for half of the time recommended on the package. Drain and cover with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent the shells from cracking.
• To the ground beef mixture add the cooked spinach and ricotta cheese. When the mixture is cool, add the beaten eggs. Spread 1/4 cup spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Gently drain the manicotti shells and carefully stuff each one with the meat and cheese mixture; place shells in prepared dish. Lightly cover the dish with plastic wrap or a clean, damp towel to prevent shells from cracking.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prepare the white sauce by melting the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour and chicken bouillon. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring constantly, until it begins to bubble. Stir in half and half and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in parsley. Pour or ladle the sauce evenly over the stuffed shells.
• Stir the basil into the remaining spaghetti sauce. Carefully pour or ladle spaghetti sauce over the white sauce, trying to layer the sauces without mixing.
• Cover and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven, uncover and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 10 minutes more.

MANICOTTI WITH CHEESE FILLING AND BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Drop manicotti into boiling water as indicated on package. Cook 10 minutes or until the desired degree of doneness. Do not overcook. Drain.
• Stuff each manicotti with an equal portion of cheese stuffing, most easily done by using pastry bag outfitted with large round tube (No. 8). Fill them neatly without overflowing.
• Select rectangular baking dish large enough to hold stuffed manicotti neatly and compactly in one layer. Add one cup of sauce and smooth over bottom. Arrange stuffed manicotti on top. Spoon remaining sauce evenly over manicotti. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and bake 15 to 20 minutes.