Manicotti With Marinara Sauce Recipes

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.

SPINACH MANICOTTI IN CREAMY TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta shells according to package instructions. Drain well and arrange in a single layer on an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and lemon zest. Stir in spinach and season filling to taste with salt and pepper.
• Transfer filling to a large zip-top plastic bag. Twist and squeeze bag so filling is in one corner. With scissors, snip a 3/4-inch opening in corner. Pipe filling into both ends of each pasta shell. Arrange stuffed shells in an 8-inch square glass baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together marinara sauce, oregano, and cream. Pour sauce evenly over stuffed shells and top with 1/2 cup Parmesan. Bake until sauce in center of dish is bubbling and Parmesan is browned in spots, about 30 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

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.

SEAFOOD MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients in a saucepan; cook over medium-high heat 30 minutes or until thickened and reduced to 2 cups; set aside.
• Cook manicotti according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Heat butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add onion and next 5 ingredients.
• Cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until tender.
• Add shrimp and crabmeat, and cook, stirring constantly, 5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink.
• Cool 10 minutes, and drain well.
• Combine seafood mixture and whipping cream mixture.
• Fill manicotti shells, and place in 2 lightly greased 11x7 inch baking dishes.
• Sprinkle with cheeses, and cover with foil.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Uncover and bake 10 additional minutes.
• Serve immediately.

MARILYN'S MANICOTTI

Steps:

• For sauce:
• Chop tomatoes in processor. Heat oil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until soft (do not brown), about 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, then tomatoes, basil and salt. Simmer until sauce thickens, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Set aside.
• For filling:
• Beat ricotta in medium bowl until smooth and creamy. Mix in 1 cup Romano cheese, eggs, prosciutto and minced fresh parsley.
• For Crepes:
• Mix eggs and water in blender. Add flour and blend batter until smooth. Let stand 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)
• Heat crepe pan or heavy small skillet over medium-high heat. Brush pan lightly with olive oil. Remove pan from heat. Stir batter and ladle 2 tablespoons into corner of pan, tilting so batter just coats bottom. Return excess batter to bowl. Cook crepe until bottom is set (do not brown), about 5 seconds. Loosen edges with knife. Turn crepe and cook until second side is set (do not brown), about 5 seconds. Repeat with remaining batter, stirring occasionally. (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 Assembly:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spoon 2 1/2 tablespoons filling down center of crepe. Place 1 mozzarella strip atop filling. Fold both sides of crepe over filling. Arrange seam side down in large baking dish. Repeat with remaining filling and crepes. (Can be prepared ahead. Cover crepes and sauce separately and refrigerate 1 day or freeze up to 2 weeks. Bring crepes to room temperature before baking. Rewarm sauce over low heat, stirring occasionally.)
• Stir whole basil leaves into sauce. Pour sauce over crepes. Sprinkle lightly with additional Romano cheese. Cover tightly with foil. Bake until heated through, about 35 minutes.

MANICOTTI WITH VODKA SAUCE

Steps:

• VODKA SAUCE.
• Heat Olive oil and butter over Medium heat, add 1 T minced garlic and 3/4 c chopped onion *tiny lil bity pieces of onion*, 3-4 mins just before garlic turns dark brown. Reduce heat to Medium-low.
• Add 1 T Basil, 1 t. crushed red pepper flakes, let pepper flakes get toasty for 4-5 mins before adding the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, salt, pepper and sugar. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes.
• Add 1/2 c Vodka, bring to a boil for 2-3 mins stirring constantly, then back down to a simmer, after 10+ mins at a simmer slowly stir in 1/4 c Heavy Cream. Take off heat.
• RICOTTA MIXTURE.
• In a large bowl mix 30 oz ricotta cheese, 1/2 c parmesan, 1/2 c mozzarella cheese, 1 egg, 1 t. minced garlic 1 t. Basil 1 t. Parsley, 1 t. salt.
• MANICOTTI TIME.
• Boil Manicotti for 9 mins, and rinse with cool-ish water.
• Fill Manicotti with ricotta mixture and place in oil coated pan, sprinkle remaining 1/2 c mozzarella cheese on top. Salt and pepper. And bake that puppy at 375 degrees 30-40 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• *To make it easier to fill Manicotti I always split mine, fill and fold, like a lil baby taco*.
• **Plate the Manicotti and spoon on the Vodka sauce!**.

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.

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.

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.

CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a small bowl, mix the first 6 ingredients; stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. In another bowl, mix marinara sauce and water; spread 3/4 cup sauce onto bottom of a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Fill uncooked manicotti shells with ricotta mixture; arrange over sauce. Top with remaining sauce., Bake, covered, 50 minutes or until pasta is tender. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. If desired, top with additional parsley.