Spinach Stuffed Pasta Shells Recipe
May 16, 2009
Spinach Stuffed Shells
Last week Mark and I had our one year anniversary and we went to our favorite Italian restaurant, where we sufficiently stuffed ourselves with pasta shells and chicken parmigiana. I never wanted dinner to end, it was that good. So, naturally I wanted to re-create the dish as best as I could back home. I did pretty well, according to my husband, the food critic. Try this with different vegetable combinations, such as carrots, kale, broccoli, or even different ground meats (beef, chicken, turkey, or ground soy meat). These would be great even as plain cheese stuffed shells.
Ingredients
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup cottage cheese
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cups firmly packed fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 15-20 jumbo pasta shells
Directions
- Boil pasta shells according to box, drain and set aside
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Mix ricotta cheese and egg together unil combined
- Mix in cottage cheese
- In a medium skillet over a med-high heat, saute your chopped spinach, onions and garlic and salt
- Cook up until onions are translucent and spinach is wilted down (about 5 minutes)
- Let mixture cool for a few minutes
- Mix into ricotta cheese mixture until combined
- Stuff shells
- In a large baking pan, pour a thin layer of tomato sauce and oregano on the bottom of the pan
- Lay stuffed shells side by side
- Top with extra sauce and mozzarella cheese
- Cover with foil
- Bake for 40-45 minutes
Eliza, I made this the other night and it was fantastic! My hub said it was the best thing I ever cooked and finished the whole pan. I typically struggle with any recipe but this was super easy and turned out great. Thanks!
Glad to hear you both enjoyed it!
This post has convinced me to make stuffed shells! I’m following the basics of this recipe, but adding chicken (and using cream cheese instead of cottage cheese)!
I loved the recipe! absolutely fantastic! My girlf friend was over joyed when she found out the little twist in the stuffed shells. and due to the fact that we are both vegatarians we really did enjoy the recipe because it truly gave a little spin to the stuffed shells without putting meat into it. also if you ever thought of putting a little gouda into the stuffed shells. it truly makes them perfect. i also would love to add that your husband could not have possibly hated these no matter how big of a food critic he may be because these were amazing. Thanks for the wonderful recipe and the joy it brought me and my girlfriend on our 2 year anniversary.
Love,
Tyler And Sarah