Homemade Manicotti Shells

This is a basic recipe and you are free to fill with what ever filling you desire; cheese, cheese and spinach, beef and cheese, chicken and cheese, etc). This is an expensive dish based on the cheese used, but there is a shortcut to use as well. I will be trying this! This would be a great as a once in a while dish when friends or family is visiting. I am going to go with 6 manicotti for this recipe based on photos, after I make this I will revise the recipe. The sauce part is based on several recipes. The photos for making the shells is credited in at the end. Links to the shortcuts are listed in the Recipe Notes section.

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Prep Time 20

Cook Time 35

Total Time 55

Course Main Dish

Cuisine Italian

Servings people

Ingredients

Shells

4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups water
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Filling

3 eggs
3 cups Cottage cheese, OR make from a shortcut
2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
2-3 cups tomato pasta sauce, OR make from a shortcut

Instructions

Filling

Mix the eggs, cottage cheese, half the Mozzarella cheese, all the Parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, and parsley, refrigerate while you make the shells.

Shells

Mix ingredients until blended, it will be watery looking, no problem!
Lightly oil a frying pan and then heat the pan for about a minute over medium high heat. Spoon in the batter or use a dry measuring cup to pour the batter into the middle of the pan.
Quickly and carefully tilt the pan in a circular motion until the batter forms a round, thin layer in the pan, about 6-8 inches across. (Similar to a crepe). Cook about 1 to 2 minutes until the shell surface appears dry. Carefully turn the manicotti shell over using a spatula and cook for an additional 20-30 seconds. Stack cooked shells on a plate between waxed paper for later use.

Assembly

Now it's time to assembly the Manicotti. Preheat your oven to 180 C. Take one of your shells and add a bit of Mozzarella cheese in the center.
Spoon a generous helping of the ricotta cheese onto the shell.
Now fold like a burrito and place in baking pan, seam side down. Repeat steps until your baking dish is full of manicotti shells filled with cheese mix.
Pour pasta sauce over the top and sprinkle the remaining Mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake for 35 minutes.

Notes

Pricing when I make this. For now I will say this will come out to a fair price.

Shortcuts: Cottage Cheese, Pasta Sauce.

A big thank you goes out to Jamie & Jen Dish for their recipe for the shell recipe and photos.