Stuffed Manicotti (No Boiling!)

    • Gold Top Dog

    Stuffed Manicotti (No Boiling!)

    I don't know how many people already know this or do this, but I thought I'd share anyway :D

    I love Manicotti, but could never figure out how to make it, as pasta involves boiling noodles.  Well...how the heck do you stuff a limp noodle without tearing it!?

    So, I remembered the way my ex's mother made lasagna, and decided to experiment.

    Ingredients:

    14 Manicotti Shells
    Package of part skim Ricotta cheese
    1-2 can's of spaghetti sauce, any brand or flavor

    Preheat the oven to 375
    Line the bottom of a baking pan with tinfoil and pour the entirety of the can of spaghetti sauce in the bottom.
    Stuff the uncooked manicotti shells with the ricotta (and whatever else you may have thrown in there for the stuffing) using a knife.  Using a knife makes sure everything gets in there and is packed relatively tight.
    As you stuff the shells, lay them in the bed of sauce.
    Once all shells are stuffed, take a spoon and ladle the excess sauce around the edges over the noodles.  If necessary, open the other can of sauce and add just enough so the shells are entirely covered with spaghetti sauce.
    Add mozzarella cheese to the top, cover with tin foil.
    Bake with the food covered for about 30-40 minutes, then bake uncovered for another 20. 
    Use a fork to test the noodles for firmness and voila!  You've got dinner xD!!

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Thanks, that sounds good.......as a veggie I still eat cheese at times and I am always looking for new meals..........I love spinach/cheese manicotti....so, I could adjust this by just adding spinach........yum.....

    • Gold Top Dog

    Yumm!!!  That sounds really good!  I think I will have to try it!  I have made lasagna and other pasta that I let "bake" but never really thought about manicotti...

    • Gold Top Dog

    boneyjean
    I have made lasagna and other pasta that I let "bake" but never really thought about manicotti...

    Me too!  What a great idea!  Thanks!

    • Gold Top Dog

    You can also use no boil lasagna noodles. All you do it soak the noodles in hot water for 5 minutes to loosen them up, and then spead the cheese mixture and roll up the lasagna noodle into manicotti. I prefer this because it ends up tasting like it was made from fresh pasta. I got the idea from Americas test Kitchen.