Ricotta Stuffed Shells With Pesto Food

RICOTTA-STUFFED SHELLS WITH PESTO

Steps:

• Put a large pot of well-salted water over high heat, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta shells, put the lid on the pot to help water return to a boil, then remove lid, stir pasta and continue cooking, uncovered until al dente, usually abut 10 minutes. (It's better to err on the undercooked side than risk flabby pasta, so check early and often.)
• Remove pasta from pot and cool in a large bowl of water. Drain well and spread cooked shells on a baking sheet lined with a kitchen towel.
• Meanwhile, make the ricotta filling: In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, eggs, scallions, parsley, thyme, lemon zest and juice, and crushed red pepper to taste. Add grated Parmesan and pecorino. Season well with salt and pepper and mix well to incorporate ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a large shallow baking dish (use 2 dishes if necessary). Using a spoon or pastry bag, put about 1 tablespoon ricotta mixture into each pasta shell. Arrange the filled shells in one layer in the baking dish, packed closely together. Drizzle surface lightly with olive oil, or use a small brush to lightly paint each shell.
• Sprinkle top with 1/4 cup pecorino and bread crumbs and bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until heated through, crisp and golden brown.
• To make the pesto, pulse basil, parsley, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a blender or food processor until roughly chopped. Add oil slowly and blend well. Add a little pepper, taste and adjust seasoning and transfer to a serving bowl.
• To serve, drizzle shells with a little pesto sauce and pass the rest at the table.

STUFFED SHELLS III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a large bowl, mix eggs, ricotta, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper until well combined. Stuff cooked shells with ricotta mixture and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish.
• In a medium bowl, stir together pasta sauce, mushrooms and reserved mozzarella and Parmesan. Pour over stuffed shells.
• Bake in preheated oven 45 to 60 minutes, until edges are bubbly and shells are slightly set.

SHRIMP AND RICOTTA STUFFED JUMBO PASTA SHELLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook the pasta shells as per the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Cool the pasta shells in cold water and drain well again. Set aside.
• Set 24 of the shrimp aside in a small bowl and refrigerate until needed. Coursely chop the remaining shrimp and place in a medium bowl. Mix in the ricotta, pesto, eggs, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, flour, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F Pour the jar of pasta sauce into a large, wide baking dish; stir in the reserved pasta cooking liquid. Spoon the ricotta/shrimp mixture into the pasta shells and set them on top of the pasta sauce. Set a whole shrimp on top of each shell. Sprinkle the shells with the 1 cup mozzarella cheese and the Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes more, or until the tops are golden and the sauce is bubbling.
• Suggested serving size is 4 shells each.

RICOTTA STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• For Shells: Boil according to directions on the box. Drain, rinse with cold water. Set them aside.
• For Sauce: Simmer the onion and garlic together in olive oil. When they are golden, add in the tomato and then spices. Cook for 15 minutes.
• For Filling: Add all filling ingredients together in a bowl and mix well.
• Pour half your sauce evenly into the bottom of a 9x13 baking pan. Stuff your closed, undamaged noodles and arrange them in one layer over the pan, opening side down. Pour the rest of the sauce over the top of your noodles, then sprinkle with grated parmesan. Bake covered for 45 minutes.

CREAMY PESTO-STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cook pasta shells as directed on package, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, brown beef with onions in large skillet; drain. Remove from heat. Mix cream cheese spread, 2 Tbsp. milk and pesto until blended; stir 3/4 cup into meat. Add ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella and Parmesan; mix well.
• Drain shells; stuff with meat mixture. Spread 1 cup sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish; top with shells and remaining sauce. Cover.
• Bake 25 min. Mix remaining cream cheese mixture and milk; drizzle over shells. Top with remaining mozzarella; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until melted.