Unstuffed Shells Oamc Food

THE BEST STUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce: Heat the oil in a medium heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, if using, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the garlic has softened but not browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat, add the basil and dried oregano, partially cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thickened, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the basil sprig. If the sauce is still too chunky, mash the larger chunks of tomato with a potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
• For the shells and filling: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the dried pasta shells cook, stirring occasionally, until softened slightly but not cooked. (The pasta shells should flexible enough to be filled but remain very al dente; they will continue to cook during baking.) Drain, then run under cold water to stop cooking. Drain well again.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix together the ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley and egg in a large bowl until well combined and uniform. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Transfer the filling to a large disposable pastry bag or large resealable plastic bag (or use a spoon for filling directly from the bowl).
• Spread 2 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Snip off the end of the pastry bag and squeeze the filling into the shells one at a time. Arrange the shells open-side up in a tight single layer in the baking dish as you fill them. Top with the remaining marinara sauce. Cover the pan tightly with foil and bake the shells until the sauce is bubbling throughout and the filling is heated through, about 35 minutes.
• Remove the foil from the pan and continue to bake for 10 more minutes to reduce the sauce. Let cool slightly before serving. Top with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

ITALIAN UNSTUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Add the tomatoes to a large bowl and use your hands to crush them into chunky pieces; set aside.
• In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Add the sausage and brown in large chunks until no pink remains, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Wipe out the fat from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind. Add about a third of the tomatoes to the skillet and stir to pick up any remaining browned bits. Set aside.
• In another large bowl, add the spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, shredded mozzarella, egg, garlic, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Mix to combine. Add the cooked pasta and sausage and gently mix.
• Add the pasta and sausage mixture to the skillet. Top with the remaining tomatoes and then the sliced mozzarella. Bake, uncovered, until heated through and the cheese is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Garnish with torn basil before serving.

MAKE-AHEAD UNSTUFFED SHELLS

Steps:

• Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, brown meat in large skillet; Drain. Stir in pasta sauce; simmer on medium heat 2 min. Remove from heat.
• Drain pasta. Mix cream cheese spread, basil, Parmesan, milk and Italian seasoning in large bowl until blended; stir in pasta. Spread half the meat sauce onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; cover with layers of pasta mixture and remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella; cover with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil. Refrigerate up to 24 hours.
• Heat oven to 375ºF. Bake casserole, covered, 40 to 45 min. or until heated through, uncovering after 30 min.

MEXICAN STUFFED SHELLS (OAMC)

Steps:

• Brown ground beef and drain.
• Add seasoning, water, onion, and 1/2 cup of salsa and 1/4 cup cheese.
• Mix together remaining salsa, tomato sauce,and chili powder.
• Spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 12 baking pan.
• Fill each shell with the ground beef mixture and place in pan.
• Pour remaining sauce on top. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese on top and garnish with green onion. Cover and freeze at this point.
• Defrost overnight and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. (Cook from frozen for 2 hours at 300°F).
• If desired sprinkle additional cheese on top after baking and return to oven for 5 minutes longer or until cheese melts.

SPINACH, RICOTTA AND TOFU (OPTIONAL) STUFFED SHELLS (OAMC)

Steps:

• Cook pasta shells according to box directions, drain and rinse with cool water. Set aside.
• Sautee onions and garlic over medium, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent (careful not to burn garlic). Take off of heat and allow to cool off a bit.
• Mash together spinach, tofu, Ricotta cheese, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, onions and garlic, s&p and nutmeg.
• Fill shells generously, about a heaping tablespoon each. You can modify as you go.
• ***TO FREEZE:*** Put shells on a baking sheet so that they are not touching. Freeze uncovered for about 20 minutes, then toss into a freezer bag. This way they will not stick together.
• To bake shells right away: Preheat oven to 350. Spread a few tablespoons spaghetti sauce on the bottom of a large casserole. Put shells in, filling-side up. Top with remaining sauce and parmesan cheese. Cook covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 5 or 10 minutes.

BASIC MEAT FILLED STUFFED SHELLS- OAMC

Steps:

• Cook shells according to package directions.
• Brown meat; drain.
• Mix together all ingredients in large bowl.
• Fill each shell with about 2 tbsp meat mixture.
• Place in foil lined pan in single layer. Cover with foil, freeze.
• To prepare:.
• Thaw, cover with spaghetti sauce and recover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Or if still frozen, cover with sauce and foil and bake at 350 degrees for about 2 hours or until hot and bubbly.

BASIC CHEESE FILLED STUFFED SHELLS-OAMC

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to directions on box.
• Combine all other ingredients.
• Fill each shell with about 2 tbsp cheese mixture.
• Place in foil lined 9x13 pan in a single layer. Wrap in foil and freeze.
• When fully frozen, you can remove the foil wrapped shells from the pan so it takes up less space. When ready to eat, place in same pan.
• To serve, thaw. Cover with spaghetti sauce and recover with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes until hot and bubbly.

UNSTUFFED SHELLS (OAMC)

Steps:

• Cook shells according to pkg directions. Rinse in cold water. Store in large pan of cold water. In large saucepan, heat oil, add onion and garlic; cook until softened. Stir in tomatoes, sauce, water, sugar, oregano, thyme, and salt. Bring to boil. Simmer uncovered, for 45 minutes. In mixing bowl, combine eggs, cottage cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepper. Drain shells. Pour half of tomato mixture into 13x9-inch pan. Mix shells with cheese mixture. Place shells into pan; pour remaining sauce over top.
• Bake covered in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.