Cheesy Spinach Cannelloni Recipes

SPINACH-ARTICHOKE CANNELLONI CREPES WITH MUSTARDY CHEESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°, with rack in upper-middle position. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add shallots, artichokes, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown in places, 5 to 7 minutes. Add spinach, a handful at a time, until all spinach is wilted and tender and any excess moisture has evaporated; season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium-high. Whisk in flour and simmer until mixture darkens slightly and smells nutty, about 1 minute. Whisk in milk and bring to a vigorous simmer. Continue to simmer, stirring frequently, until mixture is just thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon with a thin film, 1 to 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in cheese and mustard until smooth; season with salt and pepper.
• Fold 3/4 cup cheese sauce into spinach mixture. Working one at a time, spoon 1/3 cup spinach-cheese mixture into the center of a crepe. Lift edge nearest you up and over filling, then fold in sides and roll up like a burrito to make a 2-by-4-inch rectangular package. Transfer to an 8-by-8-inch baking dish and repeat with remaining crepe and spinach-cheese mixture. Pour remaining cheese sauce evenly over filled crepes in baking dish. Cover dish tightly with parchment-lined foil.
• Bake on center rack 15 minutes. Remove parchment-lined foil and switch oven to broil. Continue cooking until cheese sauce bubbles and browns in places and crepes are warmed through, 2 to 3 minutes more. Serve immediately.

SPINACH & THREE CHEESE CANNELLONI

Steps:

• First make the tomato sauce. Heat the oil in a shallow pan, then fry the garlic for 1 min until fragrant. Add the sugar, vinegar and oregano. Simmer for a moment, then tip in the tomatoes and season. Simmer sauce for 20 mins, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have cooked down to a thick sauce. Turn off heat and set aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Put the spinach in a large colander, then pour over a kettle of hot water to wilt it (you may need to do this twice). Pour over cold water to cool it down. Squeeze the spinach, then place it in a clean tea towel and wring out the water really well.
• Tip the spinach into a food processor and pulse to chop, then crumble in the goat's cheese and half the Parmesan. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, then blitz until everything is finely chopped. Using a piping bag, or a plastic food bag with the corner cut off, squeeze the mix into the cannelloni tubes, then lay them, side by side, in a baking dish. Pour over the tomato sauce and top with the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan. The cannelloni can now be frozen for up to 1 month - defrost completely before cooking. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden and bubbling, then remove and leave to stand for 5 mins. Serve from the dish.