Manicotti With Cheese Filling And Bolognese Sauce Recipes

BAKED MANICOTTI (BOLOGNESE RAGU)

Steps:

• I suggest making the filling a few hours ahead of time to allow the flavors of cheese, garlic and herbs to fully meld.
• Beat the eggs and combine them with the Ricotta.
• Fold in the grated cheese, basil, parsley and Prosciutto until all is well combined.
• Cover with plastic wrap and keep in fridge until ready to use.
• Using lasagna noodle (if packaged cook to al dente) add enough stuffing on one end and roll up jelly roll style.
• Lay into baking pan that has been greased or coated with cooking spray.
• I use a 9x14" pan which perfectly holds 12 manicotti: 8 down the center and two on each side.
• Spoon the Ragu over the pasta until completely covered.
• Bake in the oven, uncovered, for 35 minutes.
• Remove and top with the mozzarella.
• Return to the over for an additional 10 minutes to allow the cheese to completely melt.
• Let stand for about 5 minutes.
• Serve with additional sauce on the side.
• For the Bolognese Ragu (Italian Meat Sauce) You want to use a heavy pot or sauté pan for this, something that holds the heat well.
• This will give you better control when you need to have the sauce just barely simmering.
• Melt the butter in the sauté pan over medium heat.
• Add the next 4 ingredients and sauté until the veggies are softened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the ground beef and pork.
• Cook the meat while using the edge of the spoon to break up the meat into small pieces.
• Just before the meat begins to brown add the milk.
• Return the mixture to a slow boil and allow to reduce until the milk has mostly evaporated.
• About 20 to 30 minutes.
• Add the wine, return to a boil and allow the sauce to reduce until the wine is mostly evaporated, another 20 to 30 minutes.
• While the sauce is reducing drain and chop the tomatoes, reserving the juice.
• When the wine has mostly evaporated add the tomatoes, along with the reserved juice, and the red pepper.
• Now you want to reduce the flame until the sauce is barely at a simmer- only a bubble or two at a time breaking the surface.
• Maintain this simmer, stirring every 30 minutes or so, until the liquid is mostly evaporated.
• This should take about 3 to 4 hours.
• Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
• The long, slow simmering gives the meat a melt-in-your mouth quality.
• Don't be daunted by the cooking time, as it only requires you be around to give it a stir from time-to-time.

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

BEEF AND CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Heat a heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon of the olive oil, onion and ground beef. Season with salt and pepper. Saute until the meat browns and the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, and cool.
• Brush 1 teaspoon of oil over a large baking sheet. Cook the manicotti in a large pot of boiling salted water until slightly softened, but still very firm to the bite, about 4 to 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the manicotti from the pot to the oiled baking sheet and cool.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, 1 1/2 to 2 cups mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup Parmesan, and parsley. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to taste, and mix. Stir the cooled meat mixture into the cheese mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush the remaining 2 teaspoons of oil over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spoon 1 1/2 cups of the marinara sauce over the bottom of the prepared dish. Fill the manicotti with the cheese-meat mixture. Arrange the stuffed pasta in a single layer in the prepared dish and spoon the remaining sauce over.
• Sprinkle the remaining 1 1/2 cups of mozzarella cheese, then the remaining 1/2 cup of Parmesan over the stuffed pasta. Dot entire dish with the butter pieces. Bake the manicotti uncovered until heated through and the sauce bubbles on the sides of the dish, about 30 to 35 minutes. Let the manicotti stand 5 minutes and serve.

BAKED MANICOTTI WITH CHEESE FILLING

Steps:

• Make sauce: In hot oil in 5-quart Dutch oven, saute onion and garlic 5 minutes. Mix in rest of sauce ingredients and 1-1/2 cups water, mashing tomatoes with fork. Bring to boiling, and reduce heat. Simmer mixture, covered and stirring occasionally, 1 hour.
• Make Manicotti: In medium bowl, combine 6 eggs, the flour, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1-1/2 cups water; with electric mixer, beat just until smooth. Let stand 1/2 hour or longer. Slowly heat an 8-inch skillet. Pour in 3 tablespoons batter, rotating the skillet quickly to spread batter evenly over bottom.
• Cook over medium heat until top is dry but bottom is not brown. Turn out on a wire rack to cool. Continue cooking until all of the batter is used. As the manicotti cool, stack them with waxed paper between them.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make Filling: In large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, 1/3 cup parmesan, the eggs, salt, pepper, and parsley; beat with wooden spoon to blend well. Spread about 1/4 cup filling down the center of each manicotti, and roll up.
• Spoon 1-1/2 cups sauce into each of two 12-by-8-by-2-inch baking dishes. Place eight rolled manicotti seam side down, in single layer; top with five more. Cover with 1 cup sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake, uncovered, 1/2 hour, or until bubbly.
• To Freeze: Line baking dish with large piece of foil; assemble as directed. Fold foil over to seal, and freeze in dish. When frozen, remove dish.
• To serve: Unwrap; place in baking dish, and let stand 1 hour to thaw. Bake, uncovered, 1 hour in 350 degree oven.
• *If not using a skillet with a non-stick surface, brush skillet lightly with butter for each manicotti.

SPECIAL CHEESE MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti according to package directions; rinse in cold water and drain. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the egg, sour cream, salad dressing and zucchini., Carefully stuff manicotti with cheese filling. Place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Pour spaghetti sauce over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. Bake 5 minutes longer or until heated through.

MANICOTTI WITH CHEESE

Steps:

• 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 and cool on waxed paper or aluminum foil to prevent the noodles from sticking together.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt and pepper; fill manicotti with cheese mixture.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom and arrange manicotti in a single layer; cover with remaining sauce. Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 15 minutes longer; serve.