If you’re a fan of Italian food, you’ve probably tried cannelloni at least once. For those who are unfamiliar, cannelloni is a type of pasta tube that’s typically stuffed with a variety of ingredients, such as ground meat or cheese.

When baked in a rich tomato sauce, it’s the perfect comfort food. This recipe takes things up a notch by using ricotta and spinach for a flavorful, wholesome filling that’s sure to satisfy.

Related Article Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Cannelloni

: Ingredients

• 1 box of cannelloni tubes
• 4 cups of ricotta cheese
• 1 ½ cups of spinach, cooked and chopped
• 1 egg
• 1 cup of Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce

: Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2. Cook spinach in a pot of boiling water for 2-3 minutes until fully wilted. Then remove, drain, and chop the spinach.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, beaten egg, chopped spinach, ½ cup of grated Parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
4. Stuff the cannelloni tubes with the ricotta and spinach mixture.
5. Pour half the tomato sauce into a large baking dish. Place the stuffed cannelloni tubes on top of the sauce.
6. Pour the remaining tomato sauce on top of the cannelloni tubes.
7. Sprinkle the remaining grated Parmesan cheese on top of the sauce.
8. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
9. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
10. Let the cannelloni cool for 10 minutes before serving.

: Tips

• If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought tomato sauce instead of making your own.
• Make sure to cook your spinach well before adding it to the ricotta mixture – it’s important to remove as much excess water as possible to avoid a soggy filling.
• If you don’t have cannelloni tubes on hand, you can use jumbo pasta shells instead. Simply stuff the shells and place them in the baking dish, then follow the rest of the recipe as written.
• To make this recipe vegetarian-friendly, use a vegetarian-friendly Parmesan cheese or substitute with a similar hard cheese that doesn’t contain animal rennet.
• This dish reheats well, so you can save leftovers for a future meal.

: The Bottom Line

This recipe for cannelloni stuffed with ricotta and spinach is a tasty twist on the classic pasta dish. The wholesome filling is full of flavor and nutrients, making it a great choice for a cozy weeknight dinner or special occasion meal.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or a beginner in the kitchen, this recipe is a must-try.