Equipment
* optional
Ingredients
Pasta
- 340 g jumbo pasta shells, dry
- 30 g salt
Ricotta Filling
- 450 g whole milk ricotta cheese, drained
- 300 g frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed very dry
- 120 g low-moisture mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 60 g parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 g lemon zest
- 1 g fresh nutmeg, grated
- 2 g black pepper, freshly ground
Assembly
- 700 ml marinara sauce
- 150 g mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 10 g fresh basil leaves, torn
Nutrition (per serving)
Method
Preheat your oven to 190°C (375°F). Verify all ingredients are prepped, ensuring the spinach is squeezed thoroughly dry.
Bring a large stockpot of water to a rolling boil and add the salt. Add the pasta shells and cook for 2-3 minutes less than package directions (very al dente). They will finish cooking in the oven.
Drain the pasta and immediately rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking. Shake off excess water and set aside on a baking sheet to prevent them from clumping.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the ricotta, squeezed spinach, 120g shredded mozzarella, parmesan, beaten egg, minced garlic, lemon zest, nutmeg, and black pepper. Mix vigorously until completely uniform.
Spread about 400ml of the marinara sauce across the bottom of the 9x13 inch baking dish to create a bed for the pasta.
Fill each cooked shell generously with the ricotta mixture (approx 30-40g per shell). Arrange them snugly in the baking dish, open side up.
Top the stuffed shells with the remaining marinara sauce, followed by the remaining 150g of mozzarella cheese.
Cover the dish with foil (tented slightly to avoid sticking to cheese) and bake for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes to allow the filling to set. Garnish with fresh torn basil before serving.
Chef's Notes
- Squeezing the spinach is the most critical step. If you think it is dry, squeeze it one more time. Watery spinach ruins the rich texture of the ricotta.
- Using whole milk ricotta is essential for the mouthfeel. If using low-fat, the filling will be grainy and dry.
- A pinch of fresh nutmeg enhances the flavor of dairy and spinach significantly; it is the secret 'Italian grandmother' ingredient.
- If you want a crisper top, broil the dish for the last 2 minutes, but watch closely to prevent burning the cheese.
Storage
Refrigerator: 3 days — Store in an airtight container.
Freezer: 2 months — Freeze unbaked for best results. Bake from frozen adding 20 minutes to cook time.
Reheating: Cover with foil and bake at 175°C (350°F) until heated through to prevent cheese from burning.
