Stuffed Manicotti Marinara Recipes

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and green pepper in olive oil until tender. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Stir in all remaining sauce ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Uncover, simmer 10-15 minutes longer or until thickened. , Meanwhile, for manicotti, cook beef and onion in a skillet until the meat is no longer pink. Add garlic; cook 1 minute longer. Drain; cool slightly. , Squeeze spinach thoroughly to remove excess water; add to the skillet with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix well. Refrigerate 1-1/2 cups of the sauce (makes 4 cups), for another recipe. , Pour 1 cup of the remaining sauce into a 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Stuff manicotti with the meat mixture; arrange over the sauce. Pour another 1-1/2 cups of sauce on top. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and remaining Parmesan cheese. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°.

Steps:

• Make the crepes (crespelle):
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk and melted butter. Gradually whisk in the flour and salt until the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate for 1 hour until slightly thickened.
• Spray an 8-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Place the pan over medium heat. With a small ladle, pour about 3 tablespoons of the batter into the pan. Turn the pan at a 45 degree angle to coat the pan evenly so the batter forms a perfect circle. Cook the crepe only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Turn the crepe over with a spatula and cook the other side only until lightly browned, about 30 seconds. Slide the crepe onto a 12-inch platter and continue the process with the remaining batter. Stack the crepes between waxed paper so they don't stick. You can prepare these crepes a day in advance covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator. No need to reheat the crepes before filling and baking.
• Make the ricotta filling:
• In a large bowl, add all the ingredients for the ricotta filling. With a large wooden spoon or spatula, stir all the ingredients until well blended. Store covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can make this filling the day before.
• Make the marinara sauce:
• In a large heavy nonreactive saucepan with a lid, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant but NOT browned. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pan and crush further with a potato masher. Simmer 30 minutes, slightly covered, on medium-low heat, stirring every so often.
• Add the parsley, basil leaves and salt and pepper, to taste, and simmer for another 10 minutes until the sauce is slightly reduced. Taste and re-season as necessary.
• Put it all together:
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with 1 cup of the prepared marinara sauce.
• Spoon 3 tablespoons of the prepared ricotta filling 1 inch from the edge of a crepe. Roll evenly into a log, keeping the filling even as you roll. Repeat with the remaining crepes. Place manicotti seam side down and side by side in the sauced baking pan.
• Spoon 1 to 2 cups of sauce over the top of the manicotti. Sprinkle with the grated Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake about 20 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown and sides are bubbling. Let rest about 15 minutes before serving to firm up the manicotti filling.

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.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and set a large pot of water on the stovetop to boil.
• In a bowl, combine the ricotta, egg, Parmesan, parsley, and salt and pepper. Set this filling aside.
• Cook the manicotti in boiling water for minute. After they've cooked for one minute, remove the pot from the heat but do not drain the manicotti squares in a colander as the noodles often stick together. Instead, run cold water into the pot until you can fish the manicotti squares out safely with your fingers. Shake off the excess water as you remove each square. It is usually best to place the squares on a clean cloth to further blot them.
• Lay the squares flat on a cloth, placing the filling across the center of the dough, leaving a little room at the edges on each side. Turn up the edge nearest you so that it lies on top of the filling. Now turn the edge farthest from you towards you so that it lies on top of the first edge. You now have a cannoli-like tube. Spread 1 ladleful of the sauce onto the bottom of a 9 by 12-inch baking pan. Turn the manicotti over and place seam-side down in the baking pan on top of the sauce. Continue until the pan has a layer of manicotti. Spoon 2 more ladlefuls of sauce over the top and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let sit 10 minutes before serving. Serve with additional sauce for individual servings.
• Everyone has his own variation of marinara sauce. Borgatti's is basic and can be used throughout this book whenever marinara is called for. The seasonings and herbs can be adjusted, to taste.
• In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, heat the oil. Saute the garlic, salt, and pepper for 5 minutes or until the garlic is softened. Add the remaining ingredients, then raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a simmer, stirring often. Simmer for 30 minutes. The sauce can be stored for up to 5 days in the refrigerator and several months in the freezer.

Steps:

• In a wide fry pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and carrot and cook until soft (don't overcook).
• Stir in parsley, diced tomatoes with liquid, chicken broth, and basil.
• Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes or until sauce thickens, then set aside.
• In a large bowl combine crab, shrimp, green onions, and fontina cheese. Set filling aside.
• Cook manicotti in boiling water, according to package directions, until slightly firm - do not overcook!
• Rinse cooked manicotti with cold water and drain well. Set aside.
• Now prepare the FONTINA WHITE SAUCE recipe as follows:.
• In a wide fry pan over medium heat, melt butter or margarine. Add onion and cook until soft.
• Blend in flour and cook, stirring until bubbly.
• Gradually pour in milk and chicken broth, cooking and stirring until sauce thickens and boils.
• Remove from heat and add shredded fontina cheese, dry vermouth, nutmeg, and white pepper. Still just until cheese melts.
• CASSEROLE ASSEMBLY:.
• Stuff each manicotti with the seafood filling (roughly about 4 tablespoons).
• Spoon half of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Arrange filled pasta side by side in the sauce.
• Pour some of the sauce into the casserole but not directly onto the manicotti. (remainder of sauce can be offered separately).
• Pour the Fontina White Sauce down the center of the casserole (lengthwise).
• Sprinkle with 1/3 of the Parmesan cheese. (remaining Parmesan is sprinkled after baking).
• At this point you may cool, cover, and refrigerate until next day.
• Bake uncovered at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned and heated through. (35 minutes if refrigerated).
• Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese over top and offer as a side any remaining sauce.

Steps:

• Prepare the sauce, combine all ingredients except the oregano in a thick bottomed sauce pan.
• Simmer uncovered stirring occasionally until it's reduced by half.
• Add the oregano and simmer another 5 minutes.
• This gives you 1 1/2 cups of sauce (the unused sauce freezes well).
• While the sauce is simmering, mix the spinach, Ricotta, garlic powder, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Stuff the manicotti and place them by pairs in individual baking dishes.
• Drizzle 2 tbsp or so of Sauce over each noodle.
• Top each serving with an ounce of Mozzarella.
• Bake uncovered in a 350°F oven for 20 minutes.