Festive Christmas Stuffed Pasta (Print Version)
Colorful stuffed shells with ricotta, spinach, and cranberries in tomato sauce
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta & Filling
01 - 20 jumbo pasta shells
02 - 2 cups ricotta cheese
03 - 1 1/2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
04 - 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1 garlic clove, minced
10 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
→ Sauce
12 - 2 cups tomato passata or marinara sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
14 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - Pinch of red pepper flakes
17 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ Garnish
18 - Fresh basil leaves
19 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
02 - Boil jumbo pasta shells in salted water until al dente. Drain thoroughly and arrange on kitchen towels to cool.
03 - Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until softened, about 3 minutes. Add tomato passata, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
04 - Combine ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, Parmesan, chopped cranberries, egg, nutmeg, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in large mixing bowl. Mix until fully incorporated.
05 - Spread half of the tomato sauce evenly across the bottom of a large baking dish.
06 - Fill each cooled pasta shell with ricotta mixture using a spoon. Arrange filled shells in single layer in prepared dish.
07 - Pour remaining tomato sauce over stuffed shells. Sprinkle additional Parmesan cheese evenly across the top.
08 - Cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil. Bake for 25 minutes.
09 - Remove foil and continue baking for 10 minutes until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbling around edges.
10 - Arrange fresh basil leaves over the top. Serve hot while cheese is melted and creamy.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The cranberries create these little bursts of festive brightness that nobody expects in pasta
- You can assemble everything the day before and just bake when guests arrive
02 -
- Overcook the pasta now and it will turn to mush during baking
- The filling needs to be firmly packed into each shell or it will collapse
03 -
- Use a piping bag to fill shells faster and more neatly
- Place your baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any bubble over mess