Manicotti is one of those pasta recipes that everyone loves. That wonderful cheesy filling in the middle of a pasta tube – it’s delicious. It’s the perfect dish for every occasion, as it turns out perfectly every time.
A traditional Italian recipe for manicotti includes the homemade pasta which is really a little thin pancake or crepe rolled around the filling. For anyone who has struggled to fill the pasta tubes, rolling the filling in a pancake sounds like a dream – and it is! These little pancakes are easy to make, easy to fill, and make amazing manicotti. Once you make your own, you will never buy your manicotti pasta from the store again.
If you want to save time, buy a jar of pasta sauce. There are so many kinds to choose from; it’s sometimes hard to decide which to buy. In August, 2012 Consumer Reports determined the Tomato Basil Sauce from Giada de Laurentis (available at Target) to be the best, with the sauces by Victoria and Mario Batali to be runners-up. Classico’s Traditional Sweet Basil Sauce is wonderful, too.
Homemade Manicotti Recipe
Ingredients for Homemade Manicotti:
Pasta:
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 1 cup milk
- 3 eggs
- ½ tsp. salt
Filling:
- 1 ½ pounds ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup parmesan, shredded (plus extra for topping)
- ½ cup mozzarella, grated
- 1 egg
- ¼ tsp. nutmeg
- 26-ounce jar pasta sauce
Directions for making Homemade Manicotti:
To make the pasta: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, milk, eggs, and salt until smooth.
Heat a lightly greased skillet or griddle to medium heat. Pour about 2 tablespoons of batter into the middle of the skillet and spread it into a 5-inch circle (as thinly as possible). Cook just until set – do not brown and do not turn it over (only one side will be browned). Remove from the skillet or griddle and place on a rack or wax paper to cool. Repeat the process until the batter is gone. This will make about 18 pancakes/crepes.
To make the filling: Combine the ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, egg, and nutmeg. Stir together with a fork.
Pour ½ of the jar of pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish – spread it evenly. Spoon 3 – 4 tablespoons of the filling down the center of each pancake/crepe (the uncooked side) and roll them up. Place the filled crepes seam-side down in a single layer in the baking dish. Pour the remaining pasta sauce over the top.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes; uncover and bake for 20 minutes longer. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve.
(from tasteofhome.com)
Other delicious pasta recipes:
Fresh tomatoes and pasta recipe – love this one
Sweet Italian sausage and penne recipe – amazing comfort food
Easy cheesy ziti recipe – easy to make and delicious
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