Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
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This recipe combines spinach and ricotta cheese within shell pasta and a milk-based sauce. The spinach is sautéed with tomatoes, onions, and garlic creating a savory, rich filling. The creaminess of the ricotta cheese and garlicky sauce works well with the stuffed shells. Pair with a crusty bread or side salad. Hope you enjoy it!
Nutrition Facts and Substitutions
Facts
Garlic is known to contain a variety of B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, and folate.
Spinach contains several minerals, including 167mg of potassium per 1 cup (raw) which is ~4% of the daily value.
Whole milk contains fat-soluble vitamin D, specifically 3.17 micrograms (95.6 IU) per 1 cup of fortified milk, representing approximately ~16% of the daily value.
(All facts sourced from USDA database: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/)
Substitutions
Dairy-free milk alternatives may work for this recipe, such as dairy-free milk for the sauce and dairy-free ricotta for the filling.
Gluten-free pasta can replace typical pasta made with wheat ingredients; there are also low-carb options available if desired.
Instead of spinach, shells can be stuffed with leafy greens such as kale or arugula.
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Spinach Ricotta Stuffed Shells
Serves 2
Ingredients:
Pasta
7 jumbo shells, boiled
Spinach Ricotta Mixture
5 oz fresh spinach
1 Roma tomatoes, quartered
1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup water
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
Creamy Sauce
2 tbsp butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp flour
1 1/2 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
Directions:
Preparing Noodles
1. Boil noodles until soft and opening widens.
Cooking Spinach
1. Add oil to the skillet and heat for 5 minutes.
2. Add tomato and onion and stir. Cook until softened for about 5 minutes.
3. Add minced garlic and let cook for 3-5 minutes.
4. Add spinach and stir until well incorporated. Sprinkle in seasonings and stir. Add water and cover the pot. Cook for 10 minutes until the liquid is mostly gone. Set aside.
Making Cream Sauce
1...Add butter and minced garlic to a pan on low heat.
2. Once the butter melts and the garlic is fragrant, add flour and stir until well combined.
3. When golden in color, add milk while whisking and let come to a slow simmer on medium-low to medium heat.
4. Once the sauce becomes thicker, add seasonings and stir on low heat. Remove from heat and set aside.
Assembling and Baking Pasta:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Add sauce to the bottom of a ramekin or oven-safe dish.
3. Once done, spoon remaining sauce into each shell.
4. Mix spinach with ricotta. Stuff shells with spinach ricotta mixture.
5. Top with cheese if desired and bake for 15 minutes.
6. Serve hot.
Notes
Seasoning types and amounts are recommendations; season based on your preference. Lower or omit salt for a low-sodium or salt-free recipe.
Adjust the amount of flour or the amount of time for a thinner sauce. Remember, it is going into the oven so it will thicken.
Flour can be added after milk is added to the thicken sauce if preferred.
Nutrition
Serving size amounts are rounded to the nearest whole number. Nutrition information is not exact and is provided as an estimate for reference. Some vitamin and minerals may be excluded. Trans fat is not calculated but minimal. Nutrition analysis performed using https://recipecard.io/recipe-nutrition-analyzer/.
