Cheese Manicotti Italian Recipe

Cheese Manicotti Italian Recipe

Ingredients

cheese filling:

• 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 inch dice
• 2 pound ricotta cheese or 2
• 1 15 ounce con
• 1/4 pound prosciutto, 1/4-inch dice
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup freshly graterd parmesan
• cheese
• salt and freshly ground
• black pepper
• 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
• 14 manicotti shells
• 3 cup tomato sauce meat or
• marinara
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese to make the filling

Method

1. Combine all ingredients and mix very thoroughly
2. Heat 4 to 6 quarts of salted water to the boil in a large pot; add 2 tablespoons oil to help prevent pasta from sticking
3. Add half of the manicotti and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until not quite al dente
4. Stir occasionally with a long-handled fork
5. Hold a strainer over the pot and use a slotted spoon to remove 1 or 2 manicotti at a time from the boiling water, placing them in the strainer
6. Shake manicotti free of water over the pot
7. Spread a clean kitchen towel on the kitchen counter
8. Place the manicotti side by side on the towel, which will absorb all the remaining moisture
9. The shells must be completely dry before stuffing
10. Repeat until all shells are cooked
11. Cool
12. Generously butter a baking dish, 13 x 10 inches
13. Fill each shell with some of the stuffing, letting a little of the stuffing come out on either end
14. This is best done with a pastry tube and a large nozzle; otherwisew use a regular teaspoon
15. Lay the stuffed manicotti side by side in the buttered dish and surround them with any manicotti shells you may not have sufficient stuffing for
16. Pour half the tomato sauce over the shells and sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan ch eese
17. Bake in a preheated moderate oven for 15 to 20 minutes
18. Heat remaining tomato sauce to serve separately
19. Serve with additional Parmesan Cheese

Full List of Italian Recipes
Full List of Manicotti Recipes