Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells
- Sarahs.Recipe
- May 9, 2021
- 2 min read
Nothing beats the combo of spinach & ricotta. It's a match made in heaven. Stuffed inside cute little pasta shells with a homemade marinara, you'll be licking the plate clean!

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook time: 1.5 hours Servings: 4 People
Ingredients
Stuffing
1 packet of large pasta shells
300g fresh ricotta
400g fresh spinach (can sub for frozen)
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp lemon rind
salt & pepper
Marinara
1 tbsp olive oil
1 can of whole roma tomatoes or 1 bottle of passata
1 small onion, diced
3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced
5 fresh basil leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper
Topping
Grated mozarella cheese ( I used cheddar as I didn't have mozzarella and it worked well)
Method
Preheat oven to 190°c
First it's time to start the marinara - over medium heat in a heavy bottomed pan or dutch oven, add your oil & onion with a pinch of salt. Sauté for 5 minutes.
Next add in your garlic and sauté for a further 2 minutes
Add in your tomatoes or passata, oregano & fresh basil. Reduce heat to low, cover with a lid and cook for half an hour.
Now it's time for your stuffing - bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Have an ice water bowl ready to blanch your spinach. Once the water has reached a boil, add the spinach and cook for no more than 60 seconds. Then add the spinach to your ice water bath.
Squeeze the spinach and drain out as much excess water as possible.
Bring your water that you used for the spinach back up to the boil. Cook your pasta as per packet instructions, make sure you cook them up until they're al dente - no more.
In a food processor add in your garlic & spinach. Blitz for 20-30 seconds.
Then add in your ricotta, parmesan, lemon rind, salt & pepper, blitz for another 30 seconds
Add a thin layer of marinara to the bottom of your baking dish & begin stuffing your shells.
Place your stuffed shells in a row and top with remaining marinara sauce and cheese (mozzarella or cheddar)
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove foil and bake a further 5 minutes.
Enjoy!
Sarah x
Comments