Description
Festive holiday dinners welcome Christmas Stuffed Pasta as a delightful centerpiece that brings Italian culinary magic to your table. Family gatherings spark with flavor when these cheesy, herb-infused parcels arrive steaming hot and ready to celebrate seasonal joy you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Filling:
- 12 large pasta shells or cannelloni
- 250 g (8.8 oz) ricotta cheese
- 150 g (5.3 oz) ground turkey
- 1 egg
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Sauce and Topping:
- 400 g (14 oz) marinara sauce
- 100 g (3.5 oz) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C), preparing a baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese, ground turkey, egg, oregano, salt, pepper, and chopped parsley, blending thoroughly until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Cook pasta shells according to package instructions, draining and allowing them to cool slightly for easier handling.
- Gently stuff each pasta shell with the prepared meat and cheese mixture, ensuring a generous but not overfilled portion.
- Pour marinara sauce evenly across the bottom of the baking dish, creating a smooth base for the stuffed shells.
- Arrange the filled pasta shells carefully on top of the marinara sauce, positioning them close together.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the stuffed shells, covering them completely.
- Dust the top with grated parmesan cheese for an extra layer of flavor.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, removing the foil during the last 10 minutes to allow cheese to melt and turn golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow filling to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Ensure pasta shells are slightly undercooked to prevent becoming mushy during baking, maintaining a perfect al dente texture.
- Drain ricotta cheese thoroughly using a cheesecloth or fine strainer to eliminate excess moisture, preventing watery filling.
- Consider swapping ground turkey with ground chicken or plant-based crumbles for alternative protein options that suit different dietary preferences.
- Add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes or fresh basil before serving to enhance the flavor profile and create a personalized touch.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 401
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 661 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 76 mg