Vegetarian Stuffed Shells Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my stuffed shells watery? ›

You want a ricotta that has nothing more than milk, salt, and either an acid or bacterial starter. Avoid anything with a gum listed—these gums bind water but release it as you heat the ricotta up. Straight out of its container, even good-quality ricotta can be too wet, which will result in a watery filling later.

I often serve these stuffed shells with my Homemade Caesar Salad, but my Arugula Salad, Beet Salad, or Simple Green Salad would also pair well with this recipe. And when it comes to bread, you really can't go wrong! Stick with a crusty loaf, or make rosemary focaccia, garlic knots, or dinner rolls. Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Spoon the cheese mixture into each pasta shell and place open side up, in a single layer, in prepared pan. Pour the rest of sauce over the stuffed shells. Loosely cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

There are usually around 40 to 46 shells in a 12 oz box of jumbo shells. It's good to have more than this recipe calls for (36) because some shells rip or are broken.

Hang your ricotta or leave sitting in a strainer with a weight overnight. This will get rid of all the excess liquid allowing you to mix through whatever flavouring you want and then fill.

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny. One or more eggs are recommended whether you add the other ingredients mentioned here or not.

You should only be cooking the shells to al dente to start! Once your shells have reached this point, drain the hot water from the pot and replace it with cold water. This stops the shells from cooking any further than you want them to and also ensures that they won't stick together upon serving.

Like most leftovers, your stuffed shells should last for three to four days in a fridge set at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or lower . If you can't eat the extra stuffed shells so soon, put them in the freezer set at 0 degrees Fahrenheit and they will stay fresh for four months.

You can accomplish this popular feat of Italian-American origin by following recipes for either manicotti or stuffed shells. Both pastas are meant to be stuffed. The difference is in the details. Literally translated, manicotti means “l*ttle muffs.” The large tubes are made for stuffing.

The pasta called conchiglioni, usually marketed as “jumbo shells” here in the US, are filled with a ricotta cream enriched with mozzarella, napped with a simple marinara sauce and topped with a generous sprinkling of Parmesan before being baked in a hot oven.

Can I freeze stuffed shells? ›

Once the shells are stuffed place them on an ungreased baking sheet. Cover and place in the freezer. Once the stuffed shells are frozen, place them in a plastic freezer bag and seal the bag. Store frozen.

There are approximately 4 cups of dry pasta in one pound. This is a general rule of thumb that can vary slightly depending on the shape and size of the pasta.

The smallest shell shape is called conchigliette and the largest shell shape is called conchiglioni. Each of these conchiglie have the same shape but different dimensions. All three of these shapes are commonly used in pasta salads and with heavy meat sauces.

While the flavor of ricotta is light, its texture is meant to be thick and creamy. Unfortunately, most grocery stores carry watery ricotta that seems to have lost this desirable quality. Heres a quick tip to restore its consistency, making it perfect to use in any dish, from lasagna to cannoli.

The stuffing should be moist but not wet. If there is a puddle of broth at the bottom of the bowl, you've added too much. Add more bread to soak up the excess moisture. If the mix is still dry and crumbly, add more liquid and toss gently until it starts to clump together.

Take advantage of this trick by catching the liquid in a pot, and then simmering it on medium heat until it reduces and thickens. Once thickened, reincorporate it into the casserole. Before you know it, you'll have a thick, flavorful meal ready to satisfy even the hungriest of appetites.

I like to leave my mixture straining in the fridge overnight, to obtain a very firm and creamy ricotta. I simply place the strainer over the bowl in the fridge, and cover the ricotta with the overhanging cheesecloth, as you can see in the pictures of the post above.