Spinach Beef Cannelloni (Manicotti)
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
30 mins
-
Cook Time
45 mins
-
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
-
Servings
5
-
Calories
60906 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
Italian, American, Italian-American Fussion
Spinach Beef Cannelloni (Manicotti)
Description
This recipe begins by preparing a savory tomato-based cannelloni sauce infused with garlic, onion, carrot, celery, herbs, and chicken or vegetable stock, then pureed until smooth. The spinach and ground beef filling is cooked with garlic and onion, seasoned with black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and crumbled beef bouillon cube, then combined with some of the prepared sauce to keep it moist.
The filling is piped into uncooked cannelloni or manicotti tubes, which are arranged upright for ease of filling. Once filled, tubes are covered with remaining sauce and topped with freshly grated mozzarella cheese before baking at 180°C (350°F) until the pasta is tender and the cheese is golden.
This dish is a comforting meal suitable for dinner, offering a balance of spinach's earthiness and beef's rich flavor within the soft pasta, complemented by the herbal tomato sauce. Leftovers keep well refrigerated for several days and can be frozen uncooked with added water in the sauce for convenience.
Ingredients
Cannelloni Sauce:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 1 carrot , small, finely chopped (optional)
- 1 celery finely chopped (optional, rib
- 800g / 28oz crushed tomato , canned
- 2 cups (500ml) chicken stock low sodium (or vegetable, or broth
- 1/2 tsp thyme each
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional
Spinach Beef Filling:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic minced, cloves
- 1/2 onion , finely chopped
- 500g / 1lb ground beef lean
- 250g / 8oz spinach thawed, excess liquid squeezed out (Note 1, frozen, chopped
- 1 beef bouillon cube , crumbled (Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Cannelloni:
- 21 - 24 cannelloni pasta tubes OR 10 Manicotti tubes (Note 3, 220g/7oz
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese , freshly grated (or other melting cheese)
- parsley garnish (optional, chopped
Instructions
Cannelloni Sauce:
- Heat oil in a large saucepan or pot over medium high heat. Add garlic and onion, cook 2 minutes. Add carrot and celery, cook 5 minutes.
- Add remaining Sauce ingredients then stir. Bring to simmer, lower heat to medium, cover with lid and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Use a stick blender to blitz until smooth (or cool slightly and use blender or food processor). Set aside.
Spinach Beef Filling:
- Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add onion and garlic, cook 2 minutes.
- Add beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until it all changes from red to brown.
- Stir in spinach, then add crumbled beef cube, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and 1 cup of Cannelloni Sauce. Stir, cook 2 minutes.
- Remove and cool slightly.
Assembly and Baking:
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F.
- Transfer Beef Filling into a piping bag with a wide nozzle. Stand cannelloni tubes upright in a container, then pipe filling in. (Or do this step with teaspoon/finger/dinner knife!).
- Spread about 1 1/4 cups Sauce in a 23x33cm / 9x13" dish. Lay the cannelloni on top, then pour over remaining Sauce.
- Sprinkle with cheese, loosely cover with foil.
- Bake 25 minutes, remove foil then bake a further 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly with some golden spots.
- Remove from oven, sprinkle with parsley if using then serve!
Notes
- Use frozen spinach for convenience, or fresh spinach blanched and chopped for a fresher texture and color.
- Beef bouillon cubes add depth to the filling flavor beyond plain seasoning.
- Cannelloni or manicotti pasta tubes can be filled raw and will cook fully during baking.
- Cooked leftovers keep up to 4 days in the refrigerator and can be reheated in a microwave.
- For freezing uncooked assembled cannelloni, add extra water to sauce before freezing to prevent drying out.
- Approximate number of pasta tubes: 21-24 cannelloni or about 10 manicotti.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 5Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 60906 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 609.06cal | 30% |
| Carbohydrates | 50.15g | 17% |
| Protein | 42.14g | 84% |
| Fat | 27.64g | 43% |
| Saturated Fat | 11.12g | 56% |
| Cholesterol | 100.42mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 1079.82mg | 45% |
| Potassium | 1268.79mg | 27% |
| Fiber | 6.67g | 27% |
| Sugar | 10.93g | 22% |
| Vitamin A | 8613.55IU | 172% |
| Vitamin C | 20.44mg | 23% |
| Calcium | 383.77mg | 38% |
| Iron | 6.28mg | 35% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
You'll Also Love
