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Christmas Stuffed Shells

Delicious Christmas Stuffed Shells: Cozy Holiday Comfort Food

These Christmas Stuffed Shells are a delightful vegetarian dish filled with creamy spinach and ricotta, perfect for your holiday dinners.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Resting Time 5 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Shells
  • 20 pieces Large Pasta Shells
For the Filling
  • 2 cups Fresh Spinach Steamed and chopped
  • 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 0.5 cup Pecorino Cheese Can substitute with Parmesan
  • 2 cloves Garlic Minced
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano Or dried Italian herbs
  • 1 tablespoon Lemon Zest
  • 1 pinch Red Pepper Flakes Adjust to taste
  • to taste Salt
  • to taste Black Pepper
For the Marinara Sauce
  • 2 cups Marinara Sauce Homemade or store-bought
For Assembling
  • 2 tablespoons Olive Oil Or cooking spray

Equipment

  • Baking Dish
  • Large pot
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Stove

Method
 

Preparation Steps
  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Steam about 2 cups of fresh spinach for 1 minute until wilted, then chop it finely.
  3. Boil a large pot of salted water, add 20 large pasta shells, and cook for about 10 minutes until al dente.
  4. In a mixing bowl, combine chopped spinach, 1 cup ricotta, 0.5 cup pecorino cheese, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon oregano, zest of one lemon, red pepper flakes, and season with salt and pepper.
  5. Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce across the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
  6. Stuff each cooked shell with the spinach and ricotta filling; place them seam-side up in the baking dish.
  7. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  8. Remove the foil and let the shells rest for a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 15gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 1500IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 200mgIron: 2mg

Notes

These stuffed shells can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator or freezer for easy baking later.

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