Description
A delightful dish filled with creamy ricotta cheese, fresh spinach, and a refreshing touch of lemon zest, perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 20 jumbo pasta shells
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 lemon (zest and juice)
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook the jumbo pasta shells according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, chopped spinach, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Stuff each cooked pasta shell with the ricotta mixture.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells on top and pour the remaining marinara sauce over the shells.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
- Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve warm.
Notes
For a little spice, add red pepper flakes to the marinara sauce. You can also customize the filling with different cheeses or add protein like cooked chicken or ground beef.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 30mg
Keywords: spinach, ricotta, pasta, baked, vegetarian, Italian, comfort food, family meal