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spinach ricotta cannelloni on a plate

Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni

Delicious vegetarian stuffed spinach ricotta cannelloni with a simple homemade tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese! With an option for vegan cannelloni!
Author : Aline Cueni
5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time :20 minutes
Cook Time :50 minutes
Total Time :1 hour 10 minutes
Servings : 4
Calories : 454kcal

Ingredients
 

Sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 24.5 oz (700 g) tomato passata
  • 1 bunch fresh basil chopped
  • salt and pepper

Filling

  • 9 oz (250 g) frozen spinach thawed
  • 1 cup (250 g) ricotta cheese or vegan ricotta (Note 1)
  • ¼ cup (25 g) grated parmesan
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • tsp ground nutmeg
  • salt and pepper

Cannelloni

  • 10-12 cannelloni tubes (Note 2)
  • 1 ½ cup (150 g) mozzarella torn apart or diced, or vegan cheese (Note 1)
  • 2 tbsp grated parmesan

Instructions
 

Sauce

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat with one tablespoon of olive oil. Add minced shallot and garlic, sauté for 2-3 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
  • Stir in tomato passata and chopped basil. Let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season to taste with salt and black pepper.

Filling

  • Thaw spinach, squeeze out all excess liquid by hand, and finely chop.
  • Add chopped spinach, ricotta, grated parmesan, lemon juice, and nutmeg in a bowl and stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Transfer filling into a piping bag.

Assemble & Bake

  • Preheat oven to 355°F (180°C).
  • Spread ⅓ of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a baking dish (mine is 11×7 inches | 27x18cm). Pipe the filling into the cannelloni tubes, then assemble them in an even layer in the baking dish.
  • Spread the remaining tomato sauce over the cannelloni, then top with torn mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese.
  • Bake for 35 minutes.

Notes

  1. Vegan Spinach Ricotta Cannelloni: It’s super simple to make a vegan version of this recipe. Use vegan ricotta (store-bought or follow this cashew ricotta cheese recipe) and a vegan cheese alternative. You can even skip the parmesan in the recipe and only use vegan ricotta, tastes delicious too! But make sure to top the cannellonis with some vegan cheese for a nice melt.
  2. Cannelloni Tubes: Used dried cannelloni tubes (I love the one from Barilla). They do not need to be boiled before cooking in the oven. 
  3. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days. Store it in an airtight container, or simply wrap the cold baking dish with plastic wrap (easiest to reheat), in the refrigerator.
  4. Reheat for 20 minutes in the preheated oven at 355°F (180°C).

Nutrition

Calories: 454kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 498mg | Potassium: 398mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 8219IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 533mg | Iron: 3mg