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Easy-to-Follow Manicotti Meat Sauce Cooking Guide in Just 5 Steps

Easily prepare delicious meat-filled manicotti drenched in savory tomato sauce, brimming with cheesy goodness and bold Italian flavors that your loved ones will adore!

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Easy-to-Follow 5-Step Recipe for Creamy Manicotti Filled with Delicious Meat Sauce
Easy-to-Follow 5-Step Recipe for Creamy Manicotti Filled with Delicious Meat Sauce

Easy-to-Follow Manicotti Meat Sauce Cooking Guide in Just 5 Steps

Stuffed Manicotti Meat Sauce: A Delicious Italian Classic

Prepare yourself for a culinary journey to the heart of Italy with our guide to the classic dish, Stuffed Manicotti Meat Sauce. This delicious meal hails from the Campania region and is sure to impress any dinner guest.

Preparation

Before we dive into the recipe, let's discuss a few key tips to ensure your manicotti turns out perfect every time.

  • Fresh herbs such as basil and oregano can enhance the flavours significantly. Use about 1 tablespoon of each, chopped, in place of dried herbs.
  • To prevent manicotti shells from splitting during baking, cook them 1 minute shy of al dente and leave about 1/4 inch at each end for expansion.
  • Allow the baked manicotti to rest for 5-10 minutes so the filling sets before serving.

Ingredients

  • Manicotti shells
  • Ground beef
  • Tomato sauce
  • Ricotta cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh basil and oregano
  • Eggs
  • Salt and pepper

Substitutions

For those with dietary restrictions, there are alternatives available. Small-curd cottage cheese, mascarpone, or silken tofu blended with lemon juice can be used as substitutes for ricotta.

Assembly

  1. Cook the manicotti shells according to the package instructions, but cook them 1 minute shy of al dente.
  2. In a separate pan, brown the ground beef and cook it with the tomato sauce, seasoned with salt, pepper, basil, and oregano.
  3. Drain the ricotta cheese in a fine mesh strainer for 10 minutes to prevent a watery filling.
  4. Combine the cooked manicotti shells, meat sauce, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, eggs, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl.
  5. Stuff each manicotti shell with the mixture and place them in a baking dish.

Baking

  1. Cover the manicotti with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes until bubbly and slightly golden.

Serving

Let the cooked manicotti cool just until you can handle them - warm enough to stay pliable but cool enough not to tear when stuffing.

Leftovers and Storage

Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months in individual portions. Frozen manicotti keeps its texture for about 3 months. If freezing, it's best to do so before baking. Thaw overnight in the fridge before baking as directed.

Baking Dish Precaution

To save from oven cleanup nightmares, place your baking dish on a sheet pan to catch any bubbly overflow.

Nutritional Information

Each 2-shell serving contains approximately 520 calories with 28g fat (12g saturated), 32g protein, and 35g carbs.

Make-Ahead Preparation

You can assemble everything the night before and add 5-10 extra minutes to the baking time since it's going in cold. The flavours blend even better when allowed to marinate overnight.

With these tips and tricks, you're now ready to create your own Stuffed Manicotti Meat Sauce at home. Buon appetito!

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