Spinach, Cheese, and Sausage Stuffed Shells OAMC

Hwin's Note:

I found this in a magazine and decided to try it. So glad I did! I made it for the first time last night and it is really great. I used 9 oz. fresh spinach instead of the frozen spinach, and it worked great. My husband even liked it, and he is not normally a spinach person. I used most of a 26 oz jar for 1/2 a recipe, so you may need more sauce than called for. I'm sure you could use homemade, too. Be flexible! Also, this recipe makes quite a bit. I am cooking for two people, and I froze half the stuffed shells for another time, and there were still plenty of leftovers. Freezing them works great! I flash froze the stuffed shells on a cookie sheet, then dumped them in a ziploc and stashed them in the deep freeze. I let them defrost for a day. Then you just have to add sauce, and cook! Perfect weeknight meal, but good enough to serve to company.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 8

Yield: 36.0 shells

• 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3/4 lb ground sausage
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 egg
• 16 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) box frozen spinach, chopped, thawed, and drained
• 26 ounces spaghetti sauce with basil

Directions:

1. Cook pasta shells according to directions. Drain, rinse, and let drain again.
2. Saute onion in oil about 5 minutes. Add ground sausage and garlic. Cook until sausage is done. Cool.
3. Beat egg slightly. Add ricotta cheese, mozzerella cheese, parmesan cheese, spinach, and cooled sausage mixture. Mix well.
4. Stuff shells. (This is where I flash-froze half of them).
5. Put 1 c of spagetti sauce in bottom of corningware (or 9x13 pan, or something else). Add shells. Pour the rest of the sauce on top. Sprinkle with more mozzerella or parmesan cheese, if desired.
6. Cook at 350 for 30 minutes, covered. Cook 10 minutes uncovered.

Reviews

[TeresaS]

Delicious! I cut the recipe in half (so I did not freeze any) I wanted to lower the fat so I used Turkey Sausage in place of ground sausage. DH who really hates turkey loved the dish. Of course I didn't tell him...I also used egg beaters and skim cheeses along with fresh spinach.The full 26 oz jar of sauce was used. The only thing that was missing was some salt. I sprinkled some fresh basil on top. Thanks for posting. :)

[Carlajamelle]

Came across this reciepe while surfing and glad I decided to make it. Family loved it!!!! I used the sweet italian sasuage and canned spinach instead of frozen. I added a little more cheese for the final layer before baking. Delicious!!!! Served with moscato wine and a nice salad. Felt like I had gone out to eat at really nice Italian spot. Thanks for the post. A must try!!!!