cannelloni recipes

An iconic duo in Italian culinary circles, spinach and ricotta often go hand in hand to make delicious fresh pasta dishes, and today’s cannelloni is no exception. This combination of ingredients can be traced back hundreds, if not thousands, of years in Italian history, with ricotta thought to have its origins in the ancient Roman period when it would have been made and consumed by humble shepherds. Having stood the test of time, it is no surprise that this pairing remains popular and is used in many different dishes across Italy to this day. Our cannelloni bake is just one example of the wonderful creations that can be made with these ingredients.

Super Easy Spinach & Ricotta Cannelloni

tubes cannelloni

fresh spinach

ricotta

lemon, zested & juiced

parmesan, grated

Nutmeg,

Salt and black pepper,

olive oil

garlic, crushed

tomatoes

basil leaves, roughly torn

Salt and pepper

butter

plain flour

milk

Begin by preheating your oven to 200°C (180°C fan). 

Use boiling water to wilt the spinach in a sieve, squeezing out any excess water and leaving it to cool down.

Gently heat the olive oil in a large pan. Add the crushed garlic and fry for a minute or two, don’t let the garlic burn or stick to the pan. Pour in the tinned tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Add the basil leaves and a little salt and pepper. Simmer for about 10 minutes then turn off the heat.

In a clean pan, melt the butter over a low heat. When it is completely melted, add the flour and stir until it’s fully mixed. Gradually pour in the milk, stirring constantly so that no lumps form. When all the milk is added, turn off the heat and add the parmesan to the sauce, along with a generous amount of salt and pepper to taste. 

Drain the spinach as much as you can and roughly chop it before putting it in a large bowl. Add the ricotta, lemon (juice and zest), and the nutmeg and parmesan, combining all of the ingredients thoroughly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Now, fill each tube of cannelloni with the spinach mixture using a teaspoon. Try and ensure each tube receives a similar amount of filling.

Next, pour half of the tomato sauce into a large ovenproof dish or roasting tin. Spread the sauce out evenly and place the cannelloni tubes on top to form another layer. Pour the rest of the tomato sauce over the cannelloni and top with the cheese sauce. You can even add a little grated cheese to the top if you want a nice crispy layer to finish your cannelloni bake. 

Cook in the oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling. Serve immediately, buon appetito!

Try one of these easy cannelloni recipes the next time you need to break up the usual pasta routine. They're fun, filling, and family-friendly.

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Super Easy Spinach & Ricotta Cannel...

13 Best Cannelloni Recipe Collectio...

Top 2 cannelloni recipes recipes from across the web

The most viewed cannelloni recipes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

Super Easy Spinach & Ricotta Cannel...

13 Best Cannelloni Recipe Collectio...

The most viewed cannelloni recipes recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine