Jennie’s Homemade Manicotti
Originally published January 2010
I try to never go back on my word. It's one of the tenets of parenting. You must keep your promises (which is why it's also important to be careful what promises you make!). Well, I know I teased you with my last post on Parmesan Skillet Croutons. I said it was the start of a mini-series in baby steps in cooking that would lead to a velvety, comforting rich tomato soup. That was before I found out that my recipe for homemade manicotti was a finalist over at Food 52. So, please forgive me for my little white lie. I promise next week to come back with a recipe for homemade bouillon (baby step #2). But, today, let's talk about these tender pasta crepes filled with creamy tufts of fresh ricotta cheese and lightly dressed with marinara sauce.
I can't recall the first time I tasted homemade manicotti, but the experience left an indelible impression on my tastebuds. I'd never been a fan of them, and that was likely because the commercially manufactured ones are belly bombers. My family never made them from scratch.
Then one day I found myself in the kitchen with the urge to make them myself. I started by making some fresh ricotta. It's incredibly easy, so give it a try. If you pressed for time, then it's okay to buy it, but make sure it's fresh—you'd just be doing yourself a disservice otherwise. And don't forget about the marinara sauce. Surprisingly, I've never posted my recipe, so here's the short version.
Saute a few cloves of garlic in extra virgin olive oil. Add one 28 ounce can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a handful of fresh basil, or a teaspoon of pesto if you made some for the winter months. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes, and presto you've got homemade marinara sauce. I also add a dash of sugar to balance out the tomatoes' acidity, and yes, I know about carrots and all the other natural ways to add a bit of sweetness. I've tried them, and much prefer a smidge of sugar—it's how my mom and her mom did it. Feel free to skip the sugar all together.
The rest of the recipe is below, and even has some helpful step by step pictures. I've added a new printer friendly link to all my posts, so you can easily print the whole recipe out when you settle in to make it. Moms take note, it's also a fun cooking project for the kids. Let them give the batter a whirl in the blender and those little fingers are great for rolling the manicotti. And if it turns out you like this as much as my family, then go over and vote for me at Food 52. I promise, and really mean it this time, to be back next week with the second step in building the best tasting tomato soup. See you in February!
Jennie’s Homemade Manicotti
Makes 8 to 10 filled-pasta shells
For the pasta crepes
1 large egg
1 cup flour
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup whole milk, more as needed to thin the batter
canola oil, as needed to lightly grease the pan
For the filling
16 ounces ricotta cheese (recipe here for homemade)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan or locatelli cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
To assemble & finish
2 cups marinara sauce
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Add the pasta ingredients to the bowl of a blender. Blend, adding more milk one teaspoon at a time, until batter is a thin, almost runny consistency. Heat a nonstick 8-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Brush pan lightly with oil, if needed. Hold the pan at an angle, and swirl the pan as you pour in enough batter to coat the bottom of the skillet. Cook for 30 to 45 seconds, flip and cook for 15 more seconds. Transfer to a flat dish or tray. Repeat with remaining batter, and keep in mind the batter thickens the longer it sits, so you may need to add a few tablespoons of milk to thin it out as you go along.
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread ½ cup of marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9-inch by 13-inch casserole dish. Combine all the filling ingredients in a medium bowl; mix well.
Lay pasta crepes on a flat surface and spoon an event amount of filling in a long strip down the center of each one.
Roll crepes closed, and place seam-side down into the casserole dish.
Evenly pour remaining sauce over filled crepes.
Sprinkle remaining grated cheese over top and bake for 20 minutes, until golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve immediately.
Note: This is a great make ahead dish. The pasta crepes will store, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap for up to two days in the refrigerator. You can even fill and arrange them in the casserole dish the night before so it's ready to bake when you get home from work. It gets better—the finished dish also heats well in the microwave, so make a double batch on the weekend and you've got an easy, homemade reheat for busy weeknights.