Description
Large pasta shells filled with pesto and ricotta cheese, baked in a creamy tomato vodka sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 box jumbo pasta shells
- 15 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup prepared pesto sauce
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup vodka
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Cook pasta shells according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, pesto sauce, Parmesan cheese, egg, salt, and pepper. This is your filling.
- Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and cook for 10 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and vodka. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. This is your vodka sauce.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- Spread a thin layer of vodka sauce in the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- Stuff each cooked shell with the ricotta-pesto mixture and arrange them in the baking dish over the sauce.
- Pour the remaining vodka sauce over the stuffed shells.
- Sprinkle the top evenly with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- You can make the vodka sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days.
- If you prefer not to use alcohol, substitute the vodka with an equal amount of chicken or vegetable broth.
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 shells
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 90
Keywords: pesto stuffed shells, vodka sauce, ricotta filling, baked pasta, Italian dinner