Baked Meat Manicotti
In this recipe, onion and garlic are sautéed in olive oil, and then combined with tomatoes, tomato paste, spaghetti sauce mix, and water to create a sauce. Manicotti shells are boiled and stuffed with a mixture of cooked ground beef, wilted spinach, cheese cubes, and egg. The stuffed manicotti are laid in a baking dish with a layer of tomato sauce, topped with remaining sauce, and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese. The dish is then baked in the oven until hot and bubbly.
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- skillet
- 12x8x2-inch glass baking dish
- pot
- cutting board
- knife
- kitchen shears
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil - 15 ml
- 1 large Onion Chopped - 1 large
- 2 cloves Garlic, minced 2 cloves
- 28 - oz can Tomatoes - 796-ml can
- 5 1/2 - oz can Tomato Paste - 156-ml can
- 1 envelope Spaghetti Sause Mix - 1 envelope
- 1/2 cup Water - 125 ml
- 8 Manicotti Shells (see note) - 8
- 1/2 lb Spinach (approx.) - 250 g
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil - 15 ml
- 3/4 lb Ground Beef - 350 g
- 1/4 cup Finely Chopped Green Pepper - 60 ml
- 4 oz Mozzarella Cheese, cut in very small cubes - 115 g
- 1 Egg, lightly beaten 1
- 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 60 ml
Notes
- In a medium saucepan, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add chopped onion and garlic, and cook over low heat for 5 minutes while stirring.
- Add canned tomatoes, tomato paste, spaghetti sauce mix, and water to the pan. Break any large pieces of tomato. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover the pan, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cook the manicotti shells in boiling salted water for 7 minutes. Drain them.
- Remove the stems from the spinach and wash enough leaves to make 2 cups when packed. Cook the spinach in the water that clings to the leaves until it wilts. Drain and chop it finely using kitchen shears.
- In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of oil. Add ground beef and green pepper, and fry until the meat is lightly browned. Stir constantly, then remove the skillet from heat, drain off excess fat, and let the mixture cool.
- Use a fork to mix the meat, chopped spinach, cheese cubes, and egg together. Stuff the manicotti shells with the mixture.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a 12x8x2-inch (30.5x20.5x5-cm) glass baking dish.
- Pour about 3/4 of the tomato mixture into the baking dish. Lay the stuffed manicotti shells in the sauce, and pour the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the dish for 30 minutes, or until it is very hot.
