SAUSAGE AND RICOTTA BAKED CANNELLONI

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Sausage and Ricotta Baked Cannelloni image

We're all for a good store-bought marinara, but there is no substitute for homemade béchamel-of this we can be sure.

Provided by Chris Morocco

Categories     Bon Appétit     Dinner     Pasta     Tomato     Milk/Cream     Cheese     Chard     Sausage     Pork     Ricotta     Soy Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 17

Béchamel:
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
1 oz. Parmesan, grated (about 1/2 cup)
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of ground nutmeg
Kosher salt
Assembly:
2 bunches green Swiss chard
3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
1 lb. whole-milk fresh ricotta
Kosher salt
1 lb. fresh pasta sheets (about 16 (6x4") pieces) or 12 oz. dried jumbo shells (about 30)
2 cups store-bought marinara sauce
Grated Parmesan (for sprinkling)

Steps:

  • Béchamel:
  • Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking occasionally, until mixture smells slightly nutty, about 3 minutes. Whisk in milk, then increase heat to medium-high, and still whisking constantly, bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to maintain a simmer and cook just until thick and no longer floury tasting, 8-10 minutes. Add Parmesan and whisk until melted, then whisk in cayenne and nutmeg; season with salt. Cover béchamel and keep warm until ready to use.
  • Do Ahead: Béchamel can be made 3 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat over medium-low, whisking constantly and adding a splash of water if needed to loosen.
  • Assembly
  • Remove ribs and stems from Swiss chard leaves and thinly slice. Tear leaves into large pieces. Combine oil and sausage with Swiss chard ribs and stems in a large skillet and set over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking up sausage with a heatproof rubber spatula or wooden spoon into small pieces, until sausage is almost cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
  • Add Swiss chard leaves to skillet a handful at a time, tossing and letting them wilt slightly between additions, until all the leaves have been added. Cook, reducing heat as needed (liquid should be bubbling slightly at this point), until liquid is almost completely evaporated (it's important to dry out the Swiss chard here so the filling isn't soggy), about 5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl. Let cool 5 minutes, then stir in ricotta. Season filling with salt.
  • If using pasta sheets, cook in a pot of boiling salted water 1 minute. Transfer to a large bowl of cold water. Lay out a row of pasta sheets on a rimmed baking sheet (don't overlap), then top with a sheet of waxed or parchment paper. Repeat with remaining pasta sheets, placing sheets of paper between each layer.
  • If using shells, cook in a pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, just until very al dente, about 3 minutes less than package instructions; rinse under cold water to cool quickly.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread half of béchamel into a 13x9" baking dish. If using pasta sheets, lay out a sheet on a clean surface with a short end facing you. Spoon a heaping ¼-cupful of filling so it runs all the way down the center. Roll pasta around filling to create a 1 1/4"-diameter tube (the pasta will overlap quite a bit). Repeat with remaining pasta sheets, arranging in baking dish as you go to create 2 rows. If using shells, spoon a heaping tablespoonful of filling into each shell and nestle next to each other to create rows (you'll have about 5 rows of 6 shells each). Spread remaining béchamel over cannelloni, then marinara sauce. Top with Parmesan.
  • Bake cannelloni until edges of pasta are lightly browned and sauce is bubbling around edges of pan, 30-40 minutes.
  • Do Ahead: Filling can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool completely, then cover and chill.

Tucker Sherer
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Overall, I thought this was a good recipe. The sausage and ricotta filling was tasty, but I would have liked the cannelloni shells to be a bit more crispy.


Shahidlone Lone
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I had a hard time finding cannelloni shells at my local grocery store. I ended up using lasagna noodles instead.


Md Gulam
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This dish was a bit bland for my taste. I think I would add more spices next time.


Sjijo Moagi
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I wasn't sure how this dish would turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised. The sausage and ricotta filling was creamy and flavorful, and the cannelloni shells were cooked perfectly. I would definitely make this dish again.


Pankaj Kumar
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This is one of my favorite recipes. I make it all the time for my family and friends. The sausage and ricotta filling is always a hit.


Saddam Askaryar
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I followed the recipe exactly and the dish turned out perfectly. The sausage and ricotta filling was flavorful and the cannelloni shells were cooked al dente. I would highly recommend this recipe.


basheer abdul khader
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This was a great recipe. The sausage and ricotta filling was delicious and the cannelloni shells were cooked perfectly. My family loved it.


Md Shafiql
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I made this recipe for my friends and they all raved about it. The sausage and ricotta filling was a hit and the cannelloni shells were cooked to perfection. I will definitely be making this dish again.


Faiten
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This dish is a bit time-consuming to make, but it is well worth the effort. The flavors are amazing and the presentation is beautiful. I would recommend this recipe for a special occasion.


MrA F
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My family loved this recipe! The sausage and ricotta filling was flavorful and creamy, and the cannelloni shells were cooked perfectly. I will definitely be making this dish again.