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Creamy Rose Cannelloni

Creamy Rose Cannelloni
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Creamy Rose Cannelloni is a rich and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring tender pasta tubes filled with a savory ricotta and spinach mixture, baked in a luscious creamy tomato and béchamel rose sauce. Perfect for cozy dinners, its blend of flavors and velvety texture delivers a restaurant-quality experience right at home, customizable for various dietary preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Filling

  • 12 cannelloni tubes or large manicotti shells
  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
  • 250g ground beef or turkey (optional)
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme mix)
  • Salt, to taste
  • Olive oil, for sautéing

For the Creamy Rose Sauce

  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups warm milk or heavy cream
  • 1 1/2 cups tomato passata or crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Italian herbs (oregano, basil, thyme mix)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For Topping

  • 1 cup grated mozzarella or additional Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Prepare the filling: Sauté the finely chopped onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until soft and fragrant. Add the ground meat or chosen vegetables and cook until browned or tender. Stir in the chopped spinach with a pinch of salt and cook until wilted. Remove from heat, let cool slightly, then combine with ricotta cheese, Parmesan, and Italian herbs until creamy and well mixed.
  2. Make the creamy rose sauce: In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to create a smooth roux. Slowly add warm milk or cream, whisking continuously until a silky béchamel forms. Stir in the crushed tomatoes or passata, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently to blend flavors and develop the characteristic creamy rose color and taste.
  3. Assemble the cannelloni: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and lightly grease a baking dish. Carefully fill each pasta tube with the prepared filling using a spoon or piping bag. Arrange the filled cannelloni side by side in the dish and generously pour the creamy rose sauce over them, ensuring they are well covered.
  4. Bake to perfection: Sprinkle grated mozzarella or Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the pasta is tender and the cheese topping is golden and bubbling. Let the dish rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to settle.

Notes

  • Use fresh pasta tubes if possible for quicker cooking and a delicate texture.
  • Don’t overfill the cannelloni to prevent breakage but fill enough to enjoy a generous bite.
  • Pour warm sauce evenly to help everything cook uniformly and prevent drying out.
  • Let the dish rest briefly after baking to thicken the sauce and firm up the cannelloni.
  • Consider doubling the sauce for extra indulgence, as this dish loves a generous amount of creamy rose sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: Creamy Rose Cannelloni, Italian, comfort food, creamy tomato sauce, béchamel sauce, ricotta filling, spinach, baked pasta

Find it online: https://mealsbysarah.com/creamy-rose-cannelloni/