Southwestern Manicotti Recipes

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• If using fresh spinach, bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat, and season generously with salt. Fill a medium bowl with ice water and season with salt. Boil the spinach until tender, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, (keep the water in the pot boiling), and immediately plunge the spinach into the ice water. Drain and squeeze the excess water from the spinach, and finely chop. Alternatively, if using thawed spinach, simply squeeze, and finely chop. Set aside.
• In the same large pot of boiling water, cook the manicotti shells according to the package directions until al dente. Drain and pat dry.
• Spread 1 cup of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lightly beat the eggs in a medium bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/3 cup of the grated cheese and mix until evenly combined. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, the nutmeg and pepper. Spoon the cheese mixture into the manicotti shells and line them up in the baking dish. Cover with the remaining 2 cups sauce. Scatter the remaining 2/3 cup grated cheese on top and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.
• Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes and the herb sprigs and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 10 minutes.
• Remove and discard the herb sprigs. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt and season with pepper to taste. Use right away, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 2 months.
• Yield: 3 1/2 cups
• Copyright 2001 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.

MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Cook manicotti in boiling water until done. Drain, and rinse with cold water.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large bowl, combine ricotta, mozzarella, and 1/2 cup Parmesan, eggs, parsley, and salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Pour 1/2 cup sauce into an 11x17 inch baking dish. Fill each manicotti shell with 3 tablespoons cheese mixture, and arrange over sauce . Pour remaining sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes, or until bubbly.

SOUTHWESTERN STYLE MANICOTTI - VEGETARIAN

Steps:

• Prepare both kinds of beans according to package directions.
• Cook pasta to a little less than al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water til cool enough to handle.
• Mix cooked lentils, cooked black beans, diced fresh tomato, diced onion, salsa, and cumin in a medium sized bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees farenheit.
• Fill pasta with bean mixture and line up in a 13x9 baking dish that has been misted with olive oil.
• Cover filled pasta with both tins of diced tomatoes and sprinkle top with chopped cilantro.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven about 30 mins or until bubbly.
• Removed from oven and serve.

SOUTHWESTERN MANICOTTI

Steps:

• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• In a bowl, combine the uncooked ground steak, Italian sausage, beans, chili powder and dried Italian seasoning.
• Spoon into uncooked manicotti shells; arrange in prepared baking dish.
• Combine water and salsa or picante sauce and pour over shells.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove from refrigerator 40 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350*.
• Cover casserole and bake 1 hour or until meat is no longer pink.
• Uncover; spoon sour cream over the top and sprinkle with Monterey Jack cheese.
• Sprinkle with green onions and bake 10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted and bubbling.

SOUTHWESTERN CORN CHOWDER

Steps:

• In a medium/large Dutch oven or soup pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the corn, potatoes, onion, poblano, bell pepper, celery, ½ teaspoon of the salt, and ½ teaspoon chili powder. Stir to combine. Cook until the onions are tender and translucent, about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring every couple of minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute, while stirring constantly. Add the broth and water and stir to combine. Drop in the bay leaf.
• Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat as necessary to maintain a gentle simmer. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. It's not done until the potatoes are fully cooked through and very easily pierced through with a fork.
• Remove the pot from the heat. Using kitchen tongs, remove the bay leaf. Carefully transfer about 3 cups of the soup (about half liquid, half solids) to a blender. Securely fasten the lid and be careful to avoid the hot steam as you blend until completely smooth. Add the butter and blend again.
• Pour the mixture back into the pot. Add the cilantro, crème fraîche (see note if using sour cream or Greek yogurt) and lime juice. Stir to combine. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and be generous with the black pepper, to taste. If you'd like more spice, add up to 1/2 teaspoon more chili powder, to taste.
• Divide the chowder into bowls and top with garnishes of your choice. Leftover chowder will keep well in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 5 days or for several months frozen.

SOUTHWESTERN BROCCOLI DIPPERS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season with salt. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Blanch the broccoli by throwing the florets into the boiling water for 30 seconds. With a slotted spoon, remove the florets to the ice water. When cool, drain and set aside. Keep cool in the fridge.
• To make the sauce, melt the butter in a pot over medium heat. Add the green onions and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, whisk to combine and cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Pour in the milk and heat until thickened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the grated cheese, cream cheese, chili powder, cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste. Stir to melt. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
• Serve hot as a dipping sauce with the cold broccoli.