Spinach and Cheese Manicotti
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This easy Spinach and Cheese Manicotti is an old family favorite. It starts with a smooth, creamy filling made of cottage cheese, spinach, and eggs, and is rolled into a homemade crepe. Serve them with a salad and you have a delicious dinner that your family will enjoy for years to come.
Ingredients
Crepes
- 2 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Spinach and Cheese Filling
- 16 ounces Shamrock Farms Lowfat Cottage Cheese
- 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach thawed and completely drained
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 jar favorite pasta sauce
Instructions
Crepes
- Place all crepe ingredients into a blender and mix until smooth and well combined, scraping sides of the blender as necessary.
- Cover and let batter rest for a minimum of 30 minutes.
- Heat a crepe pan or 8-inch skillet over medium heat and lightly brush with the melted butter.
- Using a scant 1/4 cup of batter, pour into the pan. Use a tilt and swirl method to evenly coat the bottom of the pan.
- Cook for about 1 minute before circling the pan with a rounded-edge spatula to loosen the browning edges. It will be ready to flip soon after that.
- Gently guide the spatula under the crepe and flip. Cook for an additional 30 seconds - 1 minute until completely cooked through and slightly golden.
Spinach and Cheese Filling
- Preheat oven to 350° F and prepare a 9 X 13-inch baking dish by spraying it with cooking spray.
- Place the cottage cheese, spinach, egg, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt and pepper to taste, into the blender and mix until just well combined. It may be necessary to remove the container from the base and stir before mixing again.
Assembly
- Place one crepe onto a plate and put 3 tablespoons of filling in the center.
- Fold the bottom of the crepe up to cover the filling and then fold the top down.
- Place into the prepared baking dish, seam side down and gently pat to move cheese, so that fills the entire crepe. Continue with remaining crepes and filling.
- Pour sauce over manicotti and spread so that it is completely covered.
- Cover dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Uncover and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Return to oven uncovered and bake for an additional 5 - 7 minutes until cheese is completely melted.
- Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.