🍝 Anthony’s Favorite Stuffed Shells 🍝
Stuffed shells are a delightful Italian-American pasta dish known for their rich and comforting flavors. They consist of large pasta shells filled with a flavorful mixture of cheese and herbs, baked in tomato sauce until bubbly and golden. Let’s dive into the history, components, preparation steps, and time needed to make this delicious dish!
📜 History:
The history of stuffed shells can be traced back to Italian cuisine, where pasta dishes have always been a staple. While there isn’t a specific documented origin, it’s likely that stuffed pasta variations have been made in Italy for centuries. Italian immigrants in the United States further popularized this dish, adding their unique twists and adaptations to create what we now know as stuffed shells.
🥘 Components:
- Large Pasta Shells: Jumbo pasta shells are the star of this dish. They are cooked until al dente and serve as the edible vessel for the cheesy filling.
- Filling: The filling typically consists of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, egg, fresh herbs (like basil and parsley), salt, and pepper. Some variations may include spinach or ground meat.
- Sauce: Tomato sauce is used both as a base for baking the shells and for serving. You can use homemade sauce or your favorite store-bought brand.
- Additional Seasonings: You can enhance the flavor with garlic, onions, and crushed red pepper flakes, according to your taste preferences.
👩🍳 Steps to Prepare:
- Cook the Shells: Boil the jumbo pasta shells in salted water until they are al dente. Drain and set them aside.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, combine ricotta cheese, shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, a beaten egg, chopped fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
- Stuff the Shells: Using a spoon, carefully stuff each cooked pasta shell with the cheese mixture. Arrange the filled shells in a baking dish.
- Sauce it Up: Pour a generous amount of tomato sauce over the stuffed shells, ensuring they are well-covered.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 25-30 minutes or until the shells are heated through and the cheese is bubbly.
- Final Touch: Remove the foil, sprinkle extra mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top, and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Allow the stuffed shells to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve with extra sauce on the side.
⏰ Preparation Time:
The time needed to prepare Anthony’s Favorite Stuffed Shells can vary, but on average, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes from start to finish. This includes the time for boiling the pasta shells, preparing the filling, assembling, baking, and letting it cool before serving.
Now you have all the ingredients, history, steps, and estimated time to prepare this scrumptious Italian-American dish. Enjoy your meal! 🍽️🇮🇹😋
Certainly! Here are the nutrition facts and some health information for Anthony’s Favorite Stuffed Shells:
📊 Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
- Calories: Approximately 350-400 calories per serving, depending on portion size and ingredients used.
- Protein: About 15-20 grams of protein per serving.
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 30-35 grams of carbohydrates per serving, mainly from pasta and sauce.
- Dietary Fiber: Around 2-4 grams of dietary fiber per serving, depending on ingredients.
- Fat: Roughly 20-25 grams of fat per serving, primarily from cheese and the filling.
- Cholesterol: About 75-100 milligrams of cholesterol per serving due to cheese and eggs.
- Sodium: The sodium content can vary significantly based on the type and amount of cheese and sauce used. It’s typically moderate to high, so consider low-sodium options if you’re watching your sodium intake.
🌱 Health Information:
- Protein: Stuffed shells provide a moderate amount of protein, making them a satisfying dish. Protein is essential for muscle maintenance and overall bodily functions.
- Carbohydrates: The main source of carbohydrates in this dish is the pasta. While it provides energy, it’s also important to balance your carbohydrate intake with other nutrients.
- Fiber: Stuffed shells may not be particularly high in fiber, but you can increase the fiber content by adding spinach or serving them with a side of vegetables or a salad.
- Fat: The fat content is primarily from cheese. While cheese contains saturated fats, it also provides calcium and protein. Consider using lower-fat cheese or reducing the cheese if you’re concerned about fat intake.
- Cholesterol: The cholesterol content comes from eggs and cheese. If you’re monitoring your cholesterol intake, you can use egg substitutes or reduce the number of yolks in the filling.
- Sodium: Be mindful of the sodium content, especially if you have high blood pressure or are on a low-sodium diet. Choose low-sodium tomato sauce and consider seasoning with herbs and spices instead of salt.
As with any dish, moderation is key, and you can make adjustments to the recipe to align with your dietary preferences and requirements. Adding vegetables, using whole wheat pasta, or reducing cheese can make the dish healthier while still being delicious.
