Ricotta Spinach Pie
🕒 Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
🥘 Recipe Category: One Dish Meal
🔑 Keywords: Fruit, Vegetable, Nuts, European, Weeknight, Oven, < 4 Hours
👨🍳 Description: Like most wonderful Italian recipes, this one takes time but is well worth it. This version is slightly changed from the original but still authentic. All you need for a delicious meal is a green salad and crusty bread to accompany it. You can prepare this dish up to 2 days in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before baking.
📝 Recipe Instructions:
| Part | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Sauce | |
| 1. | Simmer tomatoes, uncovered for about 1 hour or until thickened (medium-low heat). Stir occasionally. |
| 2. | Puree until smooth. |
| 3. | Stir in the Basil, cream, butter, salt & pepper. Set aside. |
| Filling | |
| 1. | Cook spinach until just wilted, cool until you can handle it. Then squeeze and squeeze again, chop finely. |
| 2. | Melt butter in a skillet. |
| 3. | Add spinach and sauté for 1 minute. |
| 4. | In a bowl, blend the spinach with the ricotta cheese, pine nuts, egg yolks, parmesan, parsley, nutmeg, salt & pepper. |
| Putting it together | |
| 1. | In a large baking dish, put in a little of the sauce about 1/8 inch thick, spread evenly. |
| 2. | Fill each of the partially cooked pasta shells with the ricotta/spinach mixture. Completely fill them. |
| 3. | Sprinkle a little semolina over each to seal them. |
| 4. | Place the filled shells in the baking dish. |
| 5. | Spoon the remaining sauce over the shells. If there is too much sauce, save it for something else. |
| 6. | Sprinkle mozzarella over it all. |
| 7. | Cover with foil. |
| 8. | Bake in a 350°F oven for 30-40 minutes. Check during baking and add a little sauce if it looks dry. |
| 9. | Remove foil and let brown slightly for 5-10 minutes. |
| 10. | Let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. |
📊 Nutritional Information (per serving):
- Calories: 1174.8
- Fat Content: 74g
- Saturated Fat Content: 41.8g
- Cholesterol Content: 317.1mg
- Sodium Content: 681mg
- Carbohydrate Content: 82.2g
- Fiber Content: 11.8g
- Sugar Content: 15g
- Protein Content: 52.4g
This Ricotta Spinach Pie recipe yields a delightful blend of flavors and textures, making it a perfect choice for a comforting family dinner or a special occasion meal. The creamy ricotta cheese, savory spinach, and aromatic herbs combine to create a dish that is both satisfying and delicious. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice cook, you’ll find that this recipe is easy to follow and yields impressive results. So why wait? Gather your ingredients and get ready to enjoy a taste of Italy in the comfort of your own home!