“Healthified” Three-Cheese Manicotti
(from acschaap’s recipe box)
Source: Eat Better America
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Serves 4 people
Categories: Dinner
Ingredients
- 8 dried manicotti shells
- 1 cup chopped fresh mushrooms
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 3 or 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup light ricotta cheese or low-fat cream-style cottage cheese
- 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried italian seasoning, crushed
- 1 can no-salt added diced tomatoes, undrained (14.5 ounces)
- 1 cup bottled red sweet peppers, drained and chopped
Directions
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions, drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.
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Meanwhile, for filling, coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. PReheat over medium heat. Add mushrooms, carrots and garlic to hot skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or just until veggies are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, cool slightly. Stir in ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese, the eggs, parmesan cheese, and italian seasoning. Spoon filing into cooked manicotti shells.
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For sauce, place undrained tomatoes in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Stir in roasted red peppers. Spread about 1/3 cup of the sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. arrange stuffed manicotti shells in baking dish, overlapping shells in neccesary. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti.
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Bake, covered for 35 to 40 minutes or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.