Mhancha are a preparation of North African origin, whose name in Arabic literally means “snake,” due to their rolled and enveloping shape. Traditionally filled with sweet or savory ingredients, I offer my very simple, savory version accessible to everyone: Mhancha with rice sheets stuffed with ricotta and spinach. A fun and different idea from the usual, perfect to serve as an appetizer or main dish.
This variant is made with rice sheets, crispy and light, stuffed with a creamy and flavorful filling of ricotta and spinach. The cooking is very fast in an air fryer, but for those who prefer, they can also be baked in an oven, slightly increasing the time and temperature: all the instructions are reported below in the procedure.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons
Ingredients
- 3 rice sheets
- 5.3 oz fresh spinach
- 6.3 oz ricotta
- 2 eggs
- to taste salt
- to taste sesame seeds
Tools
- Air Fryer
Steps
First, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the fresh spinach for about 5 minutes. Once ready, drain them well, squeeze to remove excess water, and combine them with the ricotta in a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mix until a homogeneous mixture is obtained.
In a plate, beat two eggs with a few drops of water to make them slightly more fluid.
Then take three rice sheets and dip them, one at a time, in the beaten eggs, on both sides. Arrange them on a cutting board, overlapping them slightly along the edges: the result will be a long continuous base of rice sheets.
In the center of the strip, distribute the ricotta and spinach mixture, forming a uniform line. First, fold the sides inward, then start rolling to form a long, thin sausage. At this point, roll again onto itself to create the classic spiral shape of the mhancha, similar to a pinwheel.
Add a sprinkle of sesame seeds. Cook in an air fryer at 392°F for about 5 minutes, then gently turn over and cook for another 2 minutes, until completely golden.
Alternatively, you can bake it in a ventilated oven at 410°F for 10-12 minutes, until the surface is well golden and crispy. Outside it will be crispy and inside very creamy, like a dumpling. Enjoy your meal!
Tips for You
– You can customize the filling with whatever you have in the fridge: for example, adding different cheeses, pre-cooked vegetables, or spices like nutmeg.
– For a more delicious version, you can also add some melting cheese such as shredded scamorza or provolone to the filling, which will make the mhancha even more indulgent.
– If you don’t have an air fryer, you can easily bake it in the oven: details can be found in the procedure above.
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