My signature dish when I have guests: paccheri stuffed with ricotta, baked, to enjoy with family and perfect to bring to the table for parties and special occasions.
A few genuine ingredients for a dish with a creamy filling, without eggs or béchamel.
Irresistible and light, they please everyone.
And you can prepare them in advance!
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 20 Minutes
- Cooking time: 20 Minutes
- Portions: 2People
- Cooking methods: Boiling, Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
I use the paccheri or schiaffoni shape — specifically the large, smooth Neapolitan paccheri, which once stuffed look like small cannelloni.
- 6 oz paccheri pasta (large, smooth Neapolitan)
- tomato sauce (homemade)
- cow's ricotta (amount according to your dietary plan)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch mixed peppercorns (with grinder)
- to taste marjoram (or cinnamon or nutmeg)
- tomato sauce (homemade)
- to taste grated cheese (grated: caciocavallo or grana or parmesan)
- 1 pinch mixed peppercorns (with grinder)
You can replace the paccheri or schiaffoni with any dried pasta shape suitable for filling, for example conchiglioni or lumaconi.
Choose a pasta that holds up well during cooking.
Suggested tools
- 1 Colander
- Mixing bowls
- Piping bag disposable
- 1 Baking dish
Preparation
Considerations for hyperglycemia | prediabetes and diabetes
– The simple composition pasta + ricotta allows you to easily control weights and portions;
* weigh the paccheri according to your portion, weigh the ricotta according to your plan and divide your ricotta among your paccheri.
– Ricotta is among the recommended cheeses;
– You can further reduce calories and fat by limiting the amount of grated cheese on the surface or omitting it entirely.
Prepare the tomato sauce.
For the detailed step-by-step procedure you can read the full recipe by clicking the following link: homemade tomato sauce without sugar or oil during cooking.Alternatively, use strained tomatoes.
Canned tomatoes, passatas and ready-made sauces often contain added sugars and other ingredients that can raise blood sugar — always read the label.
Cook the paccheri very al dente: half the time indicated on the package, so that:
– they remain intact and easy to fill;
– they stay firm even if prepared in advance and reheated later.Drain them gently and run under cold water.
If you prepare a large amount, instead of draining them, transfer them with a skimmer into a bowl of cold water.Lay them out on a work surface separated to dry.
Put the ricotta in a bowl, season with:
– a pinch of salt;
– a pinch of pepper;
– marjoram preferably fresh or cinnamon [trust me] or nutmeg;
and work it with a fork until you obtain a smooth cream.
Transfer the ricotta cream into a piping bag, disposable is fine.
Prepare a baking dish and spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom.
Fill the paccheri and arrange them in a single layer in the baking dish.
Cover with plenty of tomato sauce.
Finish with a sprinkling of grated cheese and grind a little more pepper.Preheat the oven.
Bake in a fan (convection) oven at 356°F for about 15 minutes or until you obtain a crisp, golden crust on the surface.
Let rest for a few minutes.
Plate.
Your paccheri stuffed with ricotta, baked are ready.
Enjoy your meal!
The paccheri stuffed with ricotta are a complete dish; add your portion of vegetables so as to compose a balanced meal or one-dish plate that helps keep blood sugar stable.
You can prepare the paccheri stuffed in advance: cook, fill and bake.
Once cooled, store them in the fridge covered with aluminum foil.
Before reheating them in the oven, spread a fresh layer of sauce on top and add grated cheese to keep them soft.
Storage, tips and variations
Use whole wheat pasta to increase fiber content.
Try the paccheri stuffed with ricotta and spinach.
If leftovers remain, they are excellent the next day!
They keep in the fridge for 1-2 days, well covered with aluminum foil.
Just reheat them in the oven.
With simple substitutions this recipe can be easily adapted to:
– a lactose-free version;
– a gluten-free version;
– a vegan version.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Where can I find large, smooth Neapolitan paccheri?
I buy them at MD.
Whole wheat paccheri
Whole wheat paccheri can be found in health food stores, well-stocked supermarkets and online.
Prediabetes and cheeses
Follow your dietary plan.
In general, cheeses should be consumed in moderation – no more than twice a week – preferring fresh cheeses to aged ones, such as cottage cheese, cow’s ricotta, light spreadable cheese, mozzarella, feta.The Accu-Chek dietometer
Ricotta average portion 150 g
Calories 219 | Carbs 5.2 g | Protein 10.5 g | Fat 13 g.
