Christmas Eve Manicotti

My mother is full-blooded Sicilian. Christmas Eve we celebrated the Vigil and had 7 fish dishes. Since my children were not super fans of anything more than shrimp, I made manicotti to add to the squid and octopus they didn't like. The crepes and the fluffy cheese and spinach filling are sure to satisfy vegetarians as well.

• Preparation Time: 60 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 2 hr
• Calories: 505 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 ¼ cups milk
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach - thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, or more as needed
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, or to taste
• 2 cups prepared marinara sauce, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Whisk 4 eggs and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a bowl; gradually whisk flour into eggs, alternating with milk, to make a smooth batter. Whisk melted butter into batter; refrigerate at least 1 hour.

Step 3

Pour vegetable oil into a small bowl. Heat a small skillet over medium heat; brush skillet with vegetable oil using a pastry brush. Ladle in enough batter to lightly cover the bottom of the skillet, about 1/4 cup; swirl skillet to cover bottom completely. Cook crepe until it turns lightly golden brown on the bottom; flip and cook until other side has small brown spots. Repeat with remaining batter, brushing the skillet with oil as needed to prevent crepes from sticking; set cooked crepes aside between layers of waxed paper.

Step 4

Lightly mix spinach, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, green onion, onion powder, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 eggs in a bowl until filling is thoroughly combined.

Step 5

Spread 1 cup marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place a crepe onto a work surface and spoon about 3 tablespoons filling, or more as needed, in a line down the center of each crepe. Roll crepe over filling and set into sauce in pan; repeat with remaining crepes and filling, laying filled crepes into pan. Spread remaining marinara sauce over filled crepes. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.

Step 6

Bake in the preheated oven until bubbling and mozzarella cheese is melted and slightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes.