Chef Dina Altieri
Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni with Marinara Sauce and Eggplant Caviar
Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni with Marinara Sauce and Eggplant Caviar
Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users
Category
Entree
Cuisine
Italian
Servings
2 servings
Prep Time
1 hour
Cook Time
2 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients
-
1/4 pound semolina
-
1/4 pound all-purpose flour
-
2 eggs
-
2 tablespoons oil
-
1/2 bunch organic spinach, wilted
-
2 cloves garlic, roasted
-
1/2 cup Ricotta cheese
-
1 tablespoon Mozzarella cheese
-
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
-
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
-
1 tablespoon olive oil
-
1/2 onion, chopped
-
4 cloves garlic, chopped
-
1 tablespoon dried basil
-
2 teaspoons dried oregano
-
2 teaspoons dried thyme
-
1 1/2 quarts organic tomatoes
-
1 ounce tomato paste
-
Water as needed
-
Sugar as needed
-
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
-
1/2 eggplant, roasted
-
1 tablespoon oil
-
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
-
6 basil leaves, chiffonade cut
Pasta
Filling
Sauce
Eggplant "Caviar"
Directions
For the Pasta
Combine the flours in a bowl, making a well in the center. Add the egg and oil, and mix well.
Stir together with a wooden spoon and once it has come together, start using your hands to form a ball of dough. Approximately 1-2 oz. of water may be needed to help form the ball.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for approximately 10 minutes until the dough has some elasticity. If using a pasta machine, set on #6. If making by hand, roll out dough until flat and 1/''8 thick, and cut into 6 rectangles.
Blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, then put into ice water to stop the cooking. Towel dry.
For the Filling
Roast the garlic and mash into a paste.
Slightly wilt the spinach in water, then roughly cut.
Combine the roasted garlic, spinach, ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.
Place in the center of each pasta rectangle and roll into a tube (making the cannelloni).
For the Sauce
Gently sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil. When translucent, add the dried herbs and stir to blend.
Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and water. Let cook approximately 1 1/2 hours at a simmer, and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper and a dash of sugar.
Place some sauce in the bottom of an oven proof dish, lay the cannelloni on top, then cover with the remaining sauce.
Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
For the Eggplant Caviar
Cut a whole eggplant in half lengthwise with stem still intact. Using the tines of a fork, poke holes in the eggplant flesh. Drizzle oil on top and season with salt and pepper.
Roast uncovered at 350 degrees until eggplant flesh becomes slightly soft to the touch, being careful not to over-roast or it will be mushy. Let cool.
Scoop out the flesh, retaining some of the seeds (they give the eggplant the caviar-like appearance), and dice the flesh.
In a mixing bowl combine the eggplant with the basil and a light squeeze of lemon. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
Cool to room temperature. Place 3 cannelloni on each plate and garnish with eggplant.
Filed in:
Basil,
Dried Thyme,
Dried Thyme / Tomillo (Don Enrique® Brand),
Eggplant,
Entree,
Graffiti Eggplant,
Organic Garlic,
Organic Spinach,
Organic Tomatoes,
Organic Yellow Onion,
Spinach and Cheese Cannelloni with Marinara Sauce and Eggplant Caviar,
Tomillo
