BEYOND DELECTABLE Asiago Pancetta Stuffed Shells
I consider Asiago Pancetta Stuffed Shells to be better than eating spinach dip. I know that sounds crazy, right?! This creamy shell is beyond my wildest dreams of a stuffed shell. Surprised in the best way possible when I reheated these beauties, they were even better later that evening. Giving them time to sit allowed the cream and oil to blend perfectly. This dish has captured my heart and I could not be happier, in love!
Don’t you just love Giada De Laurentils (She is amazing) and I adapted this recipe from her. Giada has that passion for food that only food lovers can understand. I adapted this recipe by reducing the amount of spinach and increasing the amount of pancetta. Who doesn’t love more pancetta! Using less spinach allows you to taste more of the delicious asiago cheese in these stuffed shells. I paired this recipe with my dill roasted carrots and oh the harmony of flavors, I cant stop thinking about them. Thank you Giada for inspiring me, without your recipe I wouldn’t have been able to create my new favorite dish.
Print
Asiago Pancetta Stuffed Shells
- Total Time: 55 mins
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Ingredients
- 3/4 of a 12 ounce package of jumbo shell pasta
- 1 tablespoons of olive oil
- 12 ounces of pancetta chopped small (I buy 3 packages from Trader Joe’s of Citterio cubetti Italian style pancetta)
- 1 pound frozen spinach thawed and drained
- 1 (15 ounce) container of whole milk ricotta
- 3 1/4 cup grated asiago cheese
- 2 tablespoon butter plus more for dish
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 cup of cream
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Cook pasta according to package till al dente
- Warm olive oil in pan over medium heat
- Add pancetta and cook till light golden brown
- Transfer cooked pancetta to paper towel and set aside
- In a large bowl add spinach, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of asiago cheese, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and pancetta and mix combining all the ingredients
- Butter a large baking dish
- Stuff shells with about 2 tablespoons of the mixture placing each shell in the buttered baking dish
- For the sauce: melt 2 tablespoons of butter in saucepan
- Press the garlic into the pan on medium low heat and cook for about one minute to soften
- Add the cream and bring to a simmer
- turn heat to very low and add 2 cups of asiago cheese, parsley, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
- Stir until cheese dissolves
- Pour sauce over shells
- Top with 1/4 cup asiago cheese
- Bake until a light golden color about 25-30 min
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 30 mins