Easy cannelloni recipe
A super easy cannelloni recipe that can be made in less than 2h from start to finish. No need to make pasta, no need for fancy tools or ingredients. A simple sauce and a simple filling to make a very tasty recipe. Ideal for family gatherings and the best thing is that you can make it ahead and cook on the day.
Servings 6
Ingredients
For the filling
- 400 gr ricotta
- 400 gr spinach, chards, or stinging nettle
- 1 egg
- 30 gr starch
For around 20 crespelle
- 150 gr or whole wheat flour
- 150 gr of all purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 400 ml of water
For the sauce
- 500 ml of tomato passata
- 1 carrot
- 1/2 onion
- 1 celery stalk
- salt and pepper
- 100 ml water
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
For the white sauce
- 200 ml of milk
- 5 gr of starch
- 1 pinch salt
- nutmeg
To make it crunchy on top
- 50 gr mozzarella
- 50 gr parmigiano
Instructions
How to make the filling
- Wash and blanch the vegetables. Drain and then put into a large bowl.
- Add the ricotta, the egg, salt, pepper and starch and mix well until combined.
- You can use a food processor to mix the filling.
How to make crespelle
- Mix all the ingredients in a bowl or in a food processor and mix until smooth
- Use a 24cm non stick pan on medium heat to prepare the crespelle.
- Pour a ladle of the batter and spread it out to cover the pan.
- Cook for a minute on each side and then flip it on to a dish.
Prepare the tomato sauce
- Blend the onion, celery and carrot with some of the tomato passata.
- Put a pot on medium heat and add the olive oil, and chill flakes if you like.
- Add the blended veggie mix and then the rest of the tomato passata.
- Season with salt and pepper and add the water.
- Cook for 10/15 minutes.
How to make the white sauce
- Heat the milk and add salt and nutmeg.
- In a small bowl mix the starch with some cold milk.
- When the milk is almost boiling, add the starch slurry and mix continuously until the white sauce has thicken.
Putting it all together
- Lightly oil a baking tray. I have used a 20x8inch tray and make two layers of cannelloni, you can use a wider dish and make only one.
- Spread a ladle of tomato sauce.
- Take a crespella and spread the filling on to it then roll it.
- Put it into the tray and keep on until you have used all the filling and the crepes.
- If you make two layers like I did, spread some white sauce, parmigiano and tomato sauce on top of the first layer, then add the other cannelloni.
- When you're done with the cannelloni, top the tray with white sauce and tomato sauce, then sprinkle the mozzarella and parmigiano.
- Cook in the oven for 30/40minutes until golden brown.
