Crab and Spinach Stuffed Manicotti
Prep
30-60 mins
Total
1 HR 10 MIN
Servings
12 Servings
Ingredients
12
manicotti shells, uncooked
5 tbsp
butter, divided
1 small
onion, chopped
1 pkg
(5 oz.) baby spinach leaves
1 tbsp
minced garlic
1/4 cup
flour
3 cups
milk
1/4 tsp
ground nutmeg and white pepper
1 pkg
(6 oz.) Shredded Parmesan Cheese, divided
1 cup
part-skim ricotta cheese
2 cans
(6 oz. each) crabmeat, drained, flaked
Instructions
Step 1
Heat oven to 375°F.
Step 2
Cook pasta as directed on package, omitting salt.
Step 3
Meanwhile, melt 1 Tbsp. butter in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add onions; cook 5 to 6 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add spinach and garlic; cook and stir 1 to 2 min. or just until spinach is wilted. Spoon spinach mixture into medium bowl.
Step 4
Melt remaining butter in same skillet. Stir in flour; cook 2 min., stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly after each addition. Bring to boil, whisking constantly; cook and stir 5 min. or until thickened. Remove skillet from heat. Add nutmeg, pepper and 1/2 cup Parmesan to white sauce; mix well.
Step 5
Add ricotta to spinach mixture along with 1 cup of the cheese sauce and 1/2 cup of the remaining Parmesan; mix lightly. Stir in crabmeat. Spoon into resealable plastic bag.
Step 6
Drain pasta; rinse with cold water. Cut small piece off one bottom corner of filled plastic bag; use to squeeze enough crab mixture into both sides of pasta shells until shells are evenly filled with crab mixture. Place in 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with remaining cheese sauce, then remaining Parmesan.
Step 7
Bake 30 to 35 min. or until heated through.