Manicotti Magnifico Recipe
Ingredients
| 1 pound sweet Italian sausage links | ||
| Water | 1 1/4 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Ground beef | 1 pound | |
| Onions | 2/3 Cup (16 tbs), chopped | |
| Tomato puree | 3 1/2 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Tomato Paste | 2/3 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Basil | 1 3/4 Teaspoon | |
| Salt | 1 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Sugar | 1 Teaspoon | |
| Pepper | 1/2 Teaspoon | |
| Manicotti pieces | 14 , uncooked | |
| Cottage cheese ricotta | 4 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Shredded mozzarella cheese | 2 Cup (16 tbs) | |
| Parsley | 2 Tablespoon, chopped | |
| Grated Parmesan cheese | ||
Directions
Place sausage links and 1/4 cup water in 4-quart saucepan or dutch oven; cook, covered, 5 minutes.
Uncover; continue cooking until sausage is brown.
Drain on absorbent paper and set aside; discard drippings.
Brown ground beef and onions in the 4-quart saucepan or dutch oven.
Stir in tomato puree, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar, pepper and 1 cup water; simmer, covered, 45 minutes.
Cut sausage links into bite-size pieces; add to mixture and cook 15 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, cook manicotti according to package directions for about 10-minutes; drain.
(Cool in a single layer on wax paper or aluminum foil to prevent the manicotti from sticking together.) Combine ricotta or cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, parsley, remaining 3/4 teaspoon basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt for filling; stuff in cooked manicotti.
Spread thin layer of meat sauce on bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking pan; arrange manicotti in single layer over sauce.
Cover with remaining sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 375° 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Uncover; continue cooking until sausage is brown.
Drain on absorbent paper and set aside; discard drippings.
Brown ground beef and onions in the 4-quart saucepan or dutch oven.
Stir in tomato puree, tomato paste, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon salt, the sugar, pepper and 1 cup water; simmer, covered, 45 minutes.
Cut sausage links into bite-size pieces; add to mixture and cook 15 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, cook manicotti according to package directions for about 10-minutes; drain.
(Cool in a single layer on wax paper or aluminum foil to prevent the manicotti from sticking together.) Combine ricotta or cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, parsley, remaining 3/4 teaspoon basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt for filling; stuff in cooked manicotti.
Spread thin layer of meat sauce on bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking pan; arrange manicotti in single layer over sauce.
Cover with remaining sauce; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake at 375° 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
Chef
