I was a good little egg and donated blood this week. As much as I like helping others out, giving blood isn’t something I do very often because my non-gushy blood flow takes ages to fill up the bag and then I feel a bit woozy for a few days afterwards. Boo!
So in an attempt to boost my iron levels after donating, I thought a big hit of spinach would do the trick. Wanting to branch out and try something new, I decided to make a spinach and ricotta cannelloni. Then after chatting with one of the gals at the office, I decided to jazz it up by throwing some pumpkin and pine nuts into the mix. I was well chuffed with the result, it was far more delicious than I expected!
Making the cannelloni reminded me think of my childhood friend who, unfortunately for me, now lives on the other side of the country in Perth. She’s a great cook and was taught how to make some fabulous dishes by her Italian mother-in-law. This one’s for you Lyndal!
I didn’t have a piping bag to fill the tubes so I used a resealable sandwich bag and cut a hole in one corner. Next time I try my hand at cannelloni I’ll make the version from Vegetarian Bible 2 which has sweet potato, walnuts and goat’s cheese. Yum!
Pumpkin, spinach and ricotta cannelloni
800g Kent pumpkin, peeled, coarsely chopped
2 tsp olive oil
1 garlic clove, finely chopped
2 x 400g cans plain diced tomatoes
Pinch of dried chilli flakes
250g frozen spinach, thawed, excess liquid removed
400g fresh low-fat ricotta
Pinch of ground nutmeg
200g instant dried cannelloni tubes
250g coarsely grated mozzarella
2 Tbs pine nuts
- In a medium saucepan cover pumpkin with cold water and simmer over medium-high heat. Cook for 10 minutes or until tender.
- Drain pumpkin, return to the pan and mash. Transfer to a large bowl and set aside to cool slightly. Wipe the pan clean.
- Heat oil in the saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds or until aromatic. Stir in the tomato and chilli. Bring to the boil. Season with salt and pepper.
- Spread 3/4 cup of tomato mixture over the base of a 20 x 30cm baking tray.
- Add the spinach, ricotta, nutmeg and pine nuts to the pumpkin. Season with salt and pepper and stir until well combined.
- Preheat oven to 180°C. Place the pumpkin mixture into a piping bag. Fill cannelloni tubes with pumpkin mixture.
- Arrange filled tubes in a single layer, in the baking dish. Repeat with the remaining cannelloni tubes and pumpkin mixture.
- Pour remaining tomato mixture over the cannelloni. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and bake for 40 minutes or until golden.
Adapted from a recipe on taste.com.au.
YUMMO! I’ve only ever made plain old Ricotta & Spinach Cannelloni…I used a teaspoon for AGES before Dave told me to use a resealable bag. D’oh!
Oh yikes! The resealable bags make it quite easy, it just takes a little time. It’s a fiddley dish but so worth the effort
awww MISS YOU TOO!! they look yummy!! x
Looks delicious! Good on you for donating blood! I keep meaning to but don’t have any blood banks nearby and finding the time..
As much of a drama as it is, I feel good for doing something to help others. I think one donation helps up to 3 people!
Looks so delish! Props for donating blood, still too scared to do it myself.
It really doesn’t hurt and it does a lot of good so it’s worth it!
YUM! The Steve is going to go mental when I make this for him!
Oh please do, would love to hear how it goes!
Here’s a great hint I learnt from an old man in North Italy – when you don’t have time to cook your tomato sauce, heat an empty pan until really really hot then chuck in half a tin of tomatoes. Wait a minute, then add the rest. They’ll sizzle and spit but it helps to instantly get that ‘long slow cooking’ flavour. To get the garlic flavour you can add garlic infused olive oil at the end
An authentico tip, I love it! I’m planning a trip to Italy next year, so I can eat my way from top to bottom
You made cannelloni sound so easy! I’m a big fan, although don’t eat it out too much. It’s always dissappointing and tastes like mush. Sigh. Perhaps it’s best if I make it myself?
I don’t order it out either! Really does taste so much better when you make it at home
I love it! So clever of you to use a plastic baggie to fill the pasta. Yum!
It’s genius! And works just as well
Wish I could donate blood but I’m not allowed due to the requirements (under weight with low iron)
Simply love this
looks so yumm!
It really is delicious and pretty easy to make too!
spinach is my least favorite. But this looks awesome. I’ll try this!
Oh please do, it tastes great! Would love to hear how it turns out