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Swiss Chard Stuffed Shells Recipe

Swiss Chard Stuffed Shells
Difficulty: Easy | Total Time: | Makes: 4 servings

Sautéed Swiss chard adds a touch of sweetness and earthiness to this classic baked pasta dish. For best results, use fresh whole-milk ricotta cheese or make your own.

INGREDIENTS
  • 6 ounces jumbo pasta shells (about 20 shells)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for salting the water
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, plus more as needed
  • 1 pound Swiss chard, stems removed and leaves coarsely chopped
  • 2 cups whole-milk ricotta cheese (about 16 ounces)
  • 3/4 cup loosely packed grated Parmesan cheese, finely grated on the small holes of a box grater (about 2 1/2 ounces)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/2 cups marinara or Basic Tomato Sauce
  • 1/2 cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
  1. Heat the oven to 375°F and arrange a rack in the middle.
  2. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta shells, stir, and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Place a colander in the sink and drain the shells. Rinse with cold water until cool and then drain well. Transfer the shells to a medium bowl and set aside. Return the colander to the sink.
  3. Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onions, garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and the measured pepper and cook, stirring often, until the onions have softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chard and cook, tossing constantly with tongs, until completely wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to the colander and let sit, stirring occasionally, until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, place the ricotta, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, the egg, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl and stir to combine; set aside. Place the marinara or tomato sauce and water in a medium bowl and stir to combine; set aside.
  5. When the chard mixture is ready, squeeze large handfuls to release any excess liquid and transfer to a cutting board. Finely chop and add to the ricotta mixture. Stir until evenly combined. Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed. Transfer the ricotta-chard mixture to a large resealable plastic bag and snip 1/2 inch off one bottom corner.
  6. Evenly spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture on the bottom of a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Pipe about 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture into each pasta shell and place in a single layer, open side up, in the baking dish. (Alternatively, use a spoon to fill the shells.) Pour the remaining tomato sauce mixture evenly over the shells and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan.
  7. Cover the dish with foil and bake until the sauce just starts to bubble around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the sauce is bubbling vigorously and the edges of the pan have started to brown, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving.
    Write a review | 8 Reviews
  • Swiss Chard Stuffed Shells Recipe
    5

    I loved these and will be making them again (and again). I only made minor changes (rare for me!). One big tip: don't use rainbow chard, use the green and white stalked kind. If not, your ricotta mixture will turn a pale pink! No big deal but I will keep that in mind if I am serving this to guests. I was able to get 22 shells out of the filling mixture. I used part skim ricotta and cut down a bit on the olive oil to save a few calories. To zaydia below, these changes brought the calories to 504 per serving but at the end of the day, it is a pasta dish. Pasta is a calorie bomb and will never be light in the calorie department. The only option to further reduce calories would be to eat a smaller portion and serve with a big salad or other veg side dish to bulk up the meal.

  • Swiss Chard Stuffed Shells Recipe
    5

    It was so easy an yes, we practically inhaled it too..

  • Swiss Chard Stuffed Shells Recipe
    5

    these were ridiculously good! we practically inhaled the entire dish!

  • with fennel seeds to the sauce, this was awesome. thanks!

  • i've made stuffed shells with leftover collard greens and leftover kale. it makes a great change from everyday spinach.

  • It sounds tasty, but when I put it in to my calorie calculator - each serving comes in at 615 calories! Any ideas how to lighten it up a bit? Even with part-skim ricotta it's 570 per serving!

  • Nice change from the ubiquitous spinach. Add a little fresh grated nutmeg to the filling, and make a light fresh sauce with mirepoix, hand crushed tomatoes in juice, garlic and basil.

  • good idea

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