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Quick Notes: Ayyyyyye! Sorry that this photo looks like baby vomit, but this is what basil looks like when you bake it, so whatever. This is delicious and these Cheese Stuffed Shells with Pesto Cream Sauce are actually a super-easy way to feed a family.
Ingredients
- 1 box jumbo shells, cooked to package specifications
- 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
- 2 cups ricotta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups pesto (here's a great recipe, or jarred is fine:https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/fresh_basil_pesto/)
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan, divided
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/4 cup shredded smoked gouda
- 1/4 cup shredded asiago (you can sub for more parm if necessary)
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- salt and pepper
- Chopped fresh basil and more parm for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together egg, ricotta, gouda, asiago, mozzarella, 1/4 cup parmesan, and one teaspoon minced garlic. Mix until well combined, and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- In a saucepan over medium-hi heat, melt the butter. Add minced garlic and saute together in the butter for 2 minutes (or so, whatever. Don't burn the shit please)
- Pour in your heavy cream and heat until starting to get all bubbly. Whisk in the remaining parmesan and whisk together until it melts. Pour the pesto in and immediately remove it from heat.Â
- Pour a very small bit into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Just enough so that the bottom is covered in an extremely thin layer of sauce.
- Stuff your shells with a tablespoon or so of the stuffing (or go apeshit, whatever makes you happy, but you'll have less shells). Place the shells into the baking dish.Â
- Once you've stuffed all your shells, pour over the rest of the sauce and sprinkle your tomatoes throughout. Â
- Bake covered for 20 minutes.
- Remove the top and bake for an additional five minutes.Â
- Allow the dish to cool completely before serving. The sauce will be lava. Serve on a plate topped with additional parm.Â
Love stuffed shells? Try these Sausage Stuffed Shells.
