Description
A creamy, lightly sweet Mediterranean dessert featuring jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta cheese, honey, and vanilla, finished with a honey drizzle and toasted nuts.
Ingredients
- 20–25 jumbo pasta shells
- 1 ½ cups (375g) full-fat ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup (85g) honey, plus extra for drizzling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional)
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ⅓ cup chopped toasted nuts (almonds or pistachios)
- A handful chopped fresh mint leaves (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the jumbo shells and cook until just al dente, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and rinse with cold water. Set aside on a clean towel to dry.
- In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, ¼ cup honey, vanilla extract, powdered sugar (if using), cinnamon (if using), and lemon zest. Whisk until smooth, creamy, and lightly sweet. Adjust sweetness if desired.
- Carefully spoon the ricotta mixture into each shell using a teaspoon or small cookie scoop. Place stuffed shells seam side up in a 9×13 inch baking dish, arranging snugly but not crowded.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for about 15 minutes to warm the shells and meld flavors.
- Remove from oven and drizzle extra honey over the warm shells. Sprinkle with toasted nuts and chopped fresh mint if desired.
- Let shells cool for a few minutes to allow filling to set slightly before serving.
Notes
[‘Do not overcook the shells to avoid mushiness and tearing.’, ‘Use smooth ricotta; blitz in a food processor if grainy.’, ‘Use high-quality honey for best flavor.’, ‘Toast nuts in a dry skillet for 5 minutes to enhance crunch and flavor.’, ‘Let ricotta sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before mixing for smoother filling.’, ‘Use fresh lemon zest for brightness.’, ‘Allow shells to rest a few minutes after baking for better slicing and flavor settling.’, ‘If jumbo shells are unavailable, cannelloni tubes or large manicotti can be used.’, ‘Optional variations include orange blossom honey, chocolate drizzle, fresh berries, different herbs, or spicy honey drizzle.’]
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 27 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1-2 stuffed shells
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 26
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 9
Keywords: ricotta, honey, stuffed shells, Mediterranean dessert, sweet pasta, easy dessert, baked shells, ricotta dessert