Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni is a dish that combines cannelloni pasta filled with a mixture of ricotta cheese and spinach, then baked in tomato and cheese sauce. This baked pasta dish is popular in several countries, especially France. Serve this dish as a main course.
Do you want to eat pasta with a tasty-sweet, slightly spicy, and creamy taste? This dish option is perfect. Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni will whet your appetite with its unique taste and attractive appearance. Making this dish requires only 15 minutes of preparation time, while cooking is an hour. The ingredients are readily available in supermarkets, such as Cannelloni Pasta, Tomato Paste, Parmesan Cheese, Fresh Spinach, and others. Serve this dish when gathering with family or friends.

Overview of This Dish
This dish is very popular because of the soft and creamy texture of the filling, combined with the rich sauce and layer of melted cheese on top. It contains main ingredients that play an important role, such as Cannelloni Pasta, Ricotta Cheese, Spinach, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and many others. There are several important steps to making this dish: preparing the filling, filling the cannelloni, preparing a baking sheet for baking the dish, arranging, the baking process, and finally serving.
The taste of this dish is savory and creamy with the fresh taste of spinach and rich cheese. There is also tomato sauce which gives a sweet and sour touch, while parmesan cheese adds a deep umami taste. This dish features red from the sauce, green from the spinach, and a golden layer of cheese making this dish look appetizing.

Tips for Making This Dish
To get a delicious taste and perfect texture, here are some tips you can follow.
Choose the Right Cannelloni Pasta
Use dry cannelloni in tube shape, or you can also use rolled lasagna sheets. If the pasta is stuffed straight away without boiling, make sure the sauce has enough liquid to help cook it in the oven.
Prepare the Filling Well
Use a mixture of sauteed ricotta cheese and spinach. Add parmesan or mozzarella for a more savory taste. Don’t forget to season the filling with salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg for a distinctive aroma. After sauteing the spinach, make sure to squeeze out the excess water so the filling doesn’t get too runny.
Use a Sauce that is Rich in Flavor
Use homemade marinara sauce or tomato sauce for a fresh taste. Add various spices to enhance the taste. If you want a creamier taste, add a layer of bechamel sauce (a mixture of butter, flour, and milk cooked until thick) on top or as a mixture of tomato sauce.

Cannelloni Filling Technique
Use a piping bag to fill the cannelloni pasta so that the filling is even and neat. If you don’t have a piping bag, use a small spoon and gently press the filling into the pasta tube. Don’t fill it too full or the pasta won’t burst while baking.
Arrangement in a Baking Dish
Spread a little sauce on the bottom of the baking dish before assembling the cannelloni to keep it from sticking and the pasta stays moist. Place the cannelloni with the open side facing up to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.

Add Cheese on Top
Sprinkle mozzarella or parmesan cheese over the cannelloni before baking. Add more cheese in the last 10 minutes of baking for perfectly melted, golden brown results.
Bake at the Right Temperature
Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil for the first 20 minutes to prevent the pasta from getting too dry. Remove the foil in the last 10–15 minutes to create a crispy top layer.
Leave for a While Before Serving
Once out of the oven, before serving let the dish cool for 5–10 minutes. This helps the sauce and cheese thicken.

The Texture of Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
This dish offers a combination of textures that delight the senses. The following is an explanation of the texture.
Outside Soft Pasta
The outside and inside of the pasta stay soft because they absorb the moisture from the sauce. The soft Al dente texture creates a contrast with the creamy filling inside.
Creamy Filling
The mixture of ricotta cheese and spinach gives a creamy and soft texture, melting in the mouth. Sauteed spinach adds a little fiber without being too mushy or grainy. If the spinach has too much water, the filling may become too runny. Make sure the spinach doesn’t contain a lot of water to get a dense and smooth filling.

Creamy Cheese
The mozzarella or parmesan cheese on top melts and forms a golden layer. The creamy texture of the grilled cheese on the surface gives an interesting contrast to the creamy pasta and filling.
Other Variants of Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
Here are some ideas for other variants of this dish.
Chicken and Mushrooms
Try it with a mixture of ricotta filling, cooked minced chicken, and sautéed mushrooms. Add garlic and oregano for a distinctive aroma. The savory combination of chicken and mushrooms gives a richer taste.
Vegan
Mashed tofu replaces the ricotta. Add spinach, blended cashews, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy taste. This healthy alternative is suitable for vegans without compromising on deliciousness.

Seafood
You can try a variant of a mixture of ricotta, chopped shrimp, and crab meat. Add a little lemon zest for freshness. The fresh taste of seafood makes this dish more luxurious.
The Specialties of This Dish
Many people love this dish because of the rich combination of ingredients and cooking techniques that produce a new culinary experience. Following are some of the specialties of this dish.
The Perfect Flavor Combination
The ricotta and spinach filling creates a creamy and fresh taste. The tomato sauce gives a refreshing sweet and sour touch. Apart from that, parmesan and mozzarella cheese add a distinctive salty taste and the softness of the melted cheese on top. This dish combines classic flavors, making it a favorite choice for pasta lovers.
Dishes that Have Cultural Heritage
This dish is a perfect representation of the French culinary tradition, combining simple ingredients into an exquisite meal.

Flexibility Recipe
This dish can be adapted to various tastes, for example adding protein such as minced meat or replacing the ricotta with another cheese. The basic recipe is already vegetarian, but you can make it vegan with a plant-based substitute such as almond cheese or tofu. Apart from tomato sauce, bechamel sauce (white sauce) can be another alternative.
You should make this as a special dish for family or friends. Below is the complete recipe!

Ingredients of Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni

Sauce
- 2 clove Garlic minced: Gives a distinctive aroma and deep savory taste as a base for sauces.
- ½ medium Onion diced: Adds natural sweetness and complexity to sauces.
- 2 can Tomato or 800 g: Gives a fresh sour taste that is characteristic of pasta sauce.
- ⅓ cup Tomato Paste: Tomato paste strengthens the tomato flavor and gives the sauce a thicker texture.
- ½ cup Basil: Gives a fresh herbal aroma.
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano: Adds a typical French flavor.
- 1 tsp Salt: To balance the taste of the sauce.
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper: Just like salt, it also functions to balance the flavors in the sauce.
- 1 tsp Sugar: Reduces the sour taste of tomatoes, creating a balanced sauce.
Filling
- 500 g Ricotta Cheese: Gives a soft and creamy texture that forms the basis of the filling.
- 250 g Fresh Spinach: Adds fiber, vitamins, and fresh taste. Spinach also gives a natural green color that contrasts with the cheese.
- 1 Egg: As a binder for filling ingredients, so the texture is denser.
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese: Gives a rich, slightly salty umami taste to enhance the taste of the filling.
- 1½ cup Mozzarella Cheese: Adds a creamy melting texture that blends with the ricotta.
- a pinch of Nutmeg: Gives a warm aroma and deep taste to the filling.
- 1 tsp Salt: Balances the taste of the filling.
- ½ tsp Pepper: Also balances the taste of the filling.
To assemble
- 250 g Cannelloni Pasta: The main ingredient has a special shape for filling and baking, keeping the filling. The texture becomes soft but firm after baking, giving balance to the filling and sauce.
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese grated: Creates a creamy, melty top layer.
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese grated: Gives a crispy, golden layer of cheese and a rich umami flavor on top.
- Fresh Basil garnish: Adds color and aroma of fresh herbs when serving.
How to Make Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
Start with heat olive oil over medium heat, saute onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, salt, sugar, and black pepper then simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat then puree with a hand blender until smooth then add basil and cook for 2 minutes more and set aside.

Chop spinach and wilt over low heat then transfer it to a mixing bowl and mix everything with the rest of the filling ingredients until thoroughly combined. Transfer the filling into a piping bag.
After that, preheat the oven to 180℃. Spread 1 cup of sauce on the base of the baking dish. Fill each cannelloni with filling then arrange filled cannelloni on a baking dish.

Next, pour over the remaining sauce and top it with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for 10 minutes more uncovered until the cheese is bubbling and golden.

Lastly, garnish with basil and serve.
Enjoy your dish!

Nutrient Content
The following is an explanation of the nutritional content of this dish.
Carbohydrate
The main carbohydrates come from cannelloni pasta, which is made from wheat. Carbohydrates have the benefit of giving the main energy to the body. If you use whole wheat pasta, the higher fiber content can support healthy digestion.
Proteins
Ricotta cheese is a source of high-quality protein. Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese add additional protein. If there is additional minced meat or chicken, the protein content will increase. Protein can support the formation of muscles and body tissue. Apart from that, it can also help keep you feeling full longer.

Iron
Spinach is a plant-based source of iron that supports red blood cell production.
Serving Recommendations
Here are some great ideas to complement this dish, creating a delicious culinary experience.
Fresh Salad
Creamy cannelloni will taste more balanced if served with a fresh and crunchy salad. A suitable salad choice includes the Caesar Salad which has a combination of lettuce leaves, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a light creamy dressing. Arugula Salad is a salad of arugula leaves with sliced cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Greek Salad is a salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, red onions, and cheese, drizzled with olive oil.

Soup
Adding warm soup before enjoying cannelloni can be the perfect appetizer. The choice of soup is Minestrone Soup, which is a typical Italian vegetable soup that is light and full of flavor. Tomato Basil Soup is a tomato soup with a touch of fresh basil that complements the tomato sauce on the cannelloni. Apart from that, there is Creamy Mushroom Soup, which is a soft mushroom soup, suitable for lovers of creamy flavors.
Fresh Drinks
Refreshing drinks such as warm herbal tea of chamomile or mint. Sparkling water with lemon slices is also used to clean your mouth from the creamy dish.
Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni is a dish that combines rich flavors and creamy textures. The combination of cheese, spinach, and baked pasta creates a delicious dish to enjoy anytime with family or friends.

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Baked Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni
Ingredients
Sauce
- 2 clove Garlic minced
- ½ medium Onion diced
- 2 can Tomato or 800 g
- ⅓ cup Tomato Paste
- ½ cup Basil
- ½ tsp Dried Oregano
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Sugar
Filling
- 500 g Ricotta Cheese
- 250 g Fresh Spinach
- 1 Egg
- ½ cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1½ cup Mozzarella Cheese
- a pinch Nutmeg
- 1 tsp Salt
- ½ tsp Pepper
To assemble
- 250 g Cannelloni Pasta
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese grated
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese grated
- Fresh Basil garnish
Instructions
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Heat olive oil over medium heat, sautee onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes.
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Add tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, salt, sugar, and black pepper then simmer for 20 minutes. Turn off the heat then puree with a hand blender until smooth then add basil and cook for 2 minutes more and set aside.
-
Chop spinach and wilt over low heat then transfer it to a mixing bowl and mix everything together with the rest of the filling ingredients until thoroughly combined. Transfer the filling into a piping bag.
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Preheat oven to 180℃. Spread 1 cup of sauce on the base of baking dish. Fill each cannelloni with filling then arrange filled cannelloni on a baking dish.
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Pour over the remaining sauce and top it with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
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After 30 minutes, remove foil and bake for 10 minutes more uncovered until the cheese is bubbling and golden.
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Garnish with basil and serve. Enjoy!
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