Spinach and Ricotta Cannelloni

WARNING- high cheese content, but still remains at 600 calories!

Cannelloni is one of my most favourite Italian dishes and i always gravitate towards it on the menu when i eat out. I have never made it myself but i was beginning to miss it so much i decided to make some at home. It is easy to make but it involves getting your hands a bit messy at one point, so if you don't mind that, please try this and let me know how you get on!

I filled the cannelloni with cheese and spinach but i am also eager to try adding ham or bacon, so please try this and let me know what it is like with some meat in it :) (It inst low on protein, i just think the meat would give it a different taste)

serves 3 people-

INGREDIENTS-

PASTA

low cal cooking spray

300g of Spinach

Salt and Pepper

180g Ricotta

15g Parmesan or hard cheese

9 Cannelloni tubes (3 per person)

SAUCE

500g Carton of passata

1/2 Teaspoon of garlic granules

1/2 Teaspoon of dried Italian herbs (oregano, basil and thyme)

CHEESE TOP

70g Reduced fat mozzarella

20g Light mature cheddar cheese

Sprinkle of paprika

STEP BY STEP-

1) Spray a frying pan with low calorie cooking spray and put the spinach in the pan. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 2 minutes, then set aside.

2) In a bowl, mix the ricotta, Parmesan and cooked spinach with salt and pepper.

3)Mix the passata with garlic granules, mixed herbs and salt and pepper. pour half of the mixture into a casserole dish.

4) Fill the cannelloni tubes with the ricotta and spinach mixture using your hands. Don't over fill them, or you will run out of mixture. Place the filled tubes on top of the passata sauce in the dish and then pour the rest of the sauce over the top.

5) Tear the mozzarella into small pieces and scatter them and the grated cheddar cheese over the cannelloni. Then sprinkle with a little paprika. (This is what it should look like before going into the oven)

6) bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Tubes should be soft and cheese starting to brown. Serve with a side salad or green vegetable such as peas or broccoli.

This is what mine looked like as i took it out of the oven, and it tasted great:)

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION-

Calories Carbohydrates Protein Fats

606 82g 31g 17g