How to Make Vegetarian Pasta Shells

This is a very easy and fun way to make an old Italian favorite: Pasta Shells! I love to make this when I am trying to be healthy, and I also make in a gluten-free version by using rice pasta shells, but needless to say, it is fabulous with just regular pasta shells. Enjoy! I do also love to make this and bring it to a family dinner, but I have to double the recipe...

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 12 Large Whole Wheat Pasta Shells
• 1 tsp. Minced Garlic
• 1/4 C. finely diced mushrooms
• 1/4 C. finely diced onion
• 1/4 C. finely dices zucchini
• 1/4 C. finely diced red pepper
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 TBS grated parmesan cheese
• 4 oz. frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed
• 1 beaten egg
• 4 TBS feta cheese
• 1 15 oz. can tomato sauce or pasta sauce
• 1/2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Cook the pasta shells in boiling water for 8-10 minutes until they are firm, but not overdone. Rinse in cold water and set aside.

2. Heat olive oil in non-stick pan and sautee garlic, onions, mushrooms zucchini and rep pepper until soft, about 5-7 minutes. Season with the nutmeg and parmesan cheese.

3. Cool this for 1-2 minutes and stir in the chopped spinach, the beaten egg, and the feta cheese. Pour the tomato sauce over the bottom of a 9x13x2 baking dish. Stuff the shells and lay them on the tomato sauce.

4. Cover this tightly with aluminum and bake for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees F. Remove from oven and top shells with shredded mozzarella for 5 minutes uncovered. Serve 3 shells to each person with sauce and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• If you are not a fan of mushrooms, please feel free to omit and try chopped eggplant as an option. It is really good!
• The next time I make this I will add a picture, which says a thousand words!

Resources

• How to Make Persian Eggplant Stew

[kristara]

on 10/9/2009 Sounds delicious! Great recipe 5*

[frozenmocha]

on 8/29/2009 Oh my word. This sounds so good! Thanks.

[barbiecrafts]

on 6/12/2009 Vegetarian Pasta Shells sound so delicious....going to store in a few minutes...5 subbed

[langleycornwell]

on 4/20/2009 Delicious vegetarian recipe. And rice pasta shells are a great option for a gluten free version. Thanks, 5*s.

[Devero]

on 2/27/2009 Sounds great, thanks for the recipe