Manicotti

A classic Italian dish featuring delicate homemade crêpes filled with a rich ricotta cheese mixture and baked in a flavorful tomato sauce. This recipe combines fresh mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and herbs for an authentic taste.

6 servings

1 hr 42 min

Published October 4, 2025

Ingredients

•3 tablespoons olive oil
•1 medium onion
•3 cloves garlic
•2 cans Italian tomatoes
•½ cup water
•1 teaspoon sugar
•1 teaspoon salt
•¼ cup fresh basil
•3 large eggs
•1½ cups water
•1¼ cups all-purpose flour
•½ teaspoon salt
•1 tablespoon unsalted butter
•2 lb fresh ricotta
•2 large eggs
•1 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano
•⅓ cup fresh parsley
•½ teaspoon salt
•½ teaspoon black pepper
•½ lb fresh mozzarella
•2 pieces baking dishes
•2 pieces baking dishes

Cooking Instructions

1.
Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice, water, sugar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in basil and remove from heat.
37 min
2.
Break up eggs with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl and stir in water until combined (don't beat). Sift in flour and salt, then stir batter until just combined. Force through a medium-mesh sieve into another bowl.
5 min
3.
Lightly brush an 8-inch nonstick skillet with melted butter and heat over moderate heat until hot. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into skillet, tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom, then pour excess batter back into bowl. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crêpe.) Cook until underside is just set and lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then invert crêpe onto a clean kitchen towel to cool completely. Make at least 11 more crêpes in same manner, brushing skillet with butter as needed and stacking crêpes in 3 piles.
20 min
4.
Stir together ricotta, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, salt, and pepper.
5 min
5.
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.
10 min
6.
Cut mozzarella lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick sticks.
5 min
7.
Spread 2 cups sauce in larger baking dish and 1 cup in smaller one. Arrange 1 crêpe, browned side up, on a work surface, then spread about 1/4 cup filling in a line across center and top with a mozzarella strip. Fold in sides to enclose filling, leaving ends open, and transfer, seam side down, to either baking dish. Fill 11 more crêpes in same manner, arranging snugly in 1 layer in both dishes (8 in larger dish and 4 in smaller). Spread 1 cup sauce over manicotti in larger dish and 1/2 cup in smaller dish. Tightly cover dishes with foil and bake until sauce is bubbling and filling is hot, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.
20 min

Ingredients

•3 tablespoons olive oil

•1 medium onion

•3 cloves garlic

•2 cans Italian tomatoes

•½ cup water

•1 teaspoon sugar

•1 teaspoon salt

•¼ cup fresh basil

•3 large eggs

•1½ cups water

•1¼ cups all-purpose flour

•½ teaspoon salt

•1 tablespoon unsalted butter

•2 lb fresh ricotta

•2 large eggs

•1 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano

•⅓ cup fresh parsley

•½ teaspoon salt

•½ teaspoon black pepper

•½ lb fresh mozzarella

•2 pieces baking dishes

Cooking Instructions

Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until golden, about 1 minute. Add tomatoes with juice, water, sugar, and salt and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in basil and remove from heat.

37 min

Break up eggs with a wooden spoon in a medium bowl and stir in water until combined (don't beat). Sift in flour and salt, then stir batter until just combined. Force through a medium-mesh sieve into another bowl.

5 min

Lightly brush an 8-inch nonstick skillet with melted butter and heat over moderate heat until hot. Ladle about 1/4 cup batter into skillet, tilting and rotating skillet to coat bottom, then pour excess batter back into bowl. (If batter sets before skillet is coated, reduce heat slightly for next crêpe.) Cook until underside is just set and lightly browned, about 30 seconds, then invert crêpe onto a clean kitchen towel to cool completely. Make at least 11 more crêpes in same manner, brushing skillet with butter as needed and stacking crêpes in 3 piles.

20 min

Stir together ricotta, eggs, Parmigiano-Reggiano, parsley, salt, and pepper.

5 min

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.

10 min

Cut mozzarella lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick sticks.

5 min

Spread 2 cups sauce in larger baking dish and 1 cup in smaller one. Arrange 1 crêpe, browned side up, on a work surface, then spread about 1/4 cup filling in a line across center and top with a mozzarella strip. Fold in sides to enclose filling, leaving ends open, and transfer, seam side down, to either baking dish. Fill 11 more crêpes in same manner, arranging snugly in 1 layer in both dishes (8 in larger dish and 4 in smaller). Spread 1 cup sauce over manicotti in larger dish and 1/2 cup in smaller dish. Tightly cover dishes with foil and bake until sauce is bubbling and filling is hot, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

20 min