Squash & Chard Manicotti

(from DBodinPT’s recipe box)

Cook time: 120 minutes

Categories: Main Dish Vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 12 dry lasagna sheets (such as Barilla)
  • 21⁄2 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
  • 1 cup sliced leeks
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1⁄4 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 2 tsp. sugar
  • 2 cups sliced Swiss chard
  • 1 Tbsp. minced fresh sage
  • 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1⁄2 tsp. black pepper
  • 11⁄2 cups shredded Gruyère, divided
  • 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 3⁄4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 egg
  • 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
  • 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 cups skim milk
  • 1⁄2 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1⁄4 tsp. white pepper
  • 1⁄4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1⁄4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°; coat a large baking dish with nonstick spray.

  2. For the manicotti, boil lasagna sheets until pliable, 4 minutes; drain.

  3. Sauté squash, leeks, and pepper flakes for the filling in 2 Tbsp. butter in a nonstick skillet until leeks are soft, 5 minutes. Add broth and sugar; cover and simmer until liquid evaporates and squash is soft, 5–7 minutes. Stir in chard and sage; cover and sweat until chard wilts, 2 minutes. Season filling with ½ tsp. salt and black pepper.

  4. Blend 1 cup Gruyère, ricotta, Parmesan, and egg together in a large bowl. Fold in squash mixture.

  5. For the béchamel, melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, cook 1 minute, then whisk in milk. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened; remove from heat and add ½ tsp. salt, white pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne. Coat the bottom of the baking dish with 1 cup béchamel.

  6. Fill and roll manicotti (as shown in second step photo); top with remaining béchamel and ½ cup Gruyère. Bake manicotti, uncovered, until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbly, 25 minutes. Let manicotti stand 5 minutes before serving.

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