Garlic stuffed jumbo pasta shells

24 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
½kilogramsJumbo pasta shells boil until cooked and drain
6tablespoonsButter
6Garlic cloves peeled finely chopped + little salt
500gramsRicotta cheese
250gramsCottage cheese
¼cupGrated Parmesan
6Thin slices prociutto cut into very little squares
6tablespoonsFlour
2cupsMilk
1cupHeavy cream
½cupFinely chopped parsley
6Anchovy fillets,fine chopped
3tablespoonsChopped parsley
3tablespoonsChopped [fresh] basil
2Egg yolks, beaten
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

CHEESE-AND-PROSCIUTTO STUFFI

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat. Add the garlic and saute until it just starts to turn golden brown. Remove from the heat and when the butter has stopped bubbling add the flour.

Return to the heat and cook, stirring constantly for two minutes. Do not let the flour color! Remove from the heat and add the milk and cream all at once. Immediatelt beat vigorously with a whip until smooth. Put the pan over medium heat add the parsley and anchovies.

Cook, stirring constantly until the sauce has the constancy of heavy cream. Remove from the heat. Add salt and pepper to taste, Reserve uncovered.

In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, cottage cheese, Parmesan, parsley basil, prosciutto and egg yolks. Add salt and pepper to taste, and mix well.

Stuff each shell with some of the cheese mixture. Using your fingers, press the long side of each shell lightly together so that the shape of the shell is as it was before boiling. Wipe any excess of filling.

Put about two cup of the sauce in the bottom of a baking dish big enough to hold all the 24 shells in one layer. Place the stuff shells in the dish, pour the remaining sauce over.

Bake in a preheated oven at 375 F for 15 minutes. Serve at once.

In a few months I will have fresh basil in my garden....

Serge