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straight tomato cannelloni
Classic cannelloni filled w/ minced beef in a tomato sauce (!) - yes: no béchamel sauce - covered by a crispy mozzarella layer.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
ingredients:
  • 9 cannelloni w/o pre-cooking
for the filling:
  • 450-550 g minced beef
  • 2 spring onions
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 bay leave
  • 1/2 tsp dried basil
  • 2 cans tomato purée 140 g
  • some olive oil - OPTIONAL
  • salt & pepper
for the sauce:
  • 1 can crushed tomatoes 400 g
  • 1 can tomato purée 70 g
  • 1/2 tsp oregano
  • 40-50 g grated Parmesan
on top:
  • 1 buffalo mozzarella 125 g
equipment:
  • 1 casserole 32 cm
how to:
  • Preheat the oven to 190° C w/ fan.
  • Clean & trim & chop the spring onions & the carrot.
  • Press the clove of garlic.
  • Add minced beef, vegetables & herbs as well as the tomato purée in a pan & start frying.
  • If it seems to dry add some olive oil (about 1 tsp!).
  • After about 10 min everything should be well done & well mixed.
  • Transfer to a bowl & set aside.
  • Discard bay leave.
  • Grate the Parmesan.
  • For the sauce mix all ingredients.
  • Slice the mozzarella as thin as possible.
  • Add some oil from the pan to the casserole & oil bottom & sides.
  • Add a solid layer of the tomato sauce.
  • Take one of the cannelloni & push it in the minced beef mess... & again... & again... The beef mess will start filling the pasta by itself.
  • Lay the filled pasta in the casserole.
  • Repeat for the next 8 cannelloni.
  • Add another layer of tomato sauce.
  • Distribute the mozzarella slices on top.
  • Bake in the oven for about 30 min.
  • If unsure make the test w/ the wooden pin...
  • Serve at once - attention: really, really hot!!!
Notes
Prep Time: includes the frying of the meat.
Minced beef: if you use organic beef as a rule there is less fat & almost no water in the meat - so watch when frying.
Amount of minced meat: I recommend to use some more meat than you need for the cannelloni - therefore 550 g instead of 450 g. If you like to fill the cannelloni as I described you need some more meat in your bowl for the last of the cannelloni. Leftover fried meat may be used for any other pasta dish (just freeze it!).
You may store the cannelloni in the fridge for at least 2 days. Reheat in the microwave.
You may also freeze the cannelloni.