Pasta is one of our most favourite dishes in our household! It is so comforting and filling and perfect for those hot summer nights or the wrapping up warm winter nights.
Pasta is also a perfect first food for babies 6 months plus when starting your weaning journey because it comes in all shapes and sizes, just perfect for your little ones. It will help with your babies grip, hand-eye coordination as well as tantalising those tastebuds when covered in a delicious flavoursome sauce or teamed with some steamed or boiled veg.
This cannelloni recipe is perfect for the whole family to sit around the table and enjoy together, helping yourself from a dish of warm creamy goodness. It works well with preloaded spoons or sporks for babies or strip them down to their nappy and let them cause some messy mayhem with their hands and face from their own bowl or plate.
Heres how to make your own creamy stuffed cannelloni…
INGREDIENTS
- 1 chopped onion (red or white)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp shredded fresh basil or dashing of dried basil
- 800g canned chopped tomatoes
- 1 tbsp of tomato puree
- 8-10 cannelloni tubes
- butter for greasing
- 250g ricotta cheese
- 115g sliced cooked ham
- 1 egg
- 55g pecorino cheese (cheddar works well too)
- salt & pepper to taste/suitable for babies/toddler age
METHOD
Start by preheating the oven to 180 degrees celcius
In a large frying pan begin heating the olive oil, add the chopped onion and the finely chopped or crushed cloves of garlic and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until slightly browned.
Add the basil, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree and simmer gently for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated through. Optional – season with salt & pepper
Grease an oven proof dish with butter before starting to make your cannelloni filling.
In a large mixing bowl, add the ricotta, diced ham and egg and stir through until fully combined.
Using a teaspoon, begin to fill the cannelloni tubes with the ricotta mixture and place in a single layer in the ovenproof dish until it is full
Pour the chopped tomato sauce over the cannelloni tubes and sprinkle with the grated cheese of your choice, pecorino or cheddar etc.
Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown.
Et Voila! The perfect pasta dish the whole family can enjoy together.
Let us know if you try this out and if your baby enjoyed it by leaving us a comment below or using the #francescaspantry on instagram or Facebook
Much Love,
F
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