Healthified Three-Cheese Manicotti

52% less fat • 59% less sodium than the original recipe— It’s pasta night and everyone gets an individual dish of stuffed manicotti. Serve a side salad of mixed greens, sliced oranges, radishes and bottled low-fat vinaigrette.
Prep Time:30 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 10 min
makes:4 Servings

8dried manicotti shellsNonstick cooking spray1cup chopped fresh mushrooms3/4cup purchased shredded carrots3or 4 cloves garlic, minced1cup light ricotta cheese or low-fat cream-style cottage cheese3/4cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese (3 ounces)2eggs, lightly beaten1/4cup grated Parmesan cheese2teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, crushed1(14.5 ounce) can Muir Glen® no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained1cup bottled roasted red sweet peppers, drained and chopped
1.Preheat oven to 350°F. Cook manicotti shells according to package directions; drain. Rinse with cold water and drain again. Set aside.2.Meanwhile, for filling, coat an unheated large nonstick skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat. Add mushrooms, carrots, and garlic to hot skillet. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or just until vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cool slightly. Stir in ricotta cheese, ½ cup of the mozzarella cheese, the eggs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Spoon filling into cooked manicotti shells.3.For sauce, place undrained tomatoes in a blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until smooth. Stir in roasted red peppers. Spread about 1/3 cup of the sauce into the bottoms of four 12- to 16-ounce ungreased individual baking dishes or a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Arrange stuffed manicotti shells in individual baking dishes or large baking dish, overlapping shells slightly if necessary. Pour remaining sauce over manicotti.4.Bake, covered, for 20 to 25 minutes for individual baking dishes or 35 to 40 minutes for large baking dish or until heated through. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake for 5 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.


Nutritional Information 1 Serving: Calories 360 (Calories from Fat 120); Total Fat 13g (Saturated Fat 7g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 140mg; Sodium 370mg; Total Carbohydrate 39g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 6g); Protein 22g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 90%; Vitamin C 190%; Calcium 40%; Iron 15% Exchanges: 2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 2 Vegetable; 1 1/2 Medium-Fat Meat; 1 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 2 1/2