Crespelle Spinaci (Spinach Crepes) Recipe

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Linda explores food facts, folklore, and fabulous recipes, one ingredient at a time.

crespelle-spinaci-spinach-crepes — Linda Lum

Manicotti Without Tears

"Manicotti without Tears." When you saw that title, did you read "tairs" meaning rips/cuts/splits, or "teers" as in weeping?

Both apply.

Have you ever had the pleasure of eating manicotti at an Italian restaurant? Broad tubes of pasta stuffed with meats and/or cheeses, baked in a sublime sauce--tomato, cream, or a bit of both. It's a wonderfully indulgent food. It's certainly not an every day meal, nor is it a choice for a low-fat low-carb diet, but it's oh so satisfying.

But how do you stuff a tender tube of pasta without having it split open? I've never been able to do it. The tears have reduced me to tears. However in northern Italy, where my sister lives, there is weep-free, heavenly alternative. Instead of pasta, they use crepes, or, as it is known in Italian, "crespelle."

First, Make the Crepes

Ingredients (enough for 8 crepes)

2/3 cup milk
2 eggs
2 teaspoons olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
1/2 cup flour

Instructions

Place all ingredients in blender or food processor and process until smooth.
Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Prepare a waiting surface for your finished crepes. A large sheet of parchment paper on the countertop next to your cooking station is ideal.
Heat a medium-size saute pan over medium heat (the one I use is about 8 inches across). Brush melted butter on the bottom of the pan and ladle in about 1/4 cup batter into the center of the pan. Swirl quickly to evenly distribute the batter to the edges of the pan. Cook until the edges begin to brown and curl up, about 1 minute.
Carefully slide a spatula under the middle of the crepe and flip over to cook the other side. This will take just a few seconds. Quickly flip the cooked crepe out of the pan onto the parchment paper to cool.
Continue with the remaining batter.
Set aside to cool. Do not refrigerate.

Next, Make the Filling

Ingredients

1 pound fresh spinach, washed well, stems removed
½ pound ricotta cheese
¾ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
2 eggs
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper,
Grated nutmeg (just a pinch)

Instructions

Steam the spinach over simmering water until wilted. Remove from heat and set aside. When cool enough to handle, squeeze to remove the excess moisture. Place in a large mixing bowl.
Stir in the ricotta and Parmesan cheeses, the remaining 2 eggs, 3/4 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, and a pinch of ground nutmeg. Mix well.

Then Make the Bechamel Sauce

Ingredients

4 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons flour
1 ¾ cups milk
1 tablespoon sherry, optional
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour until smooth; cook about 3 minutes but don't allow to brown. Slowly whisk in the milk and sherry (if using) and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce comes to a boil and thickens, this will take about 2 minutes.
Continue to cook, stirring constantly, to eliminate the raw flour taste, about another 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt.

Then Build the Crepes

Instructions

Coat a large baking dish with cooking spray.
Evenly divide the filling among the 8 crepes. You have two choices for shaping. You may either roll them up or fold them into quarters. Place your filled, shaped crespelle in the prepared baking dish. (I placed mine on a shallow baking pan lined with parchment.)

Ingredients

the filled crepes
the Bechamel sauce
1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese (optional, but lovely)
1 cup marinara (red spaghetti) sauce, optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Pour the bechamel sauce over the crepes. Sprinkle with grated Swiss cheese.
Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned on top. Garnish each serving with a spoonful of your favorite red spaghetti sauce. This step is optional, but the contrast of tangy red sauce against the creamy filling of the crespelle will make the flavors really pop. (I place my red sauce underneath the serving.)