Shells with Crispy Pancetta and Spinach

By Little

Ingredients

• Shells:
• 1 (12-ounce) package jumbo shells pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 pound thick-cut pancetta, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 2 pounds frozen spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta
• 1 cup grated asiago cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Sauce:
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 cup cream
• 2 cups grated asiago cheese, plus 1/4 cup
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

For the shells:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but
still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta.

Warm the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook until
lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Remove the pancetta from the pan with a slotted spoon and transfer
to a large bowl. Add the spinach, ricotta cheese, asiago cheese, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir to
combine. Stuff the shells with about 2 tablespoons of the spinach mixture each and place the stuffed
shells in a large, buttered baking dish.

For the sauce:
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the cream and bring
to a simmer. Turn the heat to very low and add the 2 cups asiago cheese, parsley, and pepper. Stir
until the cheese is dissolved. Pour the sauce over the shells. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup asiago
cheese. Bake until golden on top, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve
immediately.