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Crespelle with Ricotta and Speck

17/11/2023

Crespelle with ricotta and speck are a rich and flavorful dish, a variant of the classic cannelloni that combines the sweetness of ricotta with the smoky flavor of speck. Here’s how to prepare them according to Italian tradition:

Ingredients

  • 250 g of flour
  • 500 ml of milk
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt to taste
  • 250 g of ricotta
  • 100 g of thinly sliced speck
  • 50 g of grated Parmesan cheese
  • Nutmeg to taste
  • Butter to taste (for greasing the baking dish)
  • Tomato sauce to taste (optional)
  • Bechamel sauce to taste (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the batter for the crespelle by mixing the flour with the eggs, a pinch of salt, and gradually pouring in the milk to avoid lumps. Let the batter rest for about 30 minutes.

  2. Heat a small non-stick pan, grease it lightly with some butter, and pour in a ladle of batter, spreading it evenly over the entire surface. Cook the crespella until the edges begin to detach, then flip it and cook for another minute. Continue in the same way until all the batter is used up.

  3. For the filling, cut the speck into strips or cubes and mix it with the ricotta in a bowl. Add the grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of nutmeg, then mix until you get a homogeneous mixture.

  4. Take a crespella and place a portion of the ricotta and speck filling in the center, then roll it up on itself to form a cylinder.

  5. Grease a baking dish with some butter, arrange the crespelle next to each other, and if desired, cover with some tomato sauce or bechamel and sprinkle with Parmesan.

  6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 20 minutes, until the surface of the crespelle becomes slightly golden.

If you wish, you can enrich the crespelle with additions such as sautéed spinach or replace speck with cooked or raw ham for different variations.

Curiosity

The crespella is an Italian alternative to the famous French crêpe and is wonderfully suited to both sweet and savory fillings. Ricotta and speck are two typically Italian ingredients that go well together for their contrast between sweetness and smoky saltiness.

Crespelle with ricotta and speck