Cannelloni with Ham and Cheese

Cannelloni with ham and cheese are a classic comfort dish that combines pasta, the richness of cheese, and the savory flavor of ham. Here’s how to proceed:

Ingredients

• 12 cannelloni (pasta ready to be stuffed)
• 200 g of cooked ham, cut into cubes
• 200 g of soft cheese (for example, caciotta or fontina), cut into cubes
• 400 g of tomato puree
• 200 ml of ready-made or homemade béchamel sauce
• 100 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Optionally, nutmeg for the béchamel sauce

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. In a bowl, combine the cubes of ham and cheese, then season with salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Stuff the cannelloni with the ham and cheese mixture using a teaspoon or a piping bag. Be careful not to break the pasta.
4. In a baking dish, pour a thin layer of tomato puree to prevent the cannelloni from sticking during cooking.
5. Arrange the stuffed cannelloni side by side in the dish.
6. Cover the cannelloni with the rest of the tomato puree and then evenly distribute the béchamel sauce over the top. If you make the béchamel sauce at home, you might add a touch of nutmeg to enhance the flavor.
7. Sprinkle with plenty of grated Parmesan cheese.
8. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes or until the cannelloni are well-browned and crispy on top.
9. Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Curiosity

Cannelloni are a pasta format typical of Italy, perfect for stuffing and baking in the oven. They are very popular throughout the country, but especially in the cuisine of Emilia-Romagna. Their name comes from the cylindrical shape which resembles small channels, or “cannelli”. The dish is versatile and allows many variations of filling and seasoning, experimenting with different types of meat, vegetables, and cheeses.