Walnut Stuffed Pasta Shells
Description
These stuffed pasta shells are saucy, cheesy, and delicious! They’re filled with a flavorful mix of spiced walnut meat, mozzarella, and tomato sauce.
Total Preparation Time: 1 Hr
Serves: 5
Serving Size: 4 stuffed shells + about 2 tablespoons Marinara sauce
Meal: Dinner
Nutrition
- Calories: 375 cal
- Calories: 600 cal
- Total Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 15.6 g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 6.81 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
- Sodium: 690 mg
- Carbohydrates: 64 g
- Dietary Fiber: 6 g
- Total Sugars: 7 g
- Protein: 21 g
- Vitamin D: 0 mcg
- Calcium: 250 mg
- Iron: 2 mg
- Potassium: 600 mg
Ingredients
- 12 ounces jumbo pasta shells
- 1 1/2 cups California Walnuts
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Japanese 7 spice blend
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Marinara sauce and chopped fresh basil
Preparation
- Cook the Pasta Shells: Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook shells until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water; drain well.
- Prepare the Walnut Mixture: Place walnuts in a food processor and process until they’re roughly chopped. Add onion and garlic and pulse until the mixture is evenly ground and resembles ground meat with some small pieces of walnuts and onion visible.
- Cook the Filling: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add walnut meat and cook for 5 minutes. Add tomato paste, 7 spice seasoning, oregano, salt, and pepper and continue cooking for 10 minutes more or until the mixture deepens in color, stirring frequently.
- Fill the Pasta Shells: Fill cooked pasta shells evenly with the walnut meat mixture. Place about 1 tablespoon of mozzarella cheese inside, then place a second pasta shell over the top, rounded side up, to enclose filling.
- Air Fry: Cooking in batches, coat on all sides with cooking spray and place in an air fryer making sure not to overlap them. Air fry at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the shells are golden brown and crisp. Serve with marinara sauce and snipped fresh basil, if desired.