Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni

This Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni is reminiscent of lasagna, but quicker and just as delicious. You’ll love the combination of caramelized beef and zucchini with garlic!

This Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni is the ultimate comfort food. It is hearty, savoury and full of flavour. Although this dish may be reminiscent of a lasagna, it is quicker to prepare and requires less dishes. The combination of vegetables, cheese, meat and pasta makes this a single pan meal without any real need for a side. It’s a delicious way to have a wholesome and satisfying meal without too much effort in under an hour.

This meal is incredibly delicious because of the way the flavours compliment one another. The caramelized beef and zucchini with garlic is perfectly complimented by the creamy ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. Tender noodles with a slight chew wrap up the delicious filling while each tube is bathed in tangy marinara and topped in golden melted mozzarella. This delicious meal is complex in taste, but simple to make and I promise it will become favourite in your home.

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 25 minutes
• Cooking Time – 20 minutes
• Total Time – 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS FOR BEEF AND ZUCCHINI CANNELLONI

All the ingredients for this Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni are easy to purchase from any store.

Beef Filling

• 1 lb Ground Beef
• 2 Zucchini, grated
• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 4 cloves Garlic
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 10 turns Black Pepper
• 1 sprig Oregano, minced
• 1/4 tsp Chili Flakes

Marinara Sauce

• 1/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 680 ml Passata
• 1 tsp Kosher Salt
• 4 Fresh Basil Leaves
• 2 cloves Garlic

Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni

• 1 Package Fresh Lasagna Noodles (~500g), or 1/2 of my Homemade Pasta
• 475 grams Ricotta Cheese
• 125 grams Mozzarella Cheese
• 1/4 cup Parmesan, grated
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt

WHAT IS RICOTTA?

Ricotta is an Italian whey cheese, similar in taste to cottage cheese. It has a fine texture that is very moist and a mild flavour.

WHAT IS PASSATA?

Passata is made from tomatoes that are crushed and then strained. There are many brands of passata, and it is easy to find in most grocery stores. I like to buy Mutti which is bottled in Italy. It is smooth and brightly flavoured with fresh tomatoes. If possible, buy passata that has no spices or herbs so that you can season your sauce to your own tastes. Passata will give you a deliciously smooth sauce with a fresh flavour.

WHY DON’T YOU USE PRE GRATED CHEESE TO SAVE TIME?

Pre grated cheese contains preservatives and chemicals to keep the slivers separate in the packaging. These chemicals change the taste and texture of your cheese. You can use grated cheese if you wish, but I’d suggest taking a few extra minutes to grate a ball of fresh mozzarella instead.

CAN I MAKE THIS VEGETARIAN?

You definitely can make this vegetarian. I wouldn’t suggest leaving out the meat entirely, although you could if you wish. Instead, I’d recommend using Beyond Meat as a vegetarian alternative to ground beef. I’ve found that in these types of dishes it works very well.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS FOR BEEF AND ZUCCHINI CANNELLONI

CAN I USE CANNED TOMATOES INSTEAD OF PASSATA FOR THE SAUCE?

Passata is crushed, strained, tomatoes. There are many brands of passata, and it is easy to find in most grocery stores. I like to buy Mutti which is bottled in Italy. It is smooth and brightly flavoured with fresh tomatoes. If possible, buy passata that has no spices or herbs so that you can season your sauce to your own tastes.

Canned tomatoes can be purchased whole, diced, or crushed. The two products are mostly interchangeable in terms of taste, but the resulting texture is quite different. I like to use passata because it results in a smooth and velvety sauce that is preferred by my family. If you like a chunkier bolognese sauce, you can use canned tomatoes and simply squish them with your hands before adding them to your pan.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT KIND OF GROUND MEAT?

Absolutely. You could substitute any ground meat in this meal. Keep in mind that ground pork and ground chicken tend to be less flavourful than beef, so you may want to increase the seasoning to taste.

CAN I USE DRY NOODLES INSTEAD OF FRESH?

If you really want you could buy dry noodles and cook them al dente then use them in this recipe. Not only is this more time consuming, but it also makes it more likely that your noodles will be overcooked. I’d recommend using fresh noodles if possible.

CAN I USE COTTAGE CHEESE INSTEAD OF RICOTTA?

Although cottage cheese is similar in taste to ricotta, it has a very different texture. Ricotta is soft and grainy, while remaining quite consistent in texture. Cottage cheese contains larger curds which makes it lumpier. You could use cottage cheese if you wish, but it will change the texture of this dish.

CAN I USE DRIED OREGANO INSTEAD OF FRESH?

If you are unable to get fresh oregano you could substitute dried in a pinch, however dried is less flavourful and you will likely need to add more to get a similar flavour profile.

CAN I USE A DIFFERENT OIL THAN OLIVE?

You could use any oil you wish, however I strongly suggest you stick with a traditional extra virgin olive oil. There is a significant amount of oil used to cook both the marinara and the beef which means there is an opportunity to build flavour. Olive oil is a delicious and authentic way to build flavour in this sauce.

EQUIPMENT FOR BEEF AND ZUCCHINI CANNELLONI

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this amazing cannelloni:

• Baking Dish

• Wooden Spoon

• Kitchen Knife – Zwilling J.A. Henkel Kitchen Knife a good kitchen knife is a necessary tool for any home cook. Quality and price point varies widely. This is what I use at home. It’s a perfectly decent knife, while still being very affordable.

• Cutting Board

• Heavy Bottomed Pan

• Large Bowl
  

COOKING DIRECTIONS FOR BEEF AND ZUCCHINI CANNELLONI

This cannelloni is very simple to prepare. By following several important rules you’re virtually guaranteed an incredible dish your first time:

1. Make sure to brown your beef to maximize the flavour in this dish.
2. Make sure to cook the zucchini until all the water has been drawn out.
3. Always use fresh garlic and herbs.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

You can prepare the ground beef without the ricotta the day before you prepare this dish. The marinara can also be prepared several days in advance.

These delicious Beef and Zucchini Cannelloni can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, and can be frozen in an airtight container.

FINISHED BEEF AND ZUCCHINI CANNELLONI

Enjoy your delicious cannelloni!

OTHER BEEF DISHES

Ground Beef Zucchini Pasta

Pork and Beef Rigatoni Bolognese

The Best Bolognese Lasagna

Taco Ground Beef Mac and Cheese

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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