The recipe card on which this is typed indicates that it came from Good Housekeeping. Although there are numerous recipes online for “Mexican Manicotti” (most with Tex-Mex ingredients, including, in some cases, corn tortillas), the recipe for “Lazy Boy Manicotti” is probably the most similar to this one. This recipe is a little more labor-intensive than some of the other recipes I’ve shared but not nearly as much trouble as stuffing actual manicotti pasta, and, because it is cooked in the microwave, it’s relatively quick to prepare. It was one of my daughter’s favorite dishes when she was growing up, and when her college dining hall staff asked parents to submit recipes, this is the one I sent (though I’m sure it was never made).
Manicotti-Style Tortillas
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
½ teaspoon oregano
⅓ cup water
1 pint ricotta cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 egg, beaten
8 6 to 8inch flour tortillas
In a 4-cup measure, stir tomato sauce, oregano, and water. Into 13″ ×9″ baking dish, pour 1 cup sauce. In bowl, stir ricotta cheese, 1½ cups mozzarella cheese, and egg.
In microwave oven, arrange tortillas, separated by damp paper towels, and cook on HI for 1½–2 minutes.
Spread tortillas with ricotta mixture and roll up. Arrange in baking dish and top with remaining sauce. Cover with plastic wrap. Cook on HI 7–8 minutes, rotating dish once. During last 2 minutes, sprinkle with remaining cheese. Makes 8 servings, about 322 calories.
My Notes
- For the tomato sauce, oregano, and water, I substitute a jar of prepared spaghetti sauce. I usually use Ragú Chunky, either Mama’s Special Garden Sauce or Super Vegetable Primavera.
- Instead of microwaving all the tortillas at once (and wasting paper towels), I do them one at a time, for about 15–20 seconds, spreading and rolling each as I go. This does make it a little more difficult to make the filling come out even, however.
- I add fresh or dried chives, parsley, basil, bell pepper, green onions (or anything else green I have on hand) to the cheese mixture. It adds color and spice.
- If your microwave oven won’t accommodate a 13″ ×9″ baking dish (mine is nearly 40 years old and is huge, though without a turntable), you could try using a square casserole dish. If, as is likely these days, your oven has a turntable, you may have to disable it.
- When serving, I usually don’t try to serve one whole filled tortilla per person. Instead, I cut two in half and serve the two halves, which provides a squarish serving, easier to pick up with a pancake turner.
WalkThoughts 