Weight Watchers Spinach & Mushroom Stuffed Shells

Now that I've made this recipe a few times, I thought it was time to post it.  It is a weight watchers friendly recipe, and only has 8 points per serving, which is great.  Although it's a healthy recipe, you don't feel like you are sacrificing the taste because these stuffed shells taste like a total splurge.  This is definitely a go-to recipe when you are craving Italian food!

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Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells

Ingredients

• 24 jumbo pasta shells (8 ounces)
• 3 cups prepared jarred marinara sauce
• 2 onions finely chopped
• 2 pounds fresh spinach trimmed and washed
• 2 cups chopped mushrooms
• 2 cups fat free ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg white
• ⅔ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
• ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup fresh basil finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 5 garlic cloves minced
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Cook shells until just tender, according to package directions. Drain and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
3. Spray a large nonstick skillet with non-fat cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
4. Add spinach in batches and toss with tongs until wilted. Drain in a colander, pressing out excess moisture with the back of a spoon. Let cool. Set aside.
5. Combine ricotta, basil, oregano, garlic, breadcrumbs, ¼ cup Parmesan and nutmeg in a bowl; mix well. Add the reserved spinach and mushroom mixture and season with salt and pepper. Stir in egg white.
6. Stuff each of the reserved shells with a generous 2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture.
7. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange the stuffed shells in a single layer.
8. Top with the remaining 2 cups of the sauce and sprinkle with the remaining ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Bake until the top is golden and the shells are heated through, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

Preparation time: 15 minute(s)
Cooking time: 45 minute(s)
Entire recipe makes 6 servings
Serving size is 4 shells
Each serving = 8 Points +
PER SERVING: 269 calories; 5 g fat; 48 g carbohydrates; 27 g protein; 7 g fiber