Ham & Asparagus Manicotti

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 14 manicotti
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups asparagus, cut into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces
• 3 cups ham, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 6 tablespoons butter
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 3 cups milk
• 2 cups swiss cheese, shredded
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon french tarragon

Recipe

• 1 1. preheat oven to 350°.
• 2 2. cook manicotti shells in boiling, salted water until just tender, about 6.
• 3 to 7 minutes. you do not want to overcook them, or they will be hard to.
• 4 fill. slightly undercooked is fine. drain, rinse in cold water to stop the.
• 5 cooking process and set aside.
• 6 3. meanwhile, add 3 tablespoons butter to a medium sized frying pan. when melted, add the onion and garlic and cook until the onions are translucent, about 2 minutes.
• 7 4. cut the asparagus into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces depending on the size and.
• 8 thickness of the asparagus. remove the woody bottom of the asparagus, about an inch. if the asparagus is really thick, cut it into smaller pieces so it.
• 9 will cook faster. add the asparagus to the pan and cook until tender,.
• 10 approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. transfer the asparagus mix.
• 11 to a roomy bowl, add the ham and set aside to cool a bit. add the 1/4 cup.
• 12 parmesan cheese. in the same frying pan, melt the 6 tablespoons of butter.
• 13 stir in the flour. add the milk and cook over medium high heat, whisking.
• 14 constantly. bring the sauce to a boil and boil for about 1 minute or.
• 15 until the sauce starts to thicken. add the pepper, tarragon and swiss.
• 16 cheese. stir until the cheese has melted. remove from heat. you will have.
• 17 approximately 4 cups of cheese sauce.
• 18 5. add 1 cup of the cheese sauce to the ham mixture. divide the ham mixture evenly between the manicotti shells. these can be filled with a teaspoon, or your hands-whatever works best for you. place in a greased 9- x 13-inch glass baking dish. pour the remaining cheese sauce over the filled.
• 19 manicotti. sprinkle with 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and bake at 350° for 30 to 35 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned.