Tilapia Manicotti Bundles
Tilapia Manicotti Bundles
Hello, my fellow foodie adventurers!
Today’s quest is a delicate triumph: Tilapia Manicotti Bundles! This easy manicotti recipe is a healthy spin on the classic, and you’ll love how it transforms simple ingredients into a stunning, flavorful feast. Picture this: seared tilapia and a dreamy cream cheese filling—honestly, I could eat it straight with a fork—rolled up inside lasagna noodles, tied with carrot strips, and covered in melty mozzarella, green onions, and fresh dill, then baked to golden deliciousness. Using lasagna noodles makes it easier than stuffing traditional manicotti, and the presentation is absolutely beautiful—a true tavern-worthy dish! It’s light, creamy, and quick to forge, with a balance of flavors that’ll have you swooning. Ready to wield your skillet and claim this elegant treasure?
Ingredients You’ll Need (The Quest Inventory)
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16 oz. tilapia fillets (the ocean’s champions)
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10 lasagna noodles (the sturdy scrolls)
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3 green onions, sliced (verdant scouts)
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1 carrot, peeled into strips (the orange ribbon)
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1 tsp olive oil (the golden flame)
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4 oz. light cream cheese (the creamy veil)
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½ cup skim milk (the light tide)
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½ tsp dried dill (a seaside whisper)
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½ tsp salt (the seasoning rune)
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8 oz. reduced-fat mozzarella, shredded (molten treasure)
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Fresh dill, for garnish (fragrant banners)
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How To Forge Your Feast (The Quest Steps)
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Ready the Forge: Preheat your oven to 350°F—your fiery hearth is primed! Lightly mist a glass baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
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Cook the Scrolls: Prepare the 10 lasagna noodles according to package directions—drain and lay flat, ready for rolling.
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Gather the Allies: Slice the 3 green onions and peel the 1 carrot into thin strips (a vegetable peeler works best)—set aside your garnishes.
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Sear the Champions: Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat—add the 16 oz. tilapia fillets, cover, and cook for 3 minutes per side until no longer opaque (145°F inside). Season with a pinch of salt and pepper, then remove from heat and flake into bite-sized pieces.
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Brew the Filling: In a medium saucepan over low heat, mix 4 oz. light cream cheese with ½ cup skim milk, ½ tsp dried dill, and ½ tsp salt—stir until smooth. Add 4 oz. (half) of the shredded mozzarella and mix until melted into a creamy potion.
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Unite the Core: Fold the flaked tilapia into the cream cheese mixture—remove from heat and let the filling cool slightly.
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Craft the Bundles: Lay each lasagna noodle flat—place 2 tbsp. of the tilapia mixture at one end and carefully roll away from you into a bundle. Tie each with a carrot strip to secure, then place seam-side down in the prepared baking dish.
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Melt the Crown: Sprinkle the remaining 4 oz. mozzarella over the bundles—garnish with a sprinkle of fresh dill. Bake for 10 minutes until heated through.
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Golden Finish: Switch the oven to broil—broil for 3 minutes to brown the cheese into a golden crown, watching closely to avoid burning.
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Claim Your Feast: Serve hot, garnished with the sliced green onions—revel in this elegant, creamy triumph!
Tips Tricks & Variations
These Tilapia Manicotti Bundles are a seafood classic reborn, but every Kitchen Quest hero needs a few clever moves and twists to master the craft. Here’s how to wield your skills and remix this dish like a true flavor bard!
Cooking Tricks:
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Noodle Hack: Undercook the lasagna noodles by 1-2 minutes—they’ll finish in the oven without getting too soft!
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Carrot Tie: Soak carrot strips in warm water for 5 minutes—makes them more pliable for tying.
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Filling Prep: Let the filling cool slightly before rolling—prevents the noodles from tearing.
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Cheese Melt: Add a splash of milk if the sauce thickens too much—keeps it creamy and smooth!
Tasty Variations:
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Spicy Skirmish: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling—ignite a subtle flame for the bold!
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Veggie Vault: Mix spinach or diced zucchini into the filling—extra loot for your bundles.
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Cheese Quest: Swap mozzarella for provolone or Parmesan—new molten banners to wave proudly.
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Herb Twist: Trade dried dill for fresh tarragon or basil—shifts the seaside whisper to new realms!
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Protein Pact: Sub tilapia for cooked shrimp or crab—a different ocean champion to wield the crown.
If you missed it, swing back to my last post: Easy Chicken Tikka Masala—a cozy, single-serve quest to fuel your next adventure!
Tilapia Manicotti Bundles
Ingredients
- 16 oz tilapia fillets
- 10 lasagna noodles
- 3 green onions (sliced)
- 1 carrot (peeled)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 4 oz light cream cheese
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1/2 tsp dried dill
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 8 oz reduced-fat mozzarella
- fresh dill for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Prepare lasagna noodles according to package directions.
- Lightly mist a glass pan with cooking spray and set aside.
- Dice the green onions and peel the carrots into strips and set aside.
- Add oil to a large nonstick pan, over medium heat.
- Add tilapia cover and cook for 3 minutes per side until no longer opaque.
- Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.
- In a medium saucepan mix cream cheese together with milk, dill and salt.
- Add half the mozzarella cheese and mix well.
- Combine in the tilapia and remove from heat.
- Lay lasagna noodles out flat and place 2 tbsp of mixture at the end and carefully roll away from you.
- Tie each bundle with a peeled carrot strip and place in the baking dish.
- Use the remaining mozzarella over top of the bundles and top with dill and bake for 10 minutes.
- Turn to broil and broil for 3 minutes to brown the cheese.