A classic Italian dinner recipe made-over so everyone can enjoy. Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Vegan Almond Ricotta and a homemade sun-dried tomato sauce! A cozy family meal that leaves bellies full and hearts warm!
The two big pasta dishes in my Italian family were always ziti and stuffed shells, (never lasagna! Is that weird?). My mom tended to make ziti at home just as a normal dinner and my grandmother would be the one to make stuffed shells for special holidays/parties. No matter what form, pasta + cheese + sauce always seemed to be a favorite of everyone! So let’s just say with a diet free of gluten and dairy, I haven’t had stuffed shells in many…MANY years! (An Italian tragedy!)
One of those holidays and/or big gatherings where stuffed shells were served was Christmas Eve/Christmas. Stuffed shells are an easy dish to make for a crowd (and it gives you some damn good leftovers!) It’s definitely under the category of comfort food. A comfort food that will forever remind me of my family. Okay, and it reminds me of feeling super sick (i.e. when I didn’t know I had celiac disease!)
On a quest to bring back this classic just in time for the holidays some gluten-free stuffed shells needed to happen! The only brand I’d ever found, easily, in stores that made gluten-free shell pasta was Tinkyada. Tinkyada was one of the first brands of gluten-free pasta I had, but I’d never tried their shells and always wanted to! Then to remedy the “ricotta” cheese to be dairy (scary) free, why not use some Kite Hill almond ricotta! I also decided to go all out on the homemade sauce. We’re talking some sundried tomato goodness in there!
Although stuffed shells can be a messy dish, these came out pretty fancy! The flavors are all so rich and deep! I was even able to fool my family into thinkings these were not “free-from”. When you can do that, you know it’s a win! Like I said above, stuffed shells are also such a great leftover or make-ahead dish. So easy to re-heat, making them super freezer-friendly! One of those “housewarming” dishes to give to a loved one or friend in need of a prepped meal they can just heat up.
‘Tis the holiday season of warmth and cozy comfort. And ’tis the cold winter months where pasta, “cheese”, and delicious homemade tomato sauce is more than needed…weekly! At least now we can say this classic Italian comfort food is a wee bit healthier and gluten-free. Brown rice shells, fancy almond ricotta, sun-dried tomato sauce? Elegant and soul-soothing! You can say this is my 3rd generation “modern” take on this classic staple dish from my family (and now, yours too!)
Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Vegan Almond Ricotta
Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Vegan Almond Ricotta
A classic Italian dinner recipe made-over so everyone can enjoy. Gluten-Free Stuffed Shells with Vegan Almond Ricotta and a homemade sun-dried tomato sauce! A cozy family meal that leaves bellies full and hearts warm!
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
- 8oz (1 box) Tinkyada Brown Rice Shell Pasta
- 1 Container Kite Hill Almond Ricotta
- 1/4 Cup Fresh Chopped Parsley
- 1 Tsp Smoked Paprika
- Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce:
- 1 15oz Can of Plain Tomato Sauce (salt-free)
- 1/2 Cup Sundried Tomatoes (in oil)
- 1 Shallot (chopped)
- 1 Tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 TB Dried Tarragon
- 1 Tsp Dried Marjoram
- 1/4 Tsp Black Pepper
- Sliced Almonds (to top, optional)
- Chopped Parsley (to top, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Boil the pasta in a large pot for about 14 minutes, rinse in cold water, and set aside.
- Combine all the sauce ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.
- In a small bowl, combine the almond ricotta with the chopped parsley and smoked paprika, mix well.
- In a greased 8×8 baking dish, layer in 1/2 cup of sauce.
- Stuff each shell with about 1 tablespoon of the ricotta mixture and place them in the sauce lined baking dish (tightly packed). Then add the rest of the sauce on top of the stuffed shells.
- Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 20 minutes.
- Remove and top with the sliced almonds and additional chopped parsley if desired.
Are you ready for some remade stuffed shells? Really guys, I’m telling you, just because you’re gluten-free/allergy-free/vegan, does not mean you can’t have the classics anymore! Family traditions can life on, just in a new and modern way 😉 Twists on our favorites can STILL be our favorites!
So tell me:
+ Do you have a classic pasta dish in your family?
+ Do you like sun-dried tomatoes? I love their smokiness!
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Kim
What a great ricotta alternative! My son is vegan and so hard to cook for. Pinned! Have a great week!
Kim
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Not hard! Just what humans were meant to eat!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
IN our home pasta is a staple. I’m gluten free and my daughter is vegetarian, so pasta works for all of us. I was in heaven when I found gluten free, no bake lasagna noodles, life became so much easier! LOL I have not seen tinkyada pasta, but I will be looking for them, theses shells look amazing and it would be another great comfort food to add to our menu!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Really? They are one of the biggest GF pasta brands!
kimmythevegan
Ah! Gluten free, vegan stuffed pasta shells. Oh you have outdone yourself my friend. I remember when I first went gluten free, I assumed that meant no more of my beloved pasta. But I found Tinkyada noodles shortly after and they have been a favourite ever since. The Kite Hill cheese is so good too! I think Miyoko’s vegan mozz is better, but I don’t think you have it out your way (yet!).
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ha, I have not been able to try it, but for sure is on my one-day list! (Expensive stuff though!)
Uma
Sounds delicious! Will try this soon:)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Kathleen - Bloggers Lifestyle
What delicious little morsels. I have not seen shells stuffed before, a great idea.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Where are you from?!
Miz Helen
This is a fantastic dish that we will just love!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope so!
Nicole @ The Professional Mom Project
These look fantastic! I’ve never seen pre-made almond ricotta. I’ve made cashew cheese before but always from scratch. i’ll have to look for this product next time I’m at whole foods.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you get to try this one!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
Wow those stuffed shells look delicious and I love the idea of the almonds in them.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Almond ricotta!
Genie
I haven’t seen the gf shells around here but those look good.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You could always order them like any normal human being!
Anna Powell
Looks amazing and I will substitute in goat cheese for the almond. Thanks for all the great recipes. My kids have lots of food allergies so I am always looking for new recipe resources that have allergies in mind.. thanks,Anna
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
That’s unfortunate.
Annmarie
Oh man that almond ricotta sounds amazing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is!
Farrah
Sighhhh. Why does everything you make look so good?! <3! I haven't ever tried making stuffed shells but I love eating em' and this sounds all sorts of awesome! *-*
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I literally made these the LAST day before I left for school! I wanted to leave the fam with one last GOOD meal before I left 😉 Hahahaha!
Dan
I’d love to try these, the almonds must go so well with the smoked paprika and the sun dried tomatoes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes! It’s one flavor sensation!
Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite
We love stuffed shells! Something about those giant pockets of goodness! YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes, you are so right!
Natalie
I love sun dried tomatoes! I’ve gotta give this one a try!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? So much flavor!
Megan @ MegUnprocessed
Big yum…big flavors!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet!
Sharon @What The Fork
What a fabulous Italian dish! This looks like something my kids would love as well!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Everyone loves!
Sabrina | The Tomato Tart
This looks delicious and flavorful dish. Love the spices on it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy
I LOVE stuffed shells…something about them piping hot is so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes!!!! So much comfort!
Audrey
I didn’t know there was such a thing as almond ricotta. I bet it is wonderful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally delicious!
Susan Salzman
this is my favorite form of comfort food. and the vegan component – I am so all over that!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you Susan!
Lauren @ Lauren Caris Cooks
Wow! These look absolutely incredible. I LOVE cashew cheese so I think almond would be delicious too! I’m definitely going to try this, can’t wait!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Any nut cheese is good! Besides nooch, the best kind of “cheese” there is!!
Mandy
No way???? I literally just saw these exact gluten-free shells in the store yesterday and was reminded of stuffed shells as a kid!! These look AMAZING! And that ricotta is actually really good! We tried it earlier this year and my dairy loving family loved it, too! My mom made the best lasagna growing up and we usually had it for Christmas dinner…that or stuffed shells. Now I’m craving this! YUM ?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
One of the best comfort foods!!! I’m so obsessed with Kite Hill’s cheeses! They are so so yummy!
Starr
I had no idea that vegan ricotta was sold in stores! Going to have to find some of this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You bet!!! Perfect for minimal effort 😉
Linda @ Veganosity
I love Kite Hill ricotta! I put it in all of my Italian dishes. It really tastes like the dairy that I used to eat. Those shells look so good!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
My mom approved, so I know it must have been “exact” to dairy 😉
Giselle Rochford
Ugh. I seriously wish Kite Hill was available in Canada. It looks so good and I would LOVEEEE to be able to recreate this recipe. Hopefully I can find some vegan ricotta elsewhere 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Make your own 😉
Platter Talk
Your pictures are beautiful. I have never heard of almond ricotta, we’ll have to try this recipe. New kind of pasta for me, too.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well this is a great dish to try it all!
Nico @ yumsome
I had no idea that commercial non-dairy ricotta could be bought. I make my own from cashews, and it really does taste like dairy. No tofu, no soy – just deliciousness!
I loved stuffed pasta shells; when I still lived in Italy, one of our go-to eateries used to serve enormous ones – three were more than enough! I’m totally with you on food this being comforting, plus it’s so quick and easy to make too. Win-win!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This ricotta is perfect for laziness 😉 No need to soak and blend nuts! Haha!
Kortney // Allergy Girl Eats
I love how your family holiday comfort food is stuffed shells! These are so beautiful! Glad to see there is a dairy free ricotta available.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The Italian comfort foods are the best!
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Almond ricotta? Wow, another revelation! You always have so many delicious and inspiring new flavours up your sleeves Rebecca! 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you, Neil 😉
Amy Katz from Veggies Save The Day
I didn’t know you could buy gluten-free shells. I’m going to have to look for them. I haven’t had stuffed shells in years!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes!!! You must try!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health
love sundried tomatoes, esp when turned into pesto. i hardly ever make stuffed shells but i love it. your gf version looks amazing 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You’ll enjoy this one!
jules
This Almond Ricotta from Kite Hill is a prayer answered. Everything they make is over-the-top delicious. I’m so beyond excited to have lasagne again with their ricotta, I cannot even tell you. So. Flippin. Excited.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right??? And I never even liked ricotta growing up before I was dairy-free. This stuffs just blows all of it out of the park!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands
This looks so good and I love Kite Hill Ricotta (used it in today’s post too)! Cannot wait to try this, my family will love it.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Kite Hill FTW!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday
Ooooh yum! My mom always made stuffed shells and baked spaghetti growing up. Sooo much love for cozy baked pasta dishes!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Baked spaghetti :O
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free
This is a brilliant use of a cheesy convenience! I’ve been hearing such good things about this brand, and it really does look fantastic.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, well I’m sure you’ve tried Kite Hill, Alisa 😛
Casey the College Celiac
I’ve never been a big pasta person, and my family never did much besides spaghetti and the odd lasagna. But we did eat lots of mac and cheese, and I love making a gluten free and vegan version of that…with TInkyada and chickpea pasta. YUM!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
As long as you grew up with mac and cheese 😉
Kelly @ TastingPage
Love Kite Hill and think I could just eat the vegan ricotta with a spoon, but the recipe is also super enticing, so will need both!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, me too!
Laura
Almond ricotta sounds delightful! I’ve never tried it before!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
So good!
Amanda
I’m so glad to see another source for the shells. Gluten-free shells are difficult to find. As to my favorite pasta…stuffed shells, of course!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
What brand do you use?
Chandice Probst
This seriously looks incredible!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Beth @ Binky's Culinary Carnival
Oh my goodness! I have to see if I can locate some of the Almond Ricotta! My Mom would think she had died and gone to heaven! She hasn’t been able to eat gluten and lactose for at least 30 years! Genius!!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This will make her day! I perfect holiday surprise 😉
Elizabeth DiBurro
My son was just approved to do almond food challenge! If he passes, this will be one of the top recipes we try! Looks delish.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Oooo, fingers crossed!
Igor @ Cooking The Globe
These shells look so delicious. I have never heard about almond ricotta before. Sounds interesting! I’ll try to look for it in my local shops 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is an amazing product!
Emily @ Recipes to Nourish
What a cool idea! This sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Sabrina
These look so delicious. I tried to find a new recipe for stuffed shells to mix it up a little and your recipe is just perfect for that. Thanks so much for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I know you will love this one!
Shashi at RunninSrilankan
Rebecca, I adore sundried tomatoes – they impart so much flavor! You have done a wonderful job incorporating them into this dish! So comforting!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Right? They are just packed with deep flavor!
Chrystal @ Gluten-Free Palate
Stunning dish! I have a few friends I can make this for that will love it!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Glad to hear!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
OMG I’m so intrigued by that almond ricotta!!!! I MUST get my hands on that stuff! These shells look perfect for a dairy-free, gluten-free dinner!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!! Kite Hill will blow your mind!
Demeter | Beaming Baker
This recipe is so ready for all the holiday get-togethers! I seriously crave comfort foods like this! Love that you made this with the seriously delicious sounding vegan almond ricotta. Yum!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Stuffed shells are one of the ultimate comforts! But then again…all pasta is!
Cricket Plunkett
I love Tinkyada, but didn’t know they made shells! I must find them!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They do!!! It’s a miracle!
Harriet Emily
These pasta shells look so incredible Rebecca! I love the addition of vegan ricotta. Delicious! I can’t wait to try this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you so much dear!
Rachel
These stuffed shells look delicious! I haven’t made regular stuffed shells in so long, but I definitely need to give this recipe a try ASAP!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This one will beat the “normal” 😉
Emily @ My Healthyish Life
Actually, I have the same memories of stuffed shells (pre-celiac sickness). Not fun! So I haven’t had them in years. I’ve been on the hunt for Kite Hill products, though!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You have to try this “cheese” So good!
Lindsey
This looks great! I’d love to try almond ricotta this looks so rich and filling. My husband would love this for dinner!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
It is a perfect meal!
Robyn Gleason
Italian is definitely my favourite food. Spaghetti, lasagna, bolognese – you name it, I eat it, lol. I’m so glad I’ve found healthier options because I would truly miss it! Spending time making homemade is such a pleasure because the final dish is so worth it.
Love this, Rebecca – I could do a face plant on this plate!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, thank you! I was so excited to have them again!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
My italian grandmother makes the best stuffed shells! We love them in our family so you bet I’m super excited over this GF and DF version!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
They are such an Italian family favorite!
Megan - The Emotional Baker
I love stuffed shells! I’ve only made them with tofu ricotta, so I’m excited to try this version with almond ricotta!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This ricotta is amazing!
Courtney
You can’t go wrong with stuffed shells! This looks amazing– I love that you topped it with almonds.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
One of my old favorites!