Tuesday 12 February 2013

Meatball pancake canneloni for Shrove Tuesday

Thin pancakes, flecked with herbs
The perfect expression of pancakes is obviously rolled with lemon juice and sugar, but occasionally variations are acceptable. I was planning spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. Paul announced that he wanted canneloni. This was the compromise.

I made a big stack of thin pancakes, flecked with parsley and thyme. A couple we ate immediately for lunch with a filling of sauteed mushrooms, the rest hung around until dinner time.
Rolling meatballs in pancakes isn't all that easy

I browned the meatballs and cooked them in a thick tomato sauce with lots of garlic. I rolled 4 meatballs in each pancake with a little sauce and put them in a pyrex dish. Paul felt that a layer of bechamel before the cheese would be a good idea but I thought it would be way too rich, so I just poured the tomato sauce from the meatballs all over the rolled pancakes.
Lovely melty cheese
Then I smothered them in cheese. I used mostly reduced fat cheddar, because that was what I had, but then dotted it with nubbins of mozzarella. Then into the oven until everything was heated through and bubbling.

If I were planning to fast for Lent (which I assure you I am not) this really would be a great way to celebrate Shrove Tuesday - eggs, cheese and meat, all tidily cleared out of the fridge. Of course, it is very filling; two pancakes made a very satisfying portion, so that means leftovers on Ash Wednesday, which is hardly in the spirit of the season.

9 comments:

leaf (the indolent cook) said...

Cool idea! I love meatballs, pancakes, and cannelloni, so this sounds totally awesome.

Anonymous said...

I am SO over pancakes (having read at least two dozen posts this past week) but this completely reignited my appetite for them - sounds delish!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Leaf - thanks!

Souperior - I know what you mean! The only thing breaking up the pancake posts are the valentine's dessert posts!

underthebluegumtree said...

I am breaking with tradition and doing neither a Valentine's or a pancake post. But I do love the idea of your pancake cannelloni. Delicious!

wildtomato said...

Genius! I wish I had a plate of them right now.

Heather S-G said...

I assure you I am not, either ;) But that doesn't mean I couldn't devour this anyway...it seriously amazing!

Mary Bergfeld said...

I know that I would enjoy these. They sound delicious and my family would devour them. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

grace said...

"then i smothered them in cheese." what a beautiful phrase. :)

grace said...

'If I were planning to fast for Lent (which I assure you I am not)...'
oh, did i chuckle at this. :)
a very fine way to consume pancakes!

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