Butternut Squash Lasagna With Chicken Sausage Food

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SAUSAGE LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it browns. When the sausage has cooked to golden brown, about 8 minutes, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Add the onions and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits left on the bottom of the skillet. Deglaze with 2 tablespoons water. Cook until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and a pinch of crushed red pepper and cook about 2 minutes. Add the sausage back to the skillet. Stir in the canned butternut squash, cream, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, kale, sage, garlic powder, salt, pepper, eggs and nutmeg. Stir to combine and set aside.
• For the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook the lasagna noodles in the boiling water for half the time the package recommends. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent them from sticking together.
• Spray a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon about a cup of the sauce into the dish, spreading it to cover the bottom. Arrange half the lasagna noodles over the sauce, then begin layering first with half of the ricotta filling, then half of the sauce, then half of the mozzarella. Continue layering with the remaining noodles, filling and sauce, finishing with mozzarella on top. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Tap the casserole on the counter to force out any air bubbles.
• Bake until the cheese is golden brown and the lasagna is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. Let it rest for 15 minutes so it can set and be cut easily.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA WITH CANNELLINI BEANS

Steps:

• Peel and dice the butternut squash. Toss with salt, pepper, and olive oil. Place pieces on a cookie sheet covered in tinfoil with non-stick spray and roast at 400F for 40 minutes, or until squash is tender.
• About 10 minutes before the squash is done, melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots, and stir for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the thyme and oregano.
• Add the garlic and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
• Add the chopped roasted butternut squash and about 1/4 of the beans with their liquid. Mash this mixture together and then add the rest of the beans to the Dutch oven.
• Pour in the white wine, and add a bit of water if you think it needs to be thinner. Reduce heat to low, and simmer while you make the béchamel.
• In another pot, melt the butter for the béchamel. Over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. Stir regularly until the mixture turns golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.
• Heat the milk in a separate pan until it is just about to boil. Whisk the milk into the butter mixture until the sauce is smooth.
• Bring to a boil and cook for 30 seconds longer. Remove from the heat and season with salt and nutmeg.
• To assemble: Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with melted butter.
• Layer the ingredients in this order: béchamel, pasta, butternut squash filling, and cheese. You should make 3 to 4 layers of pasta, finishing with béchamel and 1/4 cup of the mozzarella and ricotta sprinkled over the top.
• Bake in the oven for 45 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbling.
• Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 20 minutes, slice, and serve.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the skillet and then cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and then transfer the squash to a food processor. Add the amaretti cookies and blend until smooth. Season the squash puree, to taste, with more salt and pepper.
• Melt the butter in a heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly. Transfer half of the sauce to a blender*. Add the basil and blend until smooth. Return the basil sauce to the sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the prepared baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/3 of the squash puree over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over the noodles. Repeat layering 3 more times.
• Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the lasagna. Continue baking uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden, 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

LASAGNA WITH SAUSAGE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned throughout, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the onion and garlic to the pan, adding extra oil, if needed. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the butternut squash and parsnips and cook until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. If the squash and parsnips start to stick to the pan, add 1 tablespoon water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat and pour off any excess liquid. Stir in the reserved cooked sausage.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta, eggs, spinach, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• In a separate bowl, combine the mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil.
• Spread one-third of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles on top. Evenly distribute one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by one-third of the vegetable-sausage mixture. Then sprinkle with one-third of the shredded cheese mixture. Repeat to make two more layers, ending with the shredded cheese mixture on top. (The assembled lasagna can be kept tightly covered in foil in the refrigerator up to 1 day before baking.)
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Veggie Lasagna: Prepare the lasagna recipe without the Italian sausage. Cut 1 medium eggplant and 1 medium zucchini into 1/2-inch dice. After the butternut squash and parsnips have been cooking for 5 minutes, stir in the eggplant and zucchini. Continue cooking for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Take the butternut squash and peel, seed, and cut it into 1/2-inch chunks.
• Cook the lasagna noodles according to package directions.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash chunks with 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt, then place the chunks in a single layer on a large cookie sheet.
• Roast the squash chunks for 30 minutes or until they're easily pierced with a fork, stirring after 15 minutes.
• Remove chunks from the oven and mash squash with a food processor (or fork or potato masher) until almost smooth; set aside.
• Lower the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• In a large Dutch oven or saucepot, over medium heat melt together the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter.
• Add the chopped onion and cook for about 10 minutes or until golden, stirring often; add the Swiss chard and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until the chard is wilted and the liquid evaporates, which will take about 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt the remaining butter over medium heat.
• Whisk in the flour, pepper, garlic salt, nutmeg, thyme, and sage and cook for 1 minute while stirring constantly.
• Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth and cook the sauce over medium-high heat until it boils and thickens slightly, stirring frequently.
• Boil for an additional 2 minutes while stirring, then whisk in all but 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Remove the saucepan from heat.
• In a 13" x 9" glass lasagna pan, spoon about 1/2 cup of the white sauce to cover the bottom of the pan.
• Arrange 4 cooked lasagna noodles over the sauce, overlapping to fit; evenly spread all of the Swiss chard mixture over the noodles, top with about 1 cup white sauce, and sprinkle with about a 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Arrange 4 lasagna noodles on top, then about 1 cup white sauce and all butternut squash chunks, then a 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.
• Top with remaining lasagna noodles, remaining white sauce, sprinkle with the chopped green onions and the remaining mozzarella cheese; sprinkle with the reserved 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese.
• Cover the lasagna pan with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until hot and bubbly; let lasagna cool for 10 minutes before cutting, for easier serving.
• Makes 8 to 10 servings.

SKILLET LASAGNA WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm oil. Cook onion 8 minutes.
• Add garlic, salt and pepper; cook 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl.
• Cook sausage, breaking it into pieces, 8 minutes. Add to onion mixture.
• In fry pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Slowly stir in milk; increase heat to medium-high; cook 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer to a separate bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, 1/4 cup parsley, sage, salt and pepper.
• Spread 1/3 cup sauce on bottom of fry pan; top with single layer of three noodles. Top with 1/3 cup of sauce, 1/3 cup sausage and layer of squash slices.
• Repeat layering of sauce, sausage and squash 5 more times, replacing squash layer with noodles every other layer. Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1 Tb parsley. Let stand 15 minutes.