Healthy Butternut Squash Lasagna With Spinach Food

HEALTHY BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. Cut the ends off of the squash, peel it, remove the seeds, and slice it into planks that are 1/4 inch thick. You can save the rest of the squash for roasting later. Lay the squash onto a sprayed baking sheet, drizzle the squash with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees F. Remove and let cool for a few minutes. For easier clean up, line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Sauté the spinach. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add in the minced garlic and toss and cook it for 1-2 minuets. Toss in the spinach and cook it for few minutes until wilted. Remove and set the spinach aside.
• Make the creamy filing - Add some butter to a medium-size saucepan heated to medium heat. Once it melts add in the flour (I used whole wheat white flour). Whisk the flour in with the butter for a minute or so, then add in the milk about a 1/2 cup at a time, whisking lightly. Add in the nutmeg and a bay leaf. Simmer on low for 3- 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
• Make the ricotta filling. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the ricotta with lemon zest, freshly chopped sage, rosemary, parmesan, mozzarella, salt and pepper, and mix.
• Assemble - Reduce the oven temperature to 400 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray. Ladle some of the white cream sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Layer on some of the lasagna noodles then some of the butternut squash. Next layer on some of the sautéed spinach and top that with a layer of the ricotta mixture. Pour some more (half of what is left) of the creamy white sauce all over everything then repeat with one more layer. Finish the final layer with lasagna noodles, the remaining creamy white sauce, the remaining cooked spinach and a good sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
• Bake. Bake the lasagna for 35 minutes on the middle rack of the oven until the top is nice and golden brown and bubbly. Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add butternut squash and cook until soft.
• Remove squash with a slotted spoon, reserve about 1 cup of the water and set aside, then blend until smooth with an immersion blender, adding 1/4 cup of the reserved liquid to thin out.
• Meanwhile, in a large deep non-stick skillet, add the oil, sauté the shallots and garlic over medium-low heat until soft and golden, about 4 to 5 minutes. Add pureed butternut squash, season with with salt and fresh cracked pepper and add a little more of the reserved water to thin out to your liking. Stir in 2 1/2 tablespoons of the parmesan cheese and set aside.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Ladle about 1/2 cup butternut sauce sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 12 baking dish.
• Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.
• Place a piece of wax paper on the counter and lay out lasagna noodles. Make sure noodles are dry.
• Take 1/3 cup of ricotta mixture and spread evenly over noodle. Roll carefully and place seam side down onto the baking dish. Repeat with remaining noodles.
• Ladle about 1 cup of sauce over the noodles in the baking dish and top each one with 1 tbsp Italian cheese blend.
• Put foil over baking dish and bake for 40 minutes, or until cheese melts and everything is hot and bubbly. Top with parsley and serve.
• To serve, ladle a little extra sauce on the plate and top with lasagna roll.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH LASAGNA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Peel the butternut squash with a potato peeler. Then chop the squash in bite sized chunks, removing the seeds. Place the squash on the baking sheet, and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked through (fork tender). Remove from oven and cool slightly.
• Spoon the cooked squash into a blender or food processor. Add in the milk and pulse until smooth. Add additional milk if needed to thin the sauce more. Place in bowl and add in the ricotta cheese, nutmeg, and additional salt and pepper as needed.
• While the squash is baking, prepare spinach and cheese layer. Over medium heat, saute spinach and garlic in some olive oil until spinach is wilted, approximately 3-4 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. (Reserve a little bit of wilted spinach for the top of the lasagna, if desired.)
• Combine the cooked spinach, ricotta cheese, mozzarelly cheese, parmesan cheese, and the egg. Mix well.
• Cook the lasagna noodles in a large stock pan with well salted water. When noodles are cooked to al dente, remove from the stove, and strain. Let the noodles dry and cool.
• To assemble, spoon some of the squash sauce on the bottom of a 8x8 dish. Lay lasagna noodles on top (cutting off a couple of inches if needed to fit), followed by 1/3 of the spinach and cheese mixture, followed by 1/3 of the butternut squash puree. Repeat until all ingredients are used - three layers. Then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. Add some reserved wilted spinach, if desired.
• Bake for approximately 30 minutes on 350 degrees, or until cooked through and piping hot.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH & SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat two 8-inch-square baking dishes with cooking spray.
• Mix ricotta, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach and cook, stirring, until mostly wilted, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a colander and press with the back of a spoon to release excess moisture. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk. Cook, whisking often, until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese, sage and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper until smooth.
• Spread 1/4 cup of the sauce in each of the prepared baking dishes. In each pan, add a layer of noodles, then cover with 1/3 cup of the ricotta, a layer of squash, ¼ cup spinach and 1/2 cup of the remaining sauce. Repeat the layers. To finish, divide the remaining noodles, sauce and 1 cup cheese between the pans. Cover one lasagna with plastic wrap, then foil. Refrigerate or freeze this lasagna.
• To bake, coat a piece of foil with cooking spray and cover the lasagna, sprayed-side down. Bake until lightly browned on top, about 1 hour. Let cool for 15 minutes. Serve topped with more sage, if desired. Cut into 6 squares.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Mix pasta sauce, ricotta and garlic until blended.
• Spread 2/3 cup pasta sauce mixture onto bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Top with layers of 3 noodles, half each of the squash and spinach, and 1/2 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, pasta sauce mixture and cheese; cover.
• Bake 50 min. to 1 hour or until squash is tender, uncovering for the last 10 min.

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Toss butternut squash with olive oil, 1 tablespoon garlic, ground sage, and seasoned salt in a 9x11-inch baking dish until coated.
• Roast in the preheated oven, stirring every 20 minutes, until butternut squash is tender, about 1 hour.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Whisk in flour until a smooth paste forms. Slowly pour in milk; season with salt and pepper. Cook and stir sauce until thick and bubbling, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Remove sauce from heat; stir in roasted butternut squash, chili powder, ground sage, and rosemary. Puree sauce with an immersion blender until smooth.
• Mix ricotta cheese, 1 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, spinach, egg, and Parmesan cheese together in a bowl.
• Spread 1/2 cup sauce in the bottom of the baking dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles on top. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Repeat layers twice more, ending with remaining sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until mozzarella cheese is melted, about 40 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until bubbly, about 10 minutes more.

SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Soak the lasagna noodles in warm water.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, onions and salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and browned, about 10 minutes. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a tablespoon or two of water.
• Meanwhile, stir together 1/2 cup of the milk and the cornstarch in a small bowl until smooth. Heat the remaining 3 1/2 cups milk in a large saucepan until bubbling. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the milk and bring to a boil. Simmer, stirring, until the milk thickens to the consistency of a thin batter, about 5 minutes. Stir in the onion mixture, spinach, parsley and nutmeg, and cook until the spinach wilts. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat.
• Drain the noodles. Spread 1 cup of the spinach mixture over the bottom of a 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the spinach. Arrange half of the squash over the noodles, overlapping slightly, and sprinkle with one-third of the mozzarella. Spoon 1 cup spinach mixture over the cheese, and top with 3 noodles, the remaining squash and another third of the mozzarella. Top with 1 cup spinach mixture, followed by the last 3 noodles and the remaining 1 cup spinach mixture. Cover tightly with foil; reserve the remaining mozzarella.
• Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella over the top. Bake until bubbling and the squash is tender, about 15 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

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.

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.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Vegetable filling: heat the oil in a big nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add in leeks, sage, and garlic; stir/saute 5 minutes.
• Add in squash, wine, and water; cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in ¼ teaspoon pepper and the spinach.
• Filling: in a big saucepan over med-high heat, melt the butter; add in the flour, and whisk the mixture until combined.
• Cook for 3 minutes to brown the flour, continuing to whisk.
• Gradually add the milk to the flour mixture, whisking continuously to prevent lumps.
• Decrease heat to medium, and cook until thick, about 10 minutes, stirring constantly.
• Remove pan from heat; add in cream cheese, nutmeg, and pepper, stirring with a whisk.
• Combine the mozzarella and provolone cheese; set aside.
• To assemble: Preheat oven to 400°; oil the sides and bottom of a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.
• Spread ½ cup sauce on the bottom; arrange noodles over the sauce, and top with 2 cups of vegetable filling, ½ cup of the cheese mixture, and ½ cup of sauce.
• Repeat layers ending with noodles.
• Spread remaining sauce over the noodles; cover and bake for 30 minutes.
• Uncover, sprinkle with ½ cup of cheese mixture, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes prior to cutting to serve; garnish with sage sprigs.

CREAMY BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND SPINACH GRATIN

Steps:

• If using fresh spinach, bring 1 inch water to a boil in a 6- to 8-quart pot over high heat. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water. You may skip this step if you like, I don't think it's really necessary.
• Thoroughly squeeze cooked fresh or thawed frozen spinach in small handfuls to remove excess moisture(try to get it absolutely dry), then coarsely chop and transfer to a bowl.
• Melt 3 tablespoons butter in an 8-inch heavy skillet over medium low heat, then cook onion and garlic, stirring, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes(you can cook it till caramalized if you like). Add onion mixture to spinach along with salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cream and stir to combine.
• Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400°F Butter a 3-quart shallow baking dish (13 by 9 inches; not glass-I think you could use glass, just be careful when broiling-that's the reason it's not recommended).
• Cut squash to separate bulb section from solid neck section, then cut pieces lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick slices with slicer or food processor. To make the squash easier to cut, microwave for 3-5 minutes.
• Layer squash and spinach mixture in baking dish, using about one fifth of squash and one fourth of spinach for each layer, beginning and ending with squash. Sprinkle each layer of squash evenly with cheeses and dot with remaining 2 tablespoons butter, then cover directly with a sheet of parchment or wax paper(or use glass lid). Bake until squash is tender and filling is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. If you like, you can use individual baking dishes, just note shorter cooking time. I haven't tried baking it individually so cook times are estimated.
• Remove paper and bake gratin until browned in spots, 10 to 15 minutes, or broil 3 inches from heat, 2 to 3 minutes. Enjoy!
• Note:.
• If making individual gratins, bake 20-30 minutes.
• Also, for a shortcut, use 3 packages of creamed spinach(cooked) and skip the cream.
• Some reviewers added a little jalapeno(or chipotle peppers and sliced almonds on top.