Hearty Veggie Lasagna Food

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the sauce: Put the olive oil and garlic in a medium pot over low heat. Cook the garlic, stirring occasionally at first and more often as it colors, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-low, add the onions and a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, basil sprig, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt, raise the heat to medium and bring the sauce to a lively simmer. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until quite thick (if you draw a spoon through the sauce, you'll see the bottom of the pot for a few seconds before the sauce fills back in), about 30 minutes. As the sauce thickens, turn the heat down a bit so the bottom doesn't scorch. Stir in the chopped basil. Let cool to room temperature before assembling the lasagna. (Makes 1 quart.)
• To assemble: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Squeeze the spinach in your hands to remove as much liquid as possible. Put it in a large bowl, and stir in the ricotta, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, the egg, 1 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg.
• Spread 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles across the sauce (they won't touch). Spread 3/4 cup tomato sauce on top. Dollop 1/3 of the ricotta mixture (about 1 cup) across the sauce, and use the back of a spoon to spread it (it will smush into the tomato sauce, which is fine). Scatter 1 cup of the mozzarella on top.
• Repeat the layering 2 more times. Top with the last 3 noodles, spread the last 3/4 cup tomato sauce over them and scatter the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan over the top. Spray a large piece of foil with cooking spray, and cover the baking dish.
• Bake until the noodles are soft and the cheese has melted, about 40 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake until the cheese is bubbling and the lasagna is slightly browned around the edges, about 15 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

HEARTY VEGETABLE LASAGNA (WEIGHT WATCHERS)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400. Spray 8 inch square baking dish and 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray. I skipped this step and put my sauce in the bottom and didn't need anything to coat the bottom.
• Place eggplant and zucchini on prepared baking sheets, overlapping slices if necessary.
• Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. I skipped the non-stick cooking spray and used olive oil. Bake until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes with their juice, mushrooms, bell pepper, basil, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
• Reduce heat and cook until sauce is bubbling but not thickened, about 10 minutes longer.
• Spread 1/2 cup of sauce in prepared baking dish. Cover with 1 lasagna noodle and top with 1/4 of eggplant and zucchini.
• Cover with 1/2 cup of sauce and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of mozzarella and 1 tablespoon of Parmesan. Repeat to make 4 more layers, ending with noodle topped with sauce. If any sauce remains, spoon over lasagna.
• Cover baking dish with foil and bake until bubbly, about 35 minutes. Uncover and bake until sauce is absorbed, about 10 minutes longer.
• Let stand about 5 minutes before serving.

HEARTY VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling water for 10 minutes, or until al dente. Rinse with cold water, and drain.
• In a large saucepan, cook and stir mushrooms, green peppers, onion, and garlic in oil. Stir in pasta sauce and basil; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes.
• Mix together ricotta, 2 cups mozzarella cheese, and eggs.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spread 1 cup tomato sauce into the bottom of a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer 1/2 each, lasagna noodles, ricotta mix, sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering, and top with remaining 2 cups mozzarella cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

HEARTY VEGGIE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Start by slicing your eggplant into 1 inch strips.
• Line baking tray with parchment paper
• Place eggplant onto the tray, drizzle with olive oil
• Cook for 20 minutes
• Remove from oven and pat eggplant dry using a cheese cloth. You want to remove the excess water.
• Allow to rest
• While your eggplant is cooking, chop veggies up (celery, bell pepper, mushrooms, tomatoes, carrot, onion)
• Sauté veggies with a bit of olive oil in a pan until they soften
• Remove from heat
• Mix ricotta cheese, YVES Italian Ground "meat", can of tomato paste, can of diced tomatoes, nutmeg, salt and pepper together in a bowl
• Need a 8x8 glass pan
• Start with a layer of tomato sauce
• Then layer eggplant slices
• Next layer cheese + meat mixture
• Then layer the veggies
• Add on a layer of mozza and cheddar cheese
• Repeat
• Now that you've layered up your lasagna, add on some salt and pepper, and place in the oven for 40 minutes.
• After 40 minutes is up, remove from oven and let sit for 5-10 minutes.