Make Ahead Creamy Spinach Lasagna Food

MAKE-AHEAD CREAMY SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour with whisk; cook and stir 2 minutes. Slowly beat in broth, whipping cream, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and the nutmeg with whisk. Increase heat to medium-high; heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 3 to 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Remove from heat.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over high heat. Add mushrooms; cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring frequently, until browned and any liquid from mushrooms has evaporated. Reduce heat to medium. Add garlic; cook and stir 1 minute. Gradually add spinach, stirring constantly, and cook until wilted. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 1/4 cups of the cream sauce. Reserve remaining sauce.
• In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, egg, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
• To assemble: Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Spoon 3/4 cup of the sauce into bottom of baking dish. Top with 3 of the lasagna noodles in single layer. Evenly top with 1 cup of the cheese filling and 1 1/3 cups of the spinach mixture. Repeat layers twice, starting with noodles and ending with spinach mixture. For final layer, top with 3 noodles; pour remaining 3/4 cup sauce over top, and sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Cover with foil; bake 20 minutes. Remove foil; bake 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.
• To freeze: Line 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with foil, making sure foil is as smooth as possible, as wrinkled foil may get stuck in sauce during freezing process. Leave enough overhang to be able to lift assembled lasagna out of dish. Spray foil with cooking spray. Cover and refrigerate sauce and spinach mixture 30 to 40 minutes before making cheese filling and assembling lasagna. Stir 2 1/4 cups cream sauce into spinach mixture. Assemble lasagna in dish as directed; cover tightly with another layer of foil. Freeze unbaked lasagna about 8 hours or until completely frozen. Transfer frozen lasagna to labeled 2-gallon resealable freezer plastic bag. Remove air; seal and freeze up to three months. To bake: Remove foil, and transfer to 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Cover and thaw in refrigerator until completely thawed, at least 48 hours. Heat oven to 400°F. Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes; remove foil. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through (165°F in center), bubbly and lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before cutting.

CREAMY WHITE CHICKEN AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium high heat. Add lasagna noodles, olive oil and salt and cook until al dente (fully cooked but still firm), or according to package directions, about 10 minutes. Rinse the noodles under cold water to stop the cooking process and set aside in the pot.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan for 2 minutes over medium-high heat until the oil is sizzling hot. Add onion and garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in chicken broth and flour and whisk until smooth and uniform. The sauce might initially be a little clumpy.
• Whisk in heavy cream and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Let it simmer, stirring occasionally until thickened, about 5-8 minutes. The sauce should be similar in consistency to a gravy and be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
• Remove from heat and stir in spinach. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella, Parmesan, beaten egg, and parsley. Stir well to combine together. Set aside.
• Evenly spread 1/2 cup of the sauce in a 9x13 baking pan. Place 3 lasagna noodles evenly apart over the sauce. Spread 1/3 of the sauce evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle half the shredded chicken evenly over the sauce. Spread 1/4 of the ricotta cheese mixture on top.
• Add another layer of 3 lasagna noodles. Spread half of ricotta cheese mixture on top.
• Add another layer of 3 lasagna noodles. Spread 1/3 of the sauce evenly over the noodles. Sprinkle remaining half of shredded chicken evenly over the sauce. Spread remaining 1/4 of the ricotta cheese mixture on top.
• Add remaining 3 lasagna noodles. Add remaining 1/3 sauce on top. Top with remaining cup of mozzarella.
• Lightly grease a large piece of aluminum foil and cover the pan with the greased side inside. Greasing the foil prevents the melted cheese from sticking to the foil while baking. Bake the lasagna covered for 45 minutes.
• Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes or until the melted cheese turns golden brown and bubbly. Optionally, turn on broiler on high and broil for 3-4 minutes to get a crispy and brown cheesy crust. But keep a close eye on the broiler as things can burn quickly.
• Let the lasagna cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing. This ensures that the sauce sets and isn't runny when you cut into the lasagna.

SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat the EVOO in a saucepot and add the butter. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and crush them up a bit. Add the passata, a fat handful of torn basil leaves, the onion and some salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion and set the sauce aside.
• Separate the spinach while adding it to a mixing bowl. Add half of the mozzarella, the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of the Parmigiano-Reggiano and the eggs yolks and mix to combine. Season with grated nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Layer a little sauce into a lasagna pan and top with three flat lasagna sheets or four curly. Top with a little more sauce, and then half of the spinach and cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer, and end on top with lasagna sheets. Top with some sauce and the remaining mozzarella and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
• The lasagna can be stored before or after baking for a make-ahead meal, or baked to serve immediately. When baking the first time, bake at 375 degrees F, uncovered, from room temperature until cooked through and brown and bubbling on top, 60 to 70 minutes. If reheating, bake at 375 degrees F, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes.
• Let the lasagna rest 20 minutes before cutting. Serve with extra sauce on the side.

EASY RAVIOLI LASAGNA (MAKE-AHEAD FREEZER MEAL)

Steps:

• Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
• Squeeze thawed spinach between several layers of paper towels to remove as much excess moisture as possible. Transfer spinach to a medium bowl and stir in ricotta cheese, egg, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until well combined.
• Pour 1 cup marinara sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 1/2 of the ravioli in a single layer over the sauce. Pour 1 cup sauce over the ravioli, then spread ricotta mixture over the sauce and top with 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining ravioli, remaining sauce, and remaining mozzarella.
• Cover with parchment paper and then cover tightly with foil. Freeze for up to one month.
• When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place frozen covered lasagna in the preheated oven and bake for 1 1/2 hours. Uncover and bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 more minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

CREAMY SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, stir together spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, garlic, salt, pepper and 1 1/2 cups of the Italian cheese.
• To assemble, place 4 cooked noodles in bottom of baking dish. Top with one-third of the Alfredo sauce (about 1/2 cup) and half of the spinach mixture. Repeat layers once. Top with remaining 4 noodles, Alfredo sauce and 1 1/2 cups Italian cheese. Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray; cover baking dish tightly with foil, sprayed side down.
• Bake 30 minutes. Uncover; bake 15 minutes longer or until bubbly around edges. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

THE BEST MAKE-AHEAD LASAGNA

Steps:

• FOR THE SAUCE: Heat the oil in a Dutch oven (or large pot) over medium heat until shimmering.
• Add the onions and cook until softened but not browned, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the meat, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper and cook, breaking the meat into small pieces until the meat loses its raw color but has not browned, about 4 minutes.
• Stir in the cream, bring to a simmer, and cook until the liquid evaporates and only the fat remains, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree and drained diced tomatoes (and a splash of your favorite red wine if you feel so inclined).
• Bring to a simmer and cook until the flavors are blended, about 3 minutes.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.
• FOR THE RICOTTA FILLING: Stir all the ingredients together until combined; set aside.
• TO ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNA: Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish (avoiding large chunks of meat).
• Place 3 noodles in a single layer.
• Spread each noodle with 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzerella.
• Spoon 1 cup of sauce evenly over the cheeses.
• Repeat layering twice more.
• Place the remaining 3 noodles on top, cover with the remaining sauce, and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzerella and the Parmesan.
• TO STORE: Wrap the dish tightly with plastic wrap and then foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze up to 1 month. (If frozen, the casserole must be thawed completely in the refrigerator, about 24 hours).
• TO SERVE: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and pre-heat to 400 degrees. Unwrap the dish and cover tightly with aluminium foil that has been sprayed with vegetable oil spray (or use nonstick foil). Place a rimmed baking sheet under the dish to catch any overspill. Bake until the sauce bubbles lightly around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until hot throughout and the cheese is browned in spots, 25 to 30 minutes longer. Let cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
• TO SERVE RIGHT AWAY: Follow instructions above, reducing covered baking time to 15 minutes.

MAKE-AHEAD LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef and sausage over medium-high heat until no longer pink; drain. Stir in marinara and pizza sauces. In a bowl, mix eggs, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper., Spread 1 cup meat sauce into a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Layer with 4 noodles, half of the ricotta cheese mixture, 1 cup meat sauce and 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining noodles, meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Refrigerate, covered, 8 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 375°. Remove lasagna from refrigerator while oven heats. Bake, covered, 45 minutes. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted, 10-15 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

CHICKEN FLORENTINE LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Noodles -- Now I do this a little different than most. I bring a 13x9 pan on the stove and fill with water and bring to a light boil. I then boil my noodles flat. To me they boil quicker and less chance of tearing being flat in a pan. Just 5 or so minutes and they are done. Then remove them to a sheet of parchment paper to cool. About 24 noodles. If you want you can always boil in a large pot of water if you prefer the traditional method.
• Cheese -- Mix the grated fontina, parmesan and ricotta. Make sure to reserve 1 cup the fontina and 1/2 parmesan for the top layer. Add in a pinch of salt, pepper to taste and the fresh parsley.
• Chicken -- To a medium saucepan, add the olive oil and bring to medium heat. Add the onions and mushrooms and cook on medium heat until lightly browned about 5-7 minutes. Then add in the shredded chicken and fresh spinach, thyme and chicken broth and cook until everything is well combined. Just add a little salt and pepper to taste. Just simmer until the broth reduces.
• Bechemel -- 4 / 4/ 4/ -- my basic recipe. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot, then add 4 teaspoons of flour and combine, mix well to make a roux and cook just a couple of minutes to get the flour taste out. Then add in 2 cups heavy cream and 2 cups milk and bring to a medium heat to let it thicken, add a pinch of nutmeg.
• Make the Lasagna -- Lay out a noodle, spread with the cheese mixture and then top with the chicken spinach mixture, then another noodle, more cheese and another layer of chicken mixture, then roll.
• In a 13x9 casserole dish add about 1 cup of the bechemel sauce and then place the lasagna rolls, seam side down. Now top with the remaining sauce. Top with the extra fontina and parmesan cheese. Cover and bake 35 minutes at 375, then remove the foil and cook 10 more minutes until bubbly and golden brown. Make sure to let it rest 10 minutes covered before serving.
• Note: I like to use a 13x9, you want to make sure that the pan is not too big and the rolls fit in the pan nicely side by side, this way the sauce tops the rolls and makes a nice crust. You can also make these in individual ramiken or serving dishes, 2 rolls per person. It makes a great way to serve them for a dinner party.