Pinon Pastelon Lasagne Roll Ups Food

BAKED LASAGNA ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• Bring a large saucepan of generously salted water to a boil. Add half the noodles, dropping each in separately, and cook, stirring gently, until pliable but still firm, about 4 minutes. Lift the noodles out of the water with a slotted spoon then lay them on a sheet of foil in a single layer, not touching. Lightly drizzle the noodles with 1 tablespoon olive oil then rub them all over to coat well. Repeat with the remaining noodles and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until completely soft and starting to caramelize, about 20 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and garlic and cook, stirring until lightly caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaf and 1 cup water and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaf. Carefully puree the sauce in a blender until smooth and return it to the pot. Stir in the parsley and season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Shred half of the mozzarella on the large holes of a box grater. Add it to a large bowl, along with the ricotta, Parmesan, basil, eggs, 1 teaspoon salt and the 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir to combine. Divide the ricotta mixture among the noodles, putting 2 to 3 tablespoons in each, and spread into an even layer. Reserve the remaining piece of mozzarella.
• Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and spread 1/2 cup of the sauce over the bottom. Cut each lasagna noodle in half lengthwise then roll each noodle strip into a pinwheel. Rotate the pinwheels so the frilly ends are on top, then transfer them to the prepared pan in a snug, even layer. Pour the remaining sauce over the noodles, using the back of a spoon to spread it evenly over the top and into any gaps.
• Cover the pan with foil and bake until the noodles are tender and the lasagna is warmed through and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven. Tear the remaining mozzarella into pieces and scatter them over the noodles. Return the lasagna to the oven until the mozzarella is just melted, 5 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before unmolding. Carefully remove the sides of the pan, top with basil leaves and serve immediately.

LASAGNA ROLL-UPS

Steps:

• Cook the lasagna noodles in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Drain, rinse with cold water to cool and lay flat on a sheet of foil. Set aside.
• Make the sauce: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion, mushrooms, green pepper and garlic and saute 4 to 5 minutes, until the vegetables are starting to soften. Remove the veggie mixture from the pan, then add the ground beef to the pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's totally browned. Drain the excess fat, then add 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper, the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, the veggie mixture and 1 tablespoon each parsley and basil and stir to combine. Let the mixture simmer over low heat, 30 minutes.
• Make the filling: Combine the ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, 3/4 cup parmesan, the eggs, 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and the remaining 3 tablespoons each parsley and basil. Stir to combine.
• Assemble the lasagna: Spoon a thin layer of sauce onto the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan or five 6-inch disposable foil loaf pans. Spread 2 to 3 tablespoons ricotta filling on each lasagna noodle, then roll them up so that the cheese is on the inside of the roll. Lay them sideways in the pan(s). (Four roll-ups will fit in each loaf pan, or you can fill a 9-by-13-inch pan.) Top with the remaining sauce and plenty of grated mozzarella and parmesan.
• If you're making the roll-ups right away, place the pan(s) on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F for 20 minutes, until hot and bubbly.
• Find this recipe and more in Ree's new book, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Dinnertime ($30, William Morrow Cookbooks).

PESTO LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagna noodles 1 minute longer than the package directions for al dente. The pasta should be tender enough that it will roll without cracking. Drain well and rinse with cold water. Lay in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and is the consistency of a thin gravy, 6 to 8 minutes. Allow the bechamel sauce to cool slightly.
• Beat the egg in a large bowl and then stir in the ricotta, spinach, 1 1/2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 cup of the pesto, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper. Stir the remaining 1/2 cup pesto into the slightly cooled bechamel sauce.
• Brush a 13- by 9- inch baking dish with oil. Spread 1/4 cup of the pesto-bechamel sauce on to the bottom of the dish.
• Lay half of the cooked lasagna noodles on a clean work surface and spread 1/3 cup of the ricotta mixture evenly over each. Starting with a short end, roll each noodle up. As you make the rolls, transfer them to the prepared baking dish seam-side down. Repeat with the remaining noodles and ricotta mixture. Spoon the remaining pesto-bechamel sauce over the lasagna rolls and sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake until the rolls are heated through and the sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the cheese is browned on top, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with crushed red pepper, if using, and let stand for 5 minutes before serving.