Roasted Tomato And Escarole Lasagna Food

WHOLE-WHEAT SKILLET LASAGNA AND ESCAROLE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a pot of water for pasta, season with salt and cook pasta to al dente.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F or broiler.
• While pasta water comes to a boil, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a high sided skillet over medium-high to high heat. When the oil smokes, add the pancetta, sirloin and bay leaf and caramelize the meat, 5 to 6 minutes, season with salt, pepper and allspice. Add grated vegetables and garlic, rosemary. Cook 7 to 8 minutes, stir in stock. Add tomatoes and break up with a spoon. Drain pasta and add to sauce then stir in ricotta. Top pasta with a layer of mozzarella and place in oven. Cook 5 minutes to melt and bubble mozzarella.
• Dress the escarole and onions with the lemon juice and 3 to 4 tablespoons oil, season the salad with salt and pepper.

TOMATO, AVOCADO AND ESCAROLE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine the tomatoes, olives, mint and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the escarole, vinegar and olive oil and toss gently to coat. Sprinkle in the avocado and pine nuts.

ROASTED TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Place tomato halves skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Add garlic cloves. Evenly drizzle tomatoes and garlic with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Roast in the preheated oven until tomatoes are bubbling, about 25 minutes. Increase heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Roast until tomatoes just begin to brown, 10 more minutes. Turn off the heat. Let tomatoes sit in the hot oven with the door closed until further caramelized, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer roasted tomatoes and garlic to a bowl. Add basil and use a wooden spoon to crush the mixture and break apart the tomatoes, leaving them a bit chunky. Remove peels, if desired. Serve over your favorite cooked pasta.

ESCAROLE, KALE, WHITE BEAN, AND TOMATO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add 1 teaspoon oil and half the mushrooms. Saute, stirring occasionally, until mushrooms are golden brown and tender, about 8 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool. Repeat with 1 more teaspoon oil and the remaining mushrooms.
• Chop 6 garlic cloves. Heat 1 teaspoon oil over medium heat in a large saute pan or skillet. Add garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute (do not let brown). Raise heat to medium-high, and add 1/2 cup water. Add two-thirds of the kale; cover, and cook until wilted, about 1 minute. Add remaining kale. Cover, and cook 2 minutes. Stir in escarole, and add a little more water if pan is dry. Cover, and cook until greens are wilted and tender, about 4 minutes. Remove lid, and cook, stirring frequently, until liquid evaporates.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat bottom of a 9-by-13-inch ovenproof baking dish with 1 teaspoon oil. Place beans in a food processor. Finely grate remaining garlic clove over beans. Puree 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl, add reserved bean liquid, and puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Add oregano, and pulse until just combined.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes, reserving juices. Combine tomatoes and juices with red-pepper flakes, and spread one third in baking dish. Top with half the greens. Spread half the bean puree over the greens with a small offset spatula, and sprinkle with a third of the cheese. Scatter evenly with three-quarters of the mushrooms.
• Continue layering with a third of the tomatoes, the remaining greens, and a third of the cheese. Dot top with spoonfuls of remaining bean puree, using the back of the spoon to slightly flatten mounds (it will spread as it bakes). Layer with remaining mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheese. Cover with foil, being careful not to let foil touch surface, and bake until bubbling around edges and hot but not bubbling in center, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Turn on broiler. Transfer lasagna to broiler, and cook until top just turns golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Arrange the tomatoes on a sheet pan, cut sides up, in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle the garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper over the tomatoes. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the tomatoes are concentrated and beginning to caramelize. Serve warm or at room temperature.

OLD SCHOOL LASAGNA WITH BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Tomato Sauce:
• In a medium pot, heat the olive oil and add the onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. When it turns light brown, add the thyme, bay leaf and tomatoes. Simmer for 20 minutes, then taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper, if desired. Remove and discard the thyme and bay leaves. Stir in the basil leaves and shut off the heat to allow the sauce to "rest."
• Pasta: Bring the water to a boil over medium heat. Add the salt and the lasagna sheets. Cook for 4 minutes, drain and rinse under cold water. The pasta should still be very firm to the touch. Separate the sheets carefully so they don't stick together.
• Divide the tomato sauce in half and reserve half for the Bolognese and half for the lasagna.
• Assemble the lasagna:
• Spoon a thin layer of the sauce in the bottom of the baking pan. Arrange a layer of pasta sheets over the sauce. Sprinkle some of the mozzarella and Parmesan over the pasta and another thin layer of sauce. Repeat the layering process 2 more times. It is important there be remaining cheese and sauce for the top. Cook's Note: I love to get a corner piece from the pan and pick at the crispy edges of the top layer. When you finish, there should be 4 layers of pasta and 5 layers of filling.
• Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and put it in the center of the oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Raise the temperature of the oven to 450 degrees F and remove the aluminum foil. Bake until the top browns slightly, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and let it cool for 15 minutes or so before serving.
• Make the Bolognese while the lasagna is baking:
• In a large wide pot over medium-high heat, add the olive oil. Add the ground beef and cook until brown, about 4 to 5 minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon to break up the pieces. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Remove the beef from the pot and set aside. Set the pot back over the heat and add a little more olive oil. Add carrots, onion and celery. Cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add the beef back to the pot, then add the reserved 1/2 recipe of tomato sauce. Cover slightly and simmer for 20 minutes.
• When done, finish with milk, taste, season and serve, spooned over the lasagna.

SKILLET LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat the 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic; cook, stirring, until golden, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of the herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; cook until saucy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and carefully blend until smooth (see Cook's Note). Return 1 cup of the sauce to the skillet and reduce the heat to low; reserve the remaining sauce.
• Meanwhile, combine the ricotta, egg, the 2 tablespoons Parmesan, the remaining 3 tablespoons herbs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a medium bowl.
• Place 2 lasagna noodles over the sauce in the skillet. Layer half of the carrots and zucchini on top; drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Cover with half of the spinach, half of the ricotta mixture, a few pieces of mozzarella and 2 to 3 tablespoons of the reserved tomato sauce. Repeat the layers, ending with noodles. Top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella. Cover and simmer until the lasagna is cooked and the mozzarella melts, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Let rest for a few minutes before slicing. Garnish with more Parmesan and fresh herbs.

THE BIG LASAGNA

Steps:

• Prepare the ricotta filling: If using fresh spinach, set a large skillet over high heat. (If using thawed frozen spinach, skip to Step 2.) When hot, add 2 tablespoons oil and half the fresh spinach. Season with a pinch of salt and sauté to wilt. Cook until stems are tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and allow to cool in a single layer. Repeat with remaining spinach.
• While spinach cools, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil and a generous pinch of salt in a large bowl.
• Taking handfuls of the cooled or thawed spinach, squeeze out as much water as possible, then chop finely and add to cheese mixture. Mix thoroughly, then taste and adjust seasoning for salt. (Filling makes about 6 cups.) Cover and set aside until ready to assemble lasagna. (Ricotta filling can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before assembling lasagna.)
• Prepare the béchamel: Set a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted, whisk in flour, reduce heat to very low and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent browning. After the mixture foams a bit, it will visibly transform - the butter will separate, the bubbles will reduce in size, and the mixture will look like freshly wet fine sand. Whisking vigorously, slowly pour in milk. Increase heat to medium and whisk until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg (if using) to taste.
• Return heat to low. Continue cooking, whisking regularly, for 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce is thick and smooth, with no raw flour flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt. If béchamel is lumpy, strain through a fine sieve or purée with an immersion blender. (You'll have about 3 1/2 cups.) Press a piece of parchment or plastic against the surface of the sauce to prevent a skin from forming and set aside until ready to assemble lasagna. (Béchamel can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered directly and refrigerated. Return to room temperature before using.)
• Prepare the lasagna: Position the highest rack in the oven so that it sits about 6 inches below the top. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• If tomato sauce, béchamel and ricotta filling are cold, bring to room temperature or warm them as needed.
• Set a large pot of water over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Set a large colander in a baking dish and place near stove.
• Season the boiling water generously with salt until it tastes like sea water. Carefully lay one sheet of pasta on the water's surface. Let it be completely immersed in the boiling water, using a slotted spoon to gently it push down if needed, before adding the next sheet. Add two more pasta sheets in this way and cook for about 2 minutes, or until light in color, floppy in texture and completely cooked through. If pasta bubbles above the water's surface, use a slotted spoon to encourage it back in. Use a sieve to gently remove pasta from the water and into the prepared colander. Rinse under cold water until cool enough to handle, then begin assembly. Continue cooking, draining and rinsing pasta two or three sheets at a time as you assemble lasagna.
• Spoon about 3/4 cup béchamel into a 9-by-13-inch metal, glass or ceramic baking pan, and use a rubber spatula or your hands to generously coat bottom and sides of pan with sauce.
• Gently squeezing any remaining water from the pasta, use two or three sheets to entirely cover the bottom of the pan with minimal overlap, and leave ends hanging over sides. (They'll be helpful for sealing the top.) All four sides need not have overhang; two is plenty.
• Crumble about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture evenly over pasta to create foundation, then layer with sheets of pasta from edge to edge of pan. Use kitchen shears to help trim pasta to appropriate size and avoid overlap.
• Spread about 1/3 of the tomato sauce over next layer and cover with pasta.
• Spread about 1 cup béchamel evenly over next layer, sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and cover with pasta.
• Repeat with remaining layers: ricotta, tomato sauce, béchamel and Parmesan, ricotta, tomato sauce, béchamel and Parmesan, following each with a layer of pasta. (If using thicker noodles, you might not be able to fit 8 layers of noodles in the pan. If using store-bought or dried pasta, you can skip the noodle layer between the ricotta and tomato sauce as needed to prevent the lasagna from stretching higher than the top of the pan.)
• For the top, fold overhanging pasta over a whole sheet to create a sealed pasta layer, then spread with remaining béchamel. Gently cover lasagna with a piece of parchment and wrap tightly with foil. Place onto a baking sheet to catch any overflow and bake on prepared rack.
• After 40 minutes, pull lasagna from oven and carefully remove foil and parchment. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella and return to oven until golden brown and bubbling on surface, about 20 minutes.
• Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Leftover lasagna can be wrapped and refrigerated for up to 4 days. To freeze, bake 30 minutes but do not brown, then cool, and freeze for up to 4 weeks. Defrost, then sprinkle with mozzarella and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and bubbling on surface.

PASTA E FAGIOLI WITH ESCAROLE

Steps:

• Bring beans, Parmesan rind, carrots, celery, head of garlic, parsley, rosemary, bay leaves, chiles, and 2 quarts water to a boil in a medium pot. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, adding more water as needed, until beans are tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper, remove from heat, and let sit 30 minutes. Discard vegetables, rind, and herbs.
• Meanwhile, heat 3 Tbsp. oil in a large pot over medium. Cook onion and chopped garlic, stirring occasionally, until softened, 8-10 minutes. Add tomatoes, crushing with your hands, and cook, stirring often, until liquid is almost completely reduced, 12-15 minutes. Add wine, bring to a boil, and cook until almost completely evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Add beans and their liquid; cook until flavors meld, 12-15 minutes. Add pasta; cook, stirring and adding more water as needed, until al dente, 15-20 minutes. Add escarole and cook until wilted, about 1 minute; season with salt and pepper. Serve soup drizzled with oil and topped with Parmesan and more chile.

ROASTED TOMATO AND ESCAROLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place ricotta in fine sieve set over bowl.
• Slice tomatoes crosswise into thirds. Place on parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet; sprinkle with 2 tbsp (30 mL) of the oil, ½ tsp (2 mL) of the salt and pepper. Roast in 450°F (230°C) oven until beginning to brown slightly at edges, about 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large pot of boiling salted water, boil noodles until tender but firm, about 12 minutes. Drain; chill under cold water and drain again. Set aside.
• Cut off stem end of escarole to separate leaves. In large pot of boiling water, blanch until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain; chill under cold water. Drain again; using hands, forcefully press out excess moisture. Chop and transfer to bowl.
• In small nonstick skillet or saucepan, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Add garlic and remaining salt; fry until soft and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add to escarole along with drained ricotta, half of the Romano cheese, flour, egg and nutmeg; mix thoroughly.
• In greased 13- x 9-inch (3 L) baking dish, lay 3 noodles. Top with half of the ricotta mixture, spreading to coat evenly. Cover with another layer of noodles; top with half of the tomatoes. Sprinkle tomatoes with half of the oregano and half of the remaining cheese. Repeat layering.
• Cover with foil; bake in 375°F (190°C) oven for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for 25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.