Spinach And Sun Dried Tomato Bechamel Lasagna Food

SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO BECHAMEL LASAGNA

Steps:

• Grease a 13 x 9-inch lasagna pan.
• Make the cream sauce in advance as 1-1/2 cups will need to be slightly cooled before adding into the ricotta cheese filling mixture.
• FOR THE BECHAMEL SAUCE; melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add in the flour; stir for 1 minute.
• Slowly add in the cream and milk, then cook over medium heat whisking constantly until bubbly and thickened.
• Remove 1-1/2 cups of the sauce and refrigerate until slightly cooled.
• To the remaining sauce mix in 1/3 to 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper to taste; set aside to spread on top of the lasagna.
• In a bowl combine the cheese filling ingredients until well combined.
• Mix in the cooled 1-1/2 cups bechamel sauce to the cheese mixture; reserve the remaining cheese sauce to spread on top of the lasagna noodles before baking.
• TO ASSEMBLE; place 4 noodles into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
• Spread half of the cheese filling over the noodles, then sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella over cheese filling, then 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (can use more mozzarella cheese and/or Parmesan cheese if desired).
• Repeat with 4 noodles, remaining half of ricotta mixture, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, then 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
• Top with remaining 4 noodles.
• Spread the remaining reserved bechamel sauce over the top of the noodles.
• Set the baking dish onto a baking sheet then cover with foil.
• Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree F oven (bottom rack) for 30 minutes.
• Remove from oven then sprinkle 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese over the top then continue to bake for another 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly (or you may bake covered with foil for 30 minutes and uncovered for the remaining time).
• Allow to sit for at least 30 minutes or more before slicing.

FRESH SPINACH AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook lasagna in boiling salted water in a large pot until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, heat one half tablespoon of olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, celery, and carrots, stir and cook until onions have softened. Add mushrooms and garlic and continue to cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid, 2 or 3 minutes. Add wine and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in chopped tomatoes(include liquid), sun-dried tomatoes, and thyme. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat to low and simmer until thick. Season with salt and pepper.
• To make the white sauce, heat remaining oil in a heavy pan over low heat. Add flour, whisk constantly until the flour begins to turn a light brown. Remove pan from heat and whisk in cream. Season with nutmeg and a pinch of salt. Remove from heat and set aside.
• To assemble, spread 1/2 cup of the mushroom sauce in the bottom of a casserole dish, add one layer of noodles, then another 1/2 cup of mushroom sauce. Arrange a single layer of the fresh spinach leaves over the sauce and drizzle them with 1/3 cup of the white sauce. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the grated Parmesan cheese over the spinach and top with another layer of the noodles. Repeat 5 times.
• In a preheated 375 degree F (190 degrees C) oven bake for 40 minutes. Let stand for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve warm.

LASAGNA FLORENTINE WITH SUN-DRIED TOMATO MARINARA

Steps:

• For the marinara sauce, heat the olive in oil in a large sauce pan; saute the onion, celery, carrot and garlic in hot oil for 15 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
• Stir in the dried tomatoes, canned tomatoes, wine, fennel seeds and dried basil; reduce heat to simmer and cook uncovered until slightly reduced; approximately 20 to 30 minutes.
• Process in batches in blender until mixture is chopped but not smooth, keep warm while assembling the other ingredients.
• For the lasagna, place the cottage cheese, egg, nutmeg, parsley flakes and salt/pepper to taste in small mixer bowl, mix until curds begin to break down and mixture is combined well; stir in 1/4 cup of the grated Asiago cheese.
• To assemble the lasagna, spray a 13x9 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, place 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of pan, top with 3 cooked and lightly towel dried lasagna noodles, top with 1/2 of the cottage cheese mixture, 1/3 of the sauce, half the mozzarella cheese, half of the spinach and sprinkle generously with a third portion of the grated Asiago cheese, repeat layer 1 time.
• End with a layer of noodles topped off with remaining sauce and grated cheese.
• Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F for 30 to 45 minutes; let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• This can be assembled ahead and refrigerated until ready to cook; if refrigerated please allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes for the lasagna to cook through.

LASAGNE BOLOGNESE WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Make Sauce:
• Heat oil in a 12-to 14-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Cook pancetta, onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are golden and softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Add beef and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up any lumps, until meat is no longer pink, 6 to 10 minutes. Stir in wine, milk, tomato paste, thyme, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid has evaporated but sauce is still moist, about 1 hour.
• Make ricotta filling:
• Put spinach in a kitchen towel (not terry cloth) and twist to squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
• Whisk together ricotta, eggs, parmesan, nutmeg, 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Transfer 1 1/2 cups ricotta mixture to another bowl and whisk in 1/4 cup milk; set aside. Whisk spinach into remaining filling with remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Assemble and bake lasagne:
• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Soak noodles in a bowl of very warm water until pliable but not softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Place on a kitchen towel (it's not necessary to pat noodles dry).
• Spread 1 1/2 cups bolognese sauce in baking pan and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon parmesan. Cover with 3 noodles, leaving space in between. Spread half of spinach filling on top, then 1 cup bolognese sauce, and top with 1 tablespoon parmesan and 3 noodles; repeat. Top with remaining bolognese sauce, 1 tablespoon parmesan, and remaining 3 noodles. Pour reserved ricotta mixture over top and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup parmesan.
• Cover pan tightly with parchment paper and foil (or just buttered foil) and bake 50 minutes. Remove foil and bake until top is browned in spots, about 15 minutes more. Let stand 15 to 30 minutes before cutting.