Summer Squash And Portobello Mushroom Vegetarian Lasagna Food

PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil with 1 tablespoon salt and a splash of oil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain and set aside.
• For the white sauce, bring the milk to a simmer in a saucepan. Set aside. Melt 8 tablespoons (1 stick) of the butter in a large saucepan. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Pour the hot milk into the butter-flour mixture all at once. Add 1 tablespoon salt, the pepper, and nutmeg, and cook over medium-low heat, stirring first with the wooden spoon and then with a whisk, for 3 to 5 minutes, until thick. Set aside off the heat.
• Separate the mushroom stems from the caps and discard the stems. Slice the caps 1/4-inch thick. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in a large (12-inch) saute pan. When the butter melts, add half the mushrooms, sprinkle with salt, and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and they release some of their juices. If they become too dry, add a little more oil. Toss occasionally to make sure the mushrooms cook evenly. Repeat with the remaining mushrooms and set all the mushrooms aside.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread some of the sauce in the bottom of an 8 by 12 by 2-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top, then more sauce, then 1/3 of the mushrooms, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan. Repeat 2 more times, layering noodles, sauce, mushrooms, and Parmesan. Top with a final layer of noodles and sauce, and sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
• Bake the lasagna for 45 minutes, or until the top is browned the sauce is bubbly and hot. Allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes and serve hot.

PORTOBELLO LASAGNA WITH BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan, melt 3 Tbs. butter over low heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the hot milk, then the smashed garlic clove and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Bring the garlic sauce to a boil and cook, whisking, until thickened, 3-5 minutes. Set aside.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles for 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a bowl of cold water.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• In a large skillet, melt the remaining 2 Tbs, butter over low heat. Add the onions and chopped garlic and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the mushrooms, increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring often, until dry, 5-7 minutes.
• Using a food processor, puree the basil leaves with the cream. Set aside 1/2 cup basil cream.
• Stir the remaining basil cream and 1/2 cup parmesan into the mushroom mixture; season with salt and pepper.
• Grease a 2 quart rectangular baking dish, and spread 3/4 cup reserved garlic sauce on the bottom. Drain the lasagna noodles and lay 3, lengthwise, in the baking dish, trimming the ends with scissors to fit the pan.
• Top with half of the mushroom mixture, half the mozarella cheese and a layer of noodles and repeat.
• Combine the remaining garlic sauce and basil cream; spoon on top. Sprinkle with the remaining 3/4 cup parmesan.
• Bake until golden, 40-45 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes.

SUMMER SQUASH AND PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large skillet or griddle over high heat, fry the squash and portobello mushrooms in olive oil. Fry each in a single layer, doing as many batches as needed. Cook both sides until well browned and the vegetables are cooked though. Remove to paper towels and season with salt.
• Season the ricotta with nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste, then beat in the eggs.
• Saute the onion & garlic in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, add the tomato sauce and lemon zest, simmer 5 minutes. Adjust seasonings, if needed (original recipe adds 1 teaspoons salt at this point, but I omit it).
• Spray an 11" x 13" pan (at least 2" deep). Build the layers as follows, being sure to get the noodles quite wet, as they need plenty of moisture. You might have a bit of extra sauce, but I use it all up.
• Put 1 1/2 Celsius sauce in the bottom of the pan, then a single layer of four noodles, overlapping them slightly, 1/3 of the cooked vegetables, 1/2 the ricotta, and 1 cup sauce.
• Put another single layer of noodles in the pan, top with 1/2 the remaining vegetables, 1/2 the mozzarella, and another cup of sauce.
• Put another single layer of noodles in the pan, the last of the vegetable, the remaining ricotta, and 1 cup sauce.
• Make another single layer of noodles and top with one cup of the sauce (I use ALL the rest of the sauce).
• Finish with the remainder of mozzarella and the Parmesan, mixed together. Cover the pan with aluminum foil which has been sprayed to prevent the cheese from sticking to it, and bake 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake another 30 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce is bubbling around the sides, or the internal temperature is 170°F sauce is bubbling around the sides.
• Allow to rest at least 15 minutes before serving so it firms up.