Vegetable Lasagna With A Thick Bechamel Sauce Food

VEGETARIAN EGGPLANT LASAGNA WITH GARLIC BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Place eggplant slices in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 30 minutes to release the bitter juices. Pat dry with paper towels.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease a baking sheet.
• Place eggplant on the prepared baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Bake in the preheated oven until browned, about 10 minutes. Flip and bake until browned on the other side, about 10 minutes more. Remove from oven and reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a rectangular baking dish.
• While eggplant bakes, prepare bechamel sauce. Combine milk and garlic in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and set aside. Melt butter in a saucepan; stir in flour. Cook, stirring constantly, until flour cooks to a light, golden color, 5 to 7 minutes. Gradually pour hot milk through a sieve into the saucepan with the flour mixture; reserve garlic cloves. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until a thick, smooth bechamel forms, about 5 minutes. Reduce temperature to very low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Stir in cream and season with salt and white pepper. Set aside.
• Crush reserved garlic cloves and sprinkle over baked eggplant. Season with basil and pepper.
• Reheat bechamel sauce over low heat, while stirring well. If it is too thick, add a small amount of milk.
• Pour a few tablespoons of the bechamel sauce into the bottom of the baking dish. Place a layer of lasagna noodles on top and cover with a layer of eggplant. Add a layer of bechamel. Sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese. Continue layering until all lasagna noodles, eggplant, bechamel sauce, and mozzarella cheese are used up. End with a layer of lasagna noodles and sprinkle with remaining Parmesan cheese. Press down gently on the lasagna so noodles completely covered with bechamel sauce. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake until lasagna is cooked through and lightly browned, about 15 minutes more. Remove from oven at let stand at least 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in middle position.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When oil shimmers, add onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, 3 minutes. Add spinach, a few handfuls at a time, and cook, stirring frequently, until all spinach is wilted, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a mesh strainer and press against spinach to remove as much liquid as possible.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over high heat. Add flour and cook, whisking constantly, until roux is golden brown, 1 minute. Add milk and continue whisking until milk begins to boil and thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan, nutmeg, 1 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Cover surface with plastic wrap.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and fry zucchini, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, 2 minutes per side. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate to drain and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Spread 1 cup bechamel along the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place one-third of noodles over bechamel in a single, overlapping layer. Top with 1 cup bechamel and half of spinach. Repeat with a second layer of noodles, bechamel, and spinach. Top with remaining noodles, remaining bechamel, zucchini, mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano. Cover with foil and bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until cheese is golden in places and lasagna is bubbling along the edges, about 15 minutes.
• Remove lasagna from oven and let stand 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Lightly oil two large baking trays and add the peppers and aubergines. Toss with the olive oil, season well, then roast for 25 mins until lightly browned.
• Reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly oil a 30 x 20cm ovenproof dish. Arrange a layer of the vegetables on the bottom, then pour over a third of the tomato sauce. Top with a layer of lasagne sheets, then drizzle over a quarter of the white sauce. Repeat until you have three layers of pasta.
• Spoon the remaining white sauce over the pasta, making sure the whole surface is covered. Scatter over the mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. Bake for 45 mins until bubbling and golden.

VEGETABLE LASAGNA WITH A THICK BECHAMEL SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F In a medium bowl, mix cheese layer ingredients together well and set aside.
• VEGETABLES: In a large skillet, heat the onion and garlic over medium heat. Sauté until the onions are translucent. Add the zucchini and mushrooms. Saute until the water has evaporated from the zucchini. Add sliced tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings. Cook to reduce and thicken. Set aside.
• BECHAMEL: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour slowly until the roux, whisk or stir for about 1-2 minutes.
• Add the milk slowly while whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the béchamel comes to a medium thickness (soft paste texture) Remove from heat and rest 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, to cool slightly. While whisking, slowly add the eggs a little at a time until incorporated well.
• ASSEMBLY: To a 9x13 pan, Spread a thin layer of Bechamel sauce into the bottom of the lasagna pan. Place a layer of cooked lasagna sheets, cut to fit into the pan if necessary. Add a thin layer of cheese mixture, then some spinach, followed with a vegetable layer. Repeat.
• Continue layering in this manner until ingredients are used up. Pour the remaining Bechamel sauce over top. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before slicing.

VEGETABLE BECHAMEL LASAGNE

Steps:

• Make Chunky Tomato Sauce: Heat 2 T. olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup finely chopped onion and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes with liquid. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in parsley, salt, and pepper. (This should make about 2 cups.).
• Make Bechamel Sauce: Melt butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in flour and cook, stirring frequently, 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, then cook, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens and boils. Season sauce lightly with salt. (Makes about 2 cups also.).
• Stir 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese into bechamel.
• Stir ricotta, 1/4 cup Parmesan, the eggs, parsley, cloves, and pinch pepper together in mixing bowl.
• Chop broccoli florets and stems (about 3 cups) and the bell peppers. Thinly slice carrots and zucchini.
• Add spinach to broccoli in mixing bowl. Combine bell peppers, carrots and zucchini in second bowl.
• Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add garlic; cook 2 minutes. Remove half the onion mixture to saucer and reserve. Stir broccoli and spinach into remaining onion mixture. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, over low heat until very tender, about 15 minutes. Return to mixing bowl. Stir in 2 T. Parmesan and salt and pepper to taste.
• Return reserved onion mixture to skillet and heat over low heat. Stir in bell pepper mixture and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender, about 15 minutes. Return to mixing bowl and stir in 2 T. Parmwsan and salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, cook lasagne noodles in large pot of salted boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to bowl of warm water to keep noodles from sticking together.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread half the tomato sauce in bottom of 13x9-inch baking dish. Pat 5 noodles dry and arrange overlapping on tomato sauce. Spoon broccoli mixture at intervals on noodles, then spoon half the ricotta mixture between dollops of broccoli. Spread evenly and sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Layer 5 more noodles in dish. Spoon remaining tomato sauce over top. Spread bell pepper mixture over tomato sauce and top with remaining ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup mozzarella.
• Add final layer of noodles. Spread evenly with bechamel and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella. (Lasagne can be prepared up to this point and refrigerated until ready to bake.).
• Bake lasagne until browned and bubbly, about 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Pasta: Cook lasagna noodles, according to package directions, until el dente; drain & dry well on a clean tea towel or paper towels and set aside.
• Veggies: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat, saute onions& peppers until limp (about 10 minutes); stir in thyme, remove from heat& set aside.
• Bechamel Sauce: Melt butter in a heavy saucepan & stir in flour; Gradually whisk in milk, broth, wine, salt& pepper.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth & thickened; remove from heat, add nutmeg & 1/2 cup of the grated Parmesan, stir & set aside.
• Assembly: Grease a 9 x 9 inch baking dish& assemble in this order: layer of noodles;layer 1/2 of the chopped tomatoes; layer of noodles;layer 1/2 of the pepper mixture; layer 1/2 of the Mozzarella; layer of noodles; layer rest of the diced tomatoes; layer of noodles; the rest of the pepper mixture; the rest of the mozzarella.
• Spread the Bechamel sauce over the top& sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan.
• Bake, uncovered, at 375F for 45 minutes; tent with foil & let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375.
• Mix the ricotta, 3 cups mozzarella, parmesan, egg, 2 tablespoons minced garlic, and Italian Seasoning in a large bowl. Set aside.
• In a very large pan or dutch oven, saute the remaining garlic in the olive oil. Add the mushrooms, zucchini, yellow squash, and carrot, and cook until the squash is translucent and slightly browned. Add the spinach to the pan, and cook briefly until limp.
• Pour in the pasta sauce and water, and bring to a boil. Add the frozen broccoli florets, and cook until thawed.
• In a 9x13 pan, put one or two ladles full of the sauce mixture (with as few of the vegetables as possible). Then start building your lasagna as follows: uncooked lasagna noodles, one third of the cheese mixture, one third of the sauce, repeat. When finished, sprinkle the reserved mozzarella on top.
• Bake, covered with aluminum foil, for 45 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for 10-15 minutes longer, until the cheese is brown and bubbly.
• Delicious with a crisp salad and italian bread on the side!

VEGETABLE LASAGNA WITH BECHAMEL

Steps:

• For Vegetables set colander in large bowl.
• Add eggplant; toss with generous amount of salt.
• Let stand for about 30 minutes.
• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add onion, celery and carrot.
• Sauté until onion is translucent, about 8 minutes.
• Add eggplant, potatoes, pepper, zucchini and broth.
• Cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring once.
• Uncover and cook until vegetables are tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes longer.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• For Sauce: Melt butter in large sauce pan over medium heat.
• Whisk in flour.
• Whisk 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in milk.
• Cook until mixture comes to a boil, Whisking often,about 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven 375°F.
• Lightly butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking pan.
• Cook Lasagna noodles in large pot of boiling water until tender but still firm to bite.
• Drain; rinse under cold water.
• Spoon 1 cup of sauce over bottom of dish.
• Arrange 5 lasagna noddles atop sauce, overlapping slightly.
• Spoon half of vegetables over noodles.
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups sauce over veggies.
• Sprinkle 3/4 cup parmesan cheese over sauce.
• Repeat layering one time.
• Top with 5 lasagna noodles.
• Spoon remaining sauce over noodles.
• Top with remaining Parmesan cheese (Can be made one day ahead and then cover and chill).
• Bake lasagna uncovered on center rack until sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes (45 minutes if previously chilled).

INDIVIDUAL VEGETABLE LASAGNAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, add extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot and cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and squash cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat when all vegetables are completely cooked but still have a good crunch. Allow to cool.
• Using a 6-inch round cookie cutter, cut circles out of the lasagna sheets. You will need 18 circles. Coat the bottom of 6 (6-inch) gratin dishes with a teaspoon of tomato sauce in each. Place a circle of pasta on the bottom of each ramekin. Rinse the beans with water and season with salt and pepper. Divide the beans between each ramekin. Next, divide the spinach between the ramekins. Place a second layer of pasta on top and gently press down. Divide the sauteed vegetables among the ramekins and top with a tablespoon of tomato sauce in each. Place the third layer of pasta in each ramekin and coat with a tablespoon of tomato sauce. Sprinkle ramekins with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and top each with 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place gratin dishes on top. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbling.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.