Vegetable Walnut Lasagna Food

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the sauce: Put the olive oil and garlic in a medium pot over low heat. Cook the garlic, stirring occasionally at first and more often as it colors, until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Raise the heat to medium-low, add the onions and a large pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the carrots, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and red pepper flakes, and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, bay leaves, basil sprig, thyme and 1 teaspoon salt, raise the heat to medium and bring the sauce to a lively simmer. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until quite thick (if you draw a spoon through the sauce, you'll see the bottom of the pot for a few seconds before the sauce fills back in), about 30 minutes. As the sauce thickens, turn the heat down a bit so the bottom doesn't scorch. Stir in the chopped basil. Let cool to room temperature before assembling the lasagna. (Makes 1 quart.)
• To assemble: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Squeeze the spinach in your hands to remove as much liquid as possible. Put it in a large bowl, and stir in the ricotta, 1/2 cup of the Parmesan, the egg, 1 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg.
• Spread 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Lay 3 lasagna noodles across the sauce (they won't touch). Spread 3/4 cup tomato sauce on top. Dollop 1/3 of the ricotta mixture (about 1 cup) across the sauce, and use the back of a spoon to spread it (it will smush into the tomato sauce, which is fine). Scatter 1 cup of the mozzarella on top.
• Repeat the layering 2 more times. Top with the last 3 noodles, spread the last 3/4 cup tomato sauce over them and scatter the remaining 1 cup mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmesan over the top. Spray a large piece of foil with cooking spray, and cover the baking dish.
• Bake until the noodles are soft and the cheese has melted, about 40 minutes. Remove the foil, and continue to bake until the cheese is bubbling and the lasagna is slightly browned around the edges, about 15 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

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-WALNUT LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat broiler.
• Cut zucchini lengthwise into 18 thin slices. Place in single layer on baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray; brush lightly with 1 tsp. olive oil. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat 5 min. or until crisp-tender, turning after 2 min. Cool.
• Heat remaining oil on medium heat in large saucepan. Add carrots, onions and garlic; cook and stir 5 min. or until tender. Add pasta sauce, basil and pepper. Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally. Combine cheeses; set aside.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. Arrange 2 noodles on bottom of dish. Top with layers of 1/3 each of the sauce, nuts, zucchini and cheese mixture. Repeat layers, alternating direction of zucchini in each layer. Cover with remaining noodles, sauce, nuts and zucchini.
• Bake, covered, 20 min. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese mixture. Bake, uncovered, 20 min. or until heated through. Let stand 15 min. before cutting to serve.

SPINACH LASAGNA WITH WALNUT PESTO

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. If using fresh spinach, chop it fine. If using frozen, chopped spinach, make sure it is thoroughly defrosted and squeeze out all of the excess water.
• Place the ricotta or cottage cheese in a large bowl. Stir in the spinach, pesto, garlic, salt, pepper, half the Parmesan, and the walnuts. Mix well. Spread half the tomato sauce in the bottom of the pan. Place a layer of uncooked noodles over the sauce. Spoon about 1/3 of the ricotta or cottage filling in dabs over the noodles (you can spread it a little, but not too much) and sprinkle with 1/3 of the grated mozzarella. Follow with another layer of sauce, then noodles, followed by another 1/3 of the filling, and another 1/3 of the mozzarella. Repeat one more time, and then finish up with a final layer of noodles. You will have some Parmesan left over.
• If you are using fresh noodles, bake uncovered. If you are using dried noodles, cover the pan tightly with foil.
• Bake for 50 minutes, uncovering the pan (if applicable) during the last 15 minutes, during which time you can sprinkle on the reserved Parmesan. (In the case of the uncovered pan, if the top of the lasagna becomes as brown as you like it before the full baking time is up, cover loosely with foil and continue baking, so it wont get too dark.) Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
• Walnut Pesto: Place the basil leaves and garlic in a food processor or blender, and mix well.
• Add the walnuts, and continue to blend until the walnuts are finely ground.
• Keep the machine running as you drizzle in the olive oil. When you have a smooth paste, transfer to a bowl, and stir in the Parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• If you are not going to use the pesto right away, place in a container that has a tight-fitting lid. Smooth out the top surface of the pesto, and pour on enough olive oil to cover it completely. This creates an air-proof seal that helps preserve it well. Cover tightly and store in the refrigerator.

WINTER GREENS, WALNUT & SAGE LASAGNE

Steps:

• To make the white sauce, put the milk in a saucepan with the bay leaves and quartered leek. Bring to the boil, then remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 1 hr.
• Strain the milk into a large jug, discarding the leek and bay. Melt 60g butter in the pan, then stir in the flour with a wooden spoon and cook for 2 mins. Stir in the strained milk, a splash at a time - the mix will thicken at first to a doughy paste, but keep adding the milk gradually to avoid getting lumps. When all the milk is incorporated, bring to a gentle simmer, stirring constantly. Bubble for a few minutes until thickened. Season with the nutmeg, mace and some salt and pepper, then remove from the heat and stir in the mozzarella until melted.
• Melt the 1 tbsp butter with the walnut oil in a frying pan over a low heat, then cook the sliced leeks until really soft. Stir in the sage and fry for a further 2 mins. Cook the cabbage in a pan of boiling salted water for 3 mins, then quickly lift out of the pan and into a colander. Cook the kale for 30 seconds in the same pan. Drain, and toss with the cabbage and leeks.
• Butter a deep 2.5-litre baking dish. Spread a quarter of the white sauce into the base of the dish and scatter with a third of the greens, a quarter of the walnuts and 1 tbsp cheese. Top with a layer of lasagne sheets. Repeat twice more to make three layers, then spread the last of the sauce over the final pasta layer. Scatter with the rest of the hard cheese and chill for at least 30 mins, or up to 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the lasagne for about 50 mins until golden and bubbling, then scatter over a few more sage leaves and the remaining walnuts. If the lasagne is already golden and crisp, cover tightly. Return to the oven for 10 mins, then leave to rest for 10 mins before serving.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA WITH WALNUTS

Steps:

• Trim ends off zucchini. Thinly slice zucchini lengthwise. You should have 9 slices total, about 1/8 inch thick. Place in a single layer on a lightly greased baking sheet; brush lightly with 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Broil 3 to 4 inches from heat about 5 minutes until crisp tender, turning once. Cool.
• Grease a 2 quart square baking dish.
• In a large saucepan heat the remaining 3 teaspoons olive oil over medium high heat. Add the carrots, onion and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until tender. Add marinara sauce, basil, and pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• In a small mixing bowl toss together the mozzarella cheese and parmesan; set aside.
• In the prepared baking dish arrange 2 noodles. Spread with a third of the sauce. Sprinkle with a third of the nuts. Top with a third of the zucchini, then sprinkle with a third of the cheese mixture. Repeat layering, alternating the direction of the zucchini in each layer and finishing with the zucchini; set remaining cheese aside.
• Bake covered, in a 375 degree oven for 20 minutes. Uncover and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 20 minutes more or until heated through. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare lasagna as directed, except do not bake. Wrap and freeze for up to 1 month. Freeze cheese for topping separately. To serve, thaw in refrigerator overnight. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Sprinkle with reserved cheese. Bake, uncovered, about 15 minutes more, or until heated through. 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 oven to 350 degrees.
• Coat a 13x9 glass baking dish with non fat cooking spray.
• In a large bowl combine the soup, ricotta cheese and cream cheese.
• Mix well until smooth.
• Mix in the frozen vegetables.
• Mixture will be stiff.
• Spread 1/3 of the vegetable mixture on the bottom of the dish.
• Press 3 of the lasagna noodles over the vegetable mixture.
• Spread 1/3 of the vegetable mixture over the lasagna noodles.
• Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded cheese.
• Top with the remaining 3 lasagna noodles.
• Cover with the remaining vegetable mixture.
• Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil.
• (I pour about 1/2 cup water around the edges of the pasta before I seal the pan with aluminum foil).
• Bake for 1 hour and 20 minutes.
• Remove the aluminum foil.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese.
• Return the dish to the oven for 5 minutes or until the cheese melts.