Winter Lasagna With Mushrooms Spinach And Tarragon Food

CREAMY SPINACH AND MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9- by 13- by 1-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Set aside.
• For the vegetables: In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over high heat. Add the mushrooms, onions, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are soft and any liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated, about 20 minutes.
• For the sauce: In a heavy-bottomed 5-quart saucepan, bring the cream, milk and flour to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly for 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to low. Add the Pecorino and the mozzarella. Whisk until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the spinach, basil, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Add the mushroom mixture to the sauce and stir to combine. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Cut the Fresh Pasta dough in quarters and press flat. Run each piece of pasta dough several times through a pasta-rolling machine adjusting the setting each time until the pasta is about 1/16-inch thick. Cut the pasta into six 12- by 4-inch rectangles (reserve any pasta trimmings for another use). The pasta dough can also be rolled out by hand. Cut the chilled dough into quarters and using a rolling pin, roll out the dough until 1/8 to 1/16-inch thick.
• Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange 2 sheets of pasta on top in a single layer. Spread 2 cups of the sauce over the pasta sheets. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta sheets and sauce, ending with the sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
• Place the cake flour, all-purpose flour, egg yolks and salt in a food processor. Pulse to combine. With the machine running, gradually add the oil then 1/3 to 1/2 cup water until the mixture forms a dough (the dough should stick together if pinched between your fingers). If necessary, add additional water, 1 teaspoon at a time if the dough is too dry.
• Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Gather the dough into a ball and knead until the dough is smooth, 5 to 8 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

SPINACH AND MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Stir the ricotta, spinach, mushrooms, parsley, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, combine the mozzarella and parmesan.
• Spread about 1/2 cup marinara sauce in a thin layer in a 6-quart slow cooker. Cover with a single layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (4 to 6 noodles), breaking them as needed to fit. Spread half of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with about one-third of the remaining sauce, then sprinkle with about one-third of the mozzarella mixture. Repeat the layers (noodles, ricotta, sauce, mozzarella mixture). Top with the remaining noodles, then the remaining sauce and mozzarella mixture.
• Cover and cook on low, 4 hours. Uncover and let rest 15 minutes so the excess liquid is absorbed.

HEALTHIER SPINACH LASAGNA WITH MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350º F. Lightly oil a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish.
• Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add onions and mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally until onions become translucent, about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic, spinach leaves and a 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring as needed, until the spinach is bright green and wilted. (Don't worry about the amount of spinach, it may look like a lot now, but as it cooks, it wilts down considerably. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may want to add the spinach in batches).
• In a medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, eggs, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and the pepper until well blended.
• Spread 1 cup of marinara sauce over the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange three noodles lengthwise and side-by-side to cover the bottom.
• Spread half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle with a third of the parmesan cheese and a third of the mozzarella cheese. Add half of the spinach mixture and dollop about a 1/2 cup of marinara sauce over the spinach.
• Add a second layer of noodles then repeat with remaining cheese, spinach and another 1/2 cup of sauce. Finish with a third layer of noodles and top with remaining sauce, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
• Loosely cover lasagna with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes, uncover then bake an additional 10 to 15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and browned around the edges. For a cheesy golden brown top, slide the lasagna uncovered, under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes.

WINTER LASAGNA WITH MUSHROOMS, SPINACH, AND TARRAGON

Steps:

• Make mushroom ragu: melt 2 tablespoons butter in a big skillet over medium heat; add in mushrooms; saute for 4 minutes, until they give off their liquid and it reduces to a glaze.
• Stir in the chopped spinach, tarragon, and nutmeg; cook/stir for 1 minute; remove from heat, cover, and set aside.
• Make white wine veloute: put cut up 8 tablespoons butter and onion in a large, cool saucepan; set over medium-low heat; as the butter melts, stir often so that the onion is coated.
• Decrease heat to low and cook until the onion is very soft, almost caramelized, and golden, stirring often, about 12 minutes.
• Cover and decrease heat even further, and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.
• Meanwhile, position the oven rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 400°.
• Take the lid off the pan and sprinkle with flour evenly over the onion.
• Whisking constantly, cook just so the flour loses its raw taste and forms a paste with the liquid in the pan, about 20 seconds (do not brown).
• Whisk in the broth and milk in a slow, steady stream; increase heat to medium-low and continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the sauce starts to bubble and gets noticeably thicker, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the wine and continue simmering, whisking all the while, until thickened like a heavy cream sauce, about 2 minutes.
• Set the pan aside off the heat and give the mixture one more good whisking.
• Layer the casserole in a 13x9 inch baking dish as follows: ½ cup white wine veloute, spread across the bottom of the dish; 3 no-boil noodles, 2 cups white wine veloute, spread over the noodles with a rubber spatula; half the mushroom ragu, spread gently over the casserole, 1/3 of the grated cheese, 3 no-boil noodles, 2 cups white wine veloute; the remaining mushroom ragus; half the remaining cheese, the remaining noodles, the rest of the white wine veloute; and finally the rest of the grated cheese.
• Bake, uncovered, until bubbly and set, about 40 minutes.
• Let stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving.

QUICK MUSHROOM & SPINACH LASAGNE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the garlic and cook for 1 min. Add the mushrooms and thyme, then cook for 3 mins until they start to soften. Throw in the spinach and stir until the heat of the pan wilts the leaves. Remove from the heat and stir in the soft cheese, 1 tbsp of the Parmesan and some seasoning.
• Put a quarter of the spinach mix on the bottom of a medium-sized baking dish, lay 2 pasta sheets on top, then repeat until you have used all the pasta. Finish with the final quarter of the spinach mix, sprinkle over the rest of the Parmesan, then bake for 35 mins until golden and the pasta is tender.

WILD MUSHROOM AND SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Wash spinach leaves well in three changes of cold water; shake dry. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large pan over medium heat. Add half the garlic; saute until light golden, about 2 minutes. Add half the spinach leaves, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 4 to 5 minutes. Drain spinach in a colander. Repeat with another tablespoon butter and remaining garlic and spinach. When spinach is cool enough to handle, squeeze to rid it of liquid. Roughly chop spinach; place in medium bowl. Add ricotta, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add a third of the mushrooms; season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Saute until mushrooms are softened and browned, about 10 minutes. Deglaze skillet by pouring 1/4 cup Madeira into hot skillet with mushrooms and using a wooden spoon to loosen bits cooked onto skillet. Cook mushrooms until liquid has almost evaporated. Transfer cooked mushrooms to medium bowl. Repeat with another 2 tablespoons of butter, another third of the mushrooms, and 1/4 cup Madeira. (Reserve the final third of mushrooms and Madiera for topping.) Add two-thirds of the chopped parsley to bowl with cooked mushrooms; stir.
• In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat 4 cups milk. Melt 8 tablespoons butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour; cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. Slowly add warmed milk; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture bubbles and becomes thick. Remove pan from heat. Stir in 2 teaspoons salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the nutmeg, and 1/2 cup grated cheese.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Set aside 1/2 cup sauce. Assemble lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Place layer of lasagna sheets in pan, trimming to fit; spread 1 cup spinach mixture, 1 cup mushroom mixture, and 1/2 cup sauce on top of lasagna sheets. Repeat layers several times. For last layer, place a layer of lasagna sheets on top; spread 1/2 cup sauce over lasagna sheets. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated cheese. Bake lasagna until top is golden brown, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Let stand 20 minutes before serving.
• Just before serving, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the skillet over medium heat. Add remaining third of the uncooked mushrooms; season with the remaining teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook until golden and tender, about 10 minutes. Deglaze skillet, with mushrooms in it, with the remaining 1/4 cup Madeira. Stir in the remaining third of fresh parsley.
• In a small saucepan, combine reserved 1/2 cup sauce with remaining 1/2 cup milk. Over medium heat, whisk until warm and smooth. Spoon cooked mushrooms over each serving, or serve on the side. Serve lasagna with warmed sauce.

LASAGNA WITH SPINACH AND WILD MUSHROOMS

Steps:

• Heat a large frying pan over high heat and add the wet spinach. Wilt in the water left on the leaves, stirring until all of the spinach has collapsed in the pan. Transfer to a bowl of cold water, then drain and squeeze out excess water, taking up spinach by the handful. Chop fine and season with a little bit of salt. Set aside. (Alternatively, blanch for 20 seconds in salted boiling water).
• Clean and dry skillet and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over high heat. Add mushrooms. Let sear without moving for about 30 seconds, then toss and stir in the pan until they begin to sweat, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn heat to medium and add minced garlic and thyme. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook over medium heat until mushrooms are soft, 3 to 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a rectangular baking dish. Blend ricotta cheese with egg, water, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in spinach.
• Spread a small spoonful of marinara sauce in a thin layer over the bottom of the baking dish. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Top the noodles with a thin layer of ricotta. Spoon on a few dollops then spread it with an offset or rubber spatula. Top ricotta with half the mushrooms, then top with a layer of marinara sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat layers, then add a final layer of lasagna noodles topped with marinara sauce and Parmesan. Drizzle on remaining olive oil.
• Cover baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until noodles are tender and mixture is bubbling. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

MICROWAVE LASAGNA WITH SPINACH, MUSHROOMS, AND THREE CHEESES

Steps:

• Mix ricotta, spinach, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, if using, pepper, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesan in a large bowl.
• Spread 1/2 cup marinara evenly in bottom of baking dish. Top with 2 lasagna noodles. Coat noodles with 1/2 cup marinara. Top with half of the ricotta mixture and half of the mushrooms. Repeat with 2 noodles, 1/2 cup marinara, and remaining ricotta mixture and mushrooms.
• Top with remaining 2 noodles, sauce, and 3/4 cup mozzarella. Sprinkle with 2 Tbsp. Parmesan.
• Cover dish with parchment, then cover again with an overturned large microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high 15 minutes. Carefully check to see if noodles are tender; if not, re-cover and microwave in 1-minute bursts until tender.
• Let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Very carefully remove parchment. Sprinkle with parsley and remaining 2 Tbsp. Parmesan and serve.