A hearty dish for cool weather! It is quick and easy to prepare and BONUS, it freezes well!
Ingredients:
- 2 T EVOO
- 2 T butter
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- Two 28-ounce cans San Marzano tomatoes
- 2 C tomato sauce
- A handful of fresh basil leaves, torn
- 1 small onion, peeled and halved
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 boxes or bags frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and wrung dry
- 1 1/2 pounds mozzarella, thinly sliced, thickly shredded or diced
- 3 C fresh ricotta, drained
- 2 C grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
- 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
- Freshly grated nutmeg, as needed
- 1 box no-boil flat lasagna noodles
Instructions:
Heat the EVOO in a saucepan and add the butter. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and crush them up a bit. Add a fat handful of torn basil leaves, the onion and some salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and simmer for 40 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion and set the sauce aside.
Separate the spinach while adding it to a mixing bowl. Add half of the mozzarella, the ricotta, 1 1/2 cups of the Parmesano-Reggiano and the eggs yolks and mix to combine. Season with grated nutmeg, salt and pepper.
Layer a little sauce into a lasagna pan and top with three flat lasagna sheets or four curly. Top with a little more sauce, and then half of the spinach and cheese mixture. Repeat with another layer, and end on top with lasagna sheets. Top with some sauce and the remaining mozzarella and Parmesano-Reggiano. The lasagna can be stored before or after baking for a make-ahead meal, or baked to serve immediately.
When baking the first time, bake at 375, uncovered, from room temperature until cooked through and brown and bubbling on top, 60 to 70 minutes. If reheating, bake at 375, covered, for 40 to 45 minutes. Let the lasagna rest about 10 -15 minutes before cutting and serving.
Here is an alternative meat sauce that is amazing – and goes so well with the spinach-cheese filling. This is now our go-to!
Ingredients:
- 2 T EVOO
- 4 Italian Sausage links (casing removed)
- 1/2 lb ground chuck
- 3 garlic cloves, minted
- 1/2 onion, fine dice
- 1/2 C red wine
- 2 T Italian seasoning
- 2 t fennel seeds
- 2 T sugar
- 3 T fresh chopped parsley
- 4 T fresh chopped basil leaves
- 1 28oz can tomatoes, chopped up with scissors (we use fire roasted tomatoes for a bigger kick)
- 1 14oz can plain tomato sauce
- 1 small can tomato paste
- Salt and pepper to taste
In a dutch oven, heat the EVOO and add in the sausage and ground beef and break up into small pieces. Add in the garlic and the onion and cook until the meat is well browned.
Now add in the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Lower heat to a simmer and cover and cook for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
We now use this sauce with the spinach lasagna recipe to get the best of both worlds… best lasagna that we’ve ever had!
