Scacchi Mediterranean Passover Lasagna Recipes

SCACCHI (MEDITERRANEAN PASSOVER "LASAGNA")

Steps:

• Prepare the meat filling. In a medium pan, cook the meat with the onions and a little olive oil until browned, drain off fat. Add the raisins, parsley, allspice and cinnamon, cook for another couple of minutes. Set the meat mixture aside.
• Now for the vegetable filling! In a little olive oil, cook the onions until translucent, then add the pine nuts and sliced mushrooms, cook for a couple minutes longer. Stir in the spinach (with a bit of water if the spinach isn't frozen) and nutmeg. Cook until the spinach is wilted, set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and soak the matzah in the warm broth until slightly softened and flexible.
• Grease a 9x13" glass pan, and place two soaked matzo in the bottom of the dish, with the edges overlapping slightly.
• Spread a layer of the meat mixture atop the matzo, followed by more matzo. Add a layer of the vegetables. Continue until the filling runs out, then top the pan with a final soaked matzo layer.
• Drizzle the beaten egg/chicken broth along the top of the dish.
• Bake until golden brown on top, about 30-45 minutes. If the top layer of matzo curls up or gets too crispy, you may want to pour a little additional broth over it.

SCACCIA

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the red pepper flakes and garlic and cook, stirring, until the garlic is slightly softened, about 1 minute. Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, basil and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is slightly thickened and the flavors are melded together, about 15 minutes. Discard the basil and let cool while you make the dough.
• For the dough: Add the flour and 1 teaspoon salt to a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add the oil and 1 cup of lukewarm water and mix until a sticky dough forms. If the dough doesn't hold together when squeezed, add more water 1 tablespoon at a time. Transfer the dough to a work surface and knead until smooth and springy, 5 to 7 minutes. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Put a pizza stone or large inverted baking sheet on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 400 degrees F.
• For the filling and topping: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 20-by-27-inch rectangle with a long side facing you. (Add more flour as needed to keep the dough from sticking.) Mix together the provolone and Parmesan in a bowl. Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with 1 1/2 cups of the cheese and 3 tablespoons of the torn basil. Fold the left and right sides of the dough into the center so they meet in the middle like a book (it's ok if they overlap slightly).
• Spread 1/2 cup of sauce over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with 3/4 cup of cheese and 2 tablespoons torn basil. Fold the top and bottom of the dough into the center. Spread 2 tablespoons of the sauce over the bottom half of the dough. Top with the remaining 1/4 cup cheese and remaining torn basil. Fold the top of the dough over the bottom to so that the top hangs just slightly over the bottom.
• Carefully transfer the dough to a sheet of parchment and prick the top all over with a fork. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with Parmesan, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Slide the dough (on the parchment) onto the hot stone. Bake until the bread is deep brown and crusty, about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, reheat the remaining tomato sauce. Slice the lasagna bread into wedges and serve with the tomato sauce for dipping.

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Use a mandolin to thinly slice, about an 1/8th inch thick, the zucchini and eggplant into long strips. Line two half sheet trays with paper towel and lay the strips of vegetables over the lined sheet trays. Evenly sprinkle the salt over the vegetables and then top them with another sheet of paper towel. Continue to layer the vegetables and paper towels in single layers until all the vegetables are covered. Let the vegetables stand while you prep the rest of the ingredients, at least 30 minutes; the vegetables will let off their excess moisture.
• Meanwhile bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Lay the lasagna noodles on a sheet tray in an even layer. Carefully pour the hot, salted water over the noodles. Let the noodles soak for 20 minutes to soften.
• Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook about 6-8 minutes or until softened and the excess liquid has evaporated from the pan. Season with salt. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute or until fragrant. Next add the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted. Season the mixture again with salt to taste once the spinach has completely wilted and excess liquid has cooked off. Turn the heat off and let the mixture cool.
• To a large bowl combine the ricotta, lemon zest, spinach and mushroom mixture, parsley, basil, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. Season the ricotta mixture with salt to taste.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of tomato sauce over the bottom. Top the sauce with 4 lasagna noodles. Evenly spread one third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Next, shingle half of the eggplant slices over the ricotta and press down on the eggplant firmly to ensure the layers are even. Spread another 3/4 cup of sauce over the eggplant followed by half of the zucchini. Again, press down on the zucchini to keep the layers even. Spread another third of the ricotta over the zucchini, followed by four more noodles and another 3/4 cup tomato sauce. Shingle the remaining eggplant over the sauce and press firmly down on the eggplant. Spread the remaining ricotta over the top, the last four noodles and another 3/4 cup tomato sauce. Shingle the zucchini over the top of the lasagna and sprinkle the top with shaved parmesan.
• Place the lasagna in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the lasagna is bubbling on the sides and the cheese is beginning to brown on top. Remove from the oven and let stand 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Nutrition Info Per Serving.
• Calories: 361.
• Total Fat: 15 grams.
• Saturated Fat: 7 grams.
• Total Carbohydrate: 40 grams.
• Sugars: 12 grams.
• Protein: 6 grams.
• Sodium: 886 milligrams.
• Cholesterol: 34 milligrams.
• Fiber: 6 gram.

MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large pot over medium, heat oil, and stir in garlic, anchovies (if using), pepper and red-pepper flakes. Cook until garlic starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Use your hands to squeeze and crush the whole tomatoes as you add them to the pot, along with any liquid in the cans (or use kitchen shears to cut the tomatoes in the can). Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and rosemary sprig, bring to a gentle simmer, and simmer at medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, egg, basil, pepper, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and nutmeg.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread generous 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13 baking dish. Place matzo crackers in an even layer on top, breaking crackers to fit as necessary.
• Spread half the ricotta mixture over the matzo layer, spreading all the way to the edges. Top with generous 3/4 cup tomato sauce, then scatter with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
• Repeat matzo, ricotta, tomato sauce, and mozzarella layers.
• Top with a final layer of matzo, then spread remaining tomato sauce (about 2 cups) on top, making sure all of the matzo is covered. Top with remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbly, about 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve topped with more basil, a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

SPAGHETTINI WITH CHECCA SAUCE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the next 7 ingredients in a food processor. Pulse just until the tomatoes are coarsely chopped (do not puree).
• Drain the pasta, reserving some of the pasta water. Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture and fresh mozzarella in a large bowl. Add some of the reserved pasta water (about 1/4 cup) if the sauce looks dry. Serve immediately.

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Add oil to pan on medium heat, add onion and garlic.
• Sweat onion mixture until onions are translucent, do not brown.
• Remove and cool.
• Brown ground beef and sausage, drain and reserve.
• In a mixing bowl add ricotta, feta and 3 cups of mozzarella and 1 cup Parmesan cheese, eggs, oregano, thyme and pepper.
• Mix well.
• Mix spinach, sweated onion, roasted peppers and basil into a bowl.
• In a 9x13 pan place 4 noodles overlapping edges and 1 1/4 cup pasta sauce.
• Add 1 cup of beef and Italian mixture over top.
• Next, add 2 cups of cheese mix and 1 cup of spinach, top with noodles then repeat until ingredients are all used.
• Top lasagna with reserved mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 350°F for 1 hr or until heated thorough.

MEDITERRANEAN VEGGIE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat.
• Add red onion, green onion, garlic and celery.
• Saute until onion is translucent and celery starts to soften.
• Add other veggies, one by one, stirring before adding the next.
• Cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring once.
• Uncover and cook til vegetables are tender, stirring often, about 10 minutes longer.
• Season with salt and pepper.
• 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.
• Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.
• Spoon 1 cup of sauce over bottom of your lasagna pan.
• Arrange 5 lasagna noodles atop sauce, overlapping slightly.
• Spoon half of vegetables over noodles.
• Spoon 1 1/2 cups sauce over veggies.
• Sprinkle 1/3 of your cheese over sauce.
• Repeat each layer once.
• Top with the last 5 lasagna noodles.
• Spoon remaining sauce over noodles.
• Top with remaining cheese.
• This is where you would refrigerate for later use, just cover tightly.
• Bake Lasagna uncovered on center rack until sauce is bubbling, about 40 minutes, 55 minutes if previously chilled.
• Remove from oven and allow to stand for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing.

SCACCHI (PASSOVER LASAGNA)

Steps:

• In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add the meat and onions with a pinch of salt, and saute until onions are translucent and meat has lost most of its pink color. Drain any excess fat. Add garlic, cinnamon, allspice and raisins with their soaking liquid. Continue to cook until soaking liquid is absorbed. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. When slightly cooled, 15-20 minutes, stir in beaten eggs.
• In same skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat until it shimmers. Add onions and saute until the edges begin to brown. Add mushrooms and pine nuts. Cook until mushrooms give up their water and become limp. Add spinach; if using fresh spinach, add 1 tbsp water. Add nutmeg and cook until spinach is completely limp and mixture is fairly dry. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. When slightly cooled, 15-20 minutes, stir in beaten eggs.
• Preheat oven to 350°F Grease a 13x9x2 baking dish with oil or spray. Soak matzo in hot chicken broth until softened and flexible. Place two soaked matzos in the bottom of the dish. Cover with 2/3 of meat mixture. Top with two more soaked matzos. Cover with 2/3 of spinach mixture. Top with two more soaked matzos. Stir remaining meat and spinach mixtures together and spread over matzos. Top with remaining two soaked matzos. Beat eggs with 1/4-1/2 c cool chicken broth and pour over everything. Bake in preheated oven 30-40 minutes until heated through and golden brown.

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA (COOKING LIGHT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add leek and next 4 ingredients (leek through garlic), and sauté 5 minutes. Add artichokes and bell pepper, and sauté 3 minutes. Stir in beans, and remove from heat.
• Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended, and cook until slightly thick (about 4 minutes). Remove from heat. Add feta and 2 tablespoons Parmesan; stir until cheese melts.
• Spread 1/4 cup cheese sauce in bottom of an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 2 noodles over cheese sauce; top with half of leek mixture, half of spinach, 1/4 cup mozzarella, and 1/2 cup cheese sauce. Repeat layers, ending with noodles. Pour remaining cheese sauce over noodles, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella and 1 tablespoon Parmesan.
• Cover and bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake 15 minutes or until top is golden. Let stand 5 minutes.