Traditional Italian Spinach Lasagna Recipes

PERFECT SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Heat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish or lasagna pan .
• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese with half of the drained and squeezed spinach, half of the grated Parmesan cheese, the egg, garlic powder, and salt. Mix to blend well.
• Mix the remaining half of the drained spinach with the marinara sauce .
• Spread about 1/2 to 1 cup of the marinara-spinach mixture over the bottom of the baking dish, just enough to coat the bottom.
• Top with a layer of noodles.
• Top the noodle layer with about 3/4 cup of the marinara; spread over the noodles.
• With a small spoon, put about one-third of the ricotta mixture over the sauce layer, spacing evenly in small dollops, then sprinkle with about one-quarter of the mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat, making two more layers of the noodles, sauce, ricotta mixture, and mozzarella.
• Top with another layer of noodles, the rest of the sauce, shredded mozzarella, and the remaining half of the grated Parmesan cheese.
• Grease a sheet of foil large enough to fit over the lasagna. Cover the lasagna tightly with the foil, greased side down. If your baking pan is very full, place a foil-lined baking sheet on a lower rack to catch spills.
• Bake the lasagna for about 45 minutes, or until very hot and you can see it is beginning to bubble.
• Remove the foil and bake for 20 to 30 minutes longer, until very hot and the cheese has melted.

CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bechamel sauce:
• In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes.
• 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.

SIMPLE SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a large pot over medium heat saute spinach, onion, oregano, basil and garlic in the olive oil. Pour in spaghetti sauce and water; simmer 20 minutes. In a large bowl mix cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, pepper and egg.
• Place a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a lasagna pan. Place 4 uncooked noodles on top of sauce and top with layer of sauce. Add 4 more noodles and layer with 1/2 sauce and 1/2 cheese mixture, noodles and repeat until all is layered, finishing with sauce.
• Cover with foil and bake in a preheated oven for 55 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 15 minutes. Let sit 10 minutes before serving.

SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. Rinse in cold water; drain well., In a large bowl, combine the spinach, ricotta cheese, egg, egg white, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, garlic, basil, pepper and nutmeg. Combine mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese., In a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray, layer three noodles, 3/4 cup tomato sauce, 1 cup spinach mixture and 3/4 cup cheese mixture. Repeat layers three times., Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 10-15 minutes before cutting.

LASAGNA SPINACI (ITALIAN SPINACH LASAGNA)

Steps:

• Prepare marinara: Saute onions in saucepan. Do not brown.
• Add liquid drained from diced tomatoes.
• Add basil, Italian seasoning, oregano, sugar & red peppers.
• Simmer 30 minutes or until reduced by half.
• Add all tomatoes & garlic, and cook 1 minute. Remove from heat & set aside.
• Prepare Pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, rinse, return to pot & cover w/ cold water.
• Prepare Filling: Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Add garlic and cook 20 seconds. Add spinach and cook, stirring often, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to bowl.
• Stir in ricotta, parmesan, olives, crushed red pepper, salt and 1/2-2/3 c marinara.
• Spread 1/3-1/2 cup marinara in bottom of 9x13" baking dish.
• Line bottom of baking dish with single layer of lasagna noodles. Spoon layer of filling over noodles and spread evenly.
• If desired, add layer of cooked Italian sausage. Repeat layers. Top with marinara sauce & mozarella.
• Bake 20-25 minutes until bubbling & cheese melted.
• Can be frozen up to 1 month.

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN SPINACH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Saute the onions and garlic in a heavy iron pot in olive oil, until translucent, then remove from pot, and set aside.
• Put sausage in pot with ground fennel and brown.
• Add basil, oregano, and parsley.
• Stir in onions and garlic, as well as tomatoes, tomato sauce and paste.
• Let simmer gently about 2-3 hours.
• Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions, and hang to dry.
• Beat together eggs, ricotta and parmesan cheese, set aside.
• Build lasanga:.
• Barely cover bottom of large, deep lasagna pan with sauce.
• Place a layer of noodles lengthwise over sauce.
• Place all of spinach over noodles.
• Cover this with a layer of noodles shortwise.
• Spread ricotta cheese mixture over noodles, and cover this with a lengthwise layer of noodles.
• Put one half of remaining sauce over noodles and cover with shortwise noodles.
• place mozzerella cheese over noodles into a somewhat solid sheet and cover with lengthwise noodles.
• Pour remaining sauce over top.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes, or until bubbly.
• Grate hard cheese over top as soon as you pull it from the oven.
• Serve with Italian bread and a salad.

SPINACH LASAGNA III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook mushrooms, onions, and garlic in olive oil until onions are tender. Drain excess liquid and cool. Boil spinach for 5 minutes. Drain, then squeeze out excess liquid. Chop spinach.
• Combine ricotta cheese, Romano cheese, spinach, salt, oregano, basil, pepper, and egg in a bowl. Add cooled mushroom mixture. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Lay 5 lasagna noodles in bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread one third of the cheese/spinach mixture over noodles. Sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese on top. Spread 1 cup pasta sauce over cheese. Repeat layering 2 times.
• Cover dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour. Cool 15 minutes before serving.