Lasagna

If you love Lasagna as much as I do, today's post is sure to please. Check out the Turkey Lasagna, the Barbecue Lasagna, and the rest of today's yummy recipes. Enjoy!

SPICY CHEESY CHILI SAUCE LASAGNA

This comes from the Tablespoon e-newsletter, and starts off, “A simple meat lasagna that packs a spicy kick!” Prep Time: 30 min; Total Time: 1 hr 15 min; Servings: 6

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 pounds spicy Italian sausage

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 (28 oz.) can Muir Glen™ organic diced tomatoes with basil and garlic

1 (14 oz.) can Muir Glen™ organic tomato sauce

1 (12 oz.) can chili sauce

18 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated

6 large lasagna noodles, cooked al dente

Salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sausage and cook until sausage is browned, 8-10 minutes.

Add tomatoes and chili sauce and stir together. Let sauce and sausage simmer for 15-20 minutes so it thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook noodles according to package (or use no-cook noodles).

In a 9x13-inch casserole dish, spoon in a cup of sauce. Lay 3 noodles on the sauce as the bottom layer. Sprinkle on about half of the cheese, then scoop in half of the remaining sauce.

Add another layer of noodles, half of the remaining cheese, the last of the meat sauce, and the last of the cheese.

Bake lasagna for 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling. Let cool briefly before serving!

SIMPLE VEGETARIAN SPINACH LASAGNA

This is from Vicki Shata Retelny, RDN, at VeryWellFit. She wrote, “There's nothing like lasagna to soothe a craving for a creamy, dreamy meal. With a foundation of vitamin C-rich tomato sauce, which is loaded with the carotenoid lycopene, this Italian classic takes on a healthy bend with a good dose veggies nestled in its layers.

“Chock full of leafy green spinach, this dish is good for your brain health, as eating a serving of veggies each day has shown to fend off cognitive decline. Spinach is also loaded with iron and calcium, or a total body wellness boost.”

Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 45 minutes; Total Time: 65 minutes; Servings: 9 (1 cup each)

To view this online, go to https://www.verywellfit.com/vegetarian-spinach-lasagna-4144632.

Ingredients

1 package no-boil lasagna noodles

2 28-ounce cans tomato sauce

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

1 teaspoon oregano

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 15-ounce container part-skim ricotta cheese

1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, grated

3 cups raw baby spinach leaves

Preparation

Preheat the oven the 350F.

On the stovetop over medium heat, pour the tomato sauce into a saucepan. Add salt, oregano, and garlic. Bring to a light boil, lower the heat, and simmer for a few minutes. Stir occasionally.

On the bottom of a 9x13 pan put a layer of tomato sauce. Place a layer of noodles on top, covering the bottom of the pan. Spread ricotta cheese on top of the noodles, top with spinach, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and coat with a small ladle full of sauce. Repeat the layers until you get to the top of the pan. Sprinkle the final layer with mozzarella cheese.

Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until bubbly and cheese is golden brown on top.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a 10 minutes before serving.

Ingredient Variations and Substitutions

Make this dish higher in fiber with whole wheat noodles, although they may only be available in the boil variety. Add other vegetables such a sliced carrots, zucchini, or eggplant. For an alternative green, use baby kale or arugula. Spread pesto between the layers or incorporate it into the tomato sauce for a rich, nutty flavor.

If you want to add meat, add cooked, diced chicken breast or ground turkey to the sauce. For a non-dairy twist, use vegan cheese in lieu of ricotta and mozzarella cheese.

Cooking and Serving Tips

To save time use no-boil lasagna noodles—they're quick and easy to assemble. Plus, the part-skim ricotta cheese and mozzarella reduce the fat but still offer good-quality protein.

This dish can be assembled and placed, uncooked and covered, in the refrigerator overnight. Simply heat and serve the next day. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer in an airtight container.

TACO LASAGNA

This is from the Food Network. It starts off, "Equal parts lasagna and taco, this dish is comfort central, with layers of classic taco meat and toppings nestled between tender lasagna noodles and melty cheese. Use your favorite salsa to build the sauce -- milder to keep it kid-friendly or spicier to liven it up."

Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/taco-lasagna-3666644.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon canola oil

1 pound ground beef sirloin

2 tablespoons chili powder

Kosher salt

Two 16-ounce jars salsa

1 pound no-boil lasagna noodles

Two 16-ounce packages part skim mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded

1 large beefsteak tomato, diced

1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar

1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips

Directions

Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with the chili powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, breaking apart chunks of meat with the back of a spoon, and stirring often, until meat is crumbled and browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the salsa and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Spread a quarter of the meat sauce over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Lay a third of the noodles over the sauce, overlapping slightly and breaking them to fit, if needed. Leave a 1/2-inch space around the edges of the baking dish. Top the noodles with another quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Make another layer with a third of the noodles, a quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Repeat, making a final layer with the remaining third of the pasta and quarter of the sauce, making sure that the top layer of noodles is completely covered in sauce. Top with the remaining third of the mozzarella.

Cover loosely with foil and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the noodles are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove the foil and cook 15 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with lettuce, tomato, Cheddar and chips.

NOODLE-LESS LASAGNA

I found this yumminess on the AARP site. It begins, "The lasagna that cuts carbs, boosts your veggie servings and is gluten-free: this easy dinner recipe uses slices of roasted eggplant and zucchini as the "noodles" in this healthy lasagna."

Prep/Cook Time: 1-1/2 Hours, Servings: 8

To view this online, go to https://stayingsharp.aarp.org/recipes/noodle-less-lasagna/.

Ingredients

1 large eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-long strips

1 large zucchini, sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-long strips

12 ounces sweet Italian sausage, casings removed

1/2 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 28-ounce can no-salt-added crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup dry red wine

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1 large egg

1/4 teaspoon ground pepper

1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided

Fresh basil for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray.

Arrange eggplant and zucchini in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets. Roast until tender, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large saucepan, crumbling it with a spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add tomatoes, wine, basil and oregano and cook, stirring occasionally, until bubbling. Lower heat and simmer for 10 minutes.

Combine ricotta, egg and pepper in a small bowl.

Spread about 1 cup sauce in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. 5. Top with a layer of half the eggplant. Dollop on about 1/3 cup ricotta mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella. Layer on half the zucchini, crosswise to the eggplant layer, then top with 1 cup sauce, dollop on 1/3 cup ricotta mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella. Layer on the remaining eggplant and top with 1 cup sauce, dollop on the remaining ricotta mixture and sprinkle with 1/4 cup mozzarella. Layer on the remaining zucchini and top with the remaining sauce and mozzarella.

Bake the lasagna until the sauce is bubbling around the edges, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 10 to 20 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

BARBECUE LASAGNA

This is one of the yummy recipes from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds ground beef

1 cup ketchup

1 medium green pepper, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon prepared mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon chili powder

1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese

1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese

1 egg

Directions

In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.

Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.

Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.

Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.

TURKEY LASAGNA

This is from Ina Garten on the Food Network. Prep Time: 50 minutes; Cook Time: 30 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Easy

To view this online, click here.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 cup chopped yellow onion (1 onion)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1-1/2 pounds sweet Italian turkey sausage, casings removed

One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes in tomato puree

One 6-ounce can tomato paste

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, divided

1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

2 teaspoons kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 pound lasagna noodles

15 ounces ricotta cheese

3 to 4 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled

1 cup grated Parmesan, plus 1/4 cup for sprinkling

1 extra-large egg, lightly beaten

1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Heat the olive oil in a large (10 to 12-inch) skillet. Add the onion and cook for 5 minutes over medium-low heat, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the sausage and cook over medium-low heat, breaking it up with a fork, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until no longer pink. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, uncovered, over medium-low heat, for 15 to 20 minutes, until thickened.

Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with the hottest tap water. Add the noodles and allow them to sit in the water for 20 minutes. Drain.

In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, goat cheese, 1 cup of Parmesan, the egg, the remaining 2 tablespoons of parsley, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.

Ladle 1/3 of the sauce into a 9 by 12 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spreading the sauce over the bottom of the dish. Then add the layers as follows: half the pasta, half the mozzarella, half the ricotta, and one 1/3 of the sauce. Add the rest of the pasta, mozzarella, ricotta, and finally, sauce. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of Parmesan. Bake for 30 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling.