Vegetarian Lasagna (Layering step by step)

This is a traditional recipe for vegetarian Lasagna – I have tried to take pictures of every layer laid and details of the fillings – I also made my own homemade sauce – I was very proud of this effort  - A $50-60 meal in a semi gourmet restaurant, folks –The recipe here for free so that you may treat your loved ones to a lovely GOURMET Italian meal right in your home … read on.

Step One – The Sauce

Take some good and ripe medium tomatoes and dice (about 6-7)

Add 1 tsp of olive oil in a frying pan

Add 3-4 cloves of garlic

½ a habanero or chili of your choice

Basil 2 sprigs or 10 leaves

Let all of them cook well and then grind and keep aside

Step Two – The Filling

I went with the traditional filling of ricotta and spinach.

Cook 1 family pack or 2 small packs of frozen spinach or fresh spinach in the microwave – In a pan, heat 1 tsp of olive oil and add some red chilies (I think I used 3) and about 3 cloves of garlic – sauté until garlic turns golden and add the spinach and some salt and cook  on low heat, open.

While that is cooking get the ricotta out and if you have the big family carton, you will need half of that or one regular sized container.

To this add some crushed black peppers, rosemary and a dash of salt. I also used some pesto powder and some wild garlic mix. Once this is flavorful, add the cooked spinach to it and mix in well.

Step Three

I also like more veggies in my lasagna – So I decided one of my layers will be made up of sautéed zucchini and yellow squash, both very popular in Italian cuisine. Cut them in thin rounds.  Just a dash pepper and a tsp of olive oil and a little salt and allow them to brown slightly.

Step Four – The lasagna

The lasagna we got were the kinds that are oven ready and don’t need prior cooking. Barilla sells these. There are probably other brands, but this is the one I used.

Get the oven and baking pan ready

Set over to 375 degrees F

Grate some cheeses (I used Cheddar Mozzarella and Parmesan)

Spray the intended pan with cooking oil (olive oil)

Dribble a small amount of the sauce on the bottom and spread around the pan

Add your first layer of lasagna strips

Add the ricotta spinach mix and spread evenly

Place the second layer of pasta strips

Dribble a generous amount of sauce

Now add the Zucchini and yellow squash stir fry and spread evenly

Add the next layer of lasagna strips

Some more of the sauce

And repeat with the ricotta spinach mix

Now lay the last layer of pasta and dribble the rest of the sauce over it spreading it so that it drips on the sides

Now sprinkle the grated cheeses.

Cook per instructions on the box

We had this with the most delicious brussel Sprout stir fry.

Bene Appetito!

Step by step layering tutorial in pictures

Spread the sauce

Add the pasta

The Spinach Ricotta layer fully spread

Another Pasta layer

The sauce and the veggies

The next pasta layer followed by the spinach spread

Another pasta layer

The sauce liberally doled on top

The grated cheese added

And the baked lasagna :)

A slice showing the layers

The side of sauteed Brussel Sprouts

On your plate - Eat up!