Vegetarian Recipes Lasagna

Vegetarian Recipes Lasagna

Not only Garfield

Garfield may be the only cat on the planet that eats a steady diet of lasagna, but this pasta dish is also a perennial favorite among humans.

The following vegetarian recipe takes advantage of five flavorful cheeses in combination with a tangy red tomato sauce. You will find that the finished product is less greasy than it’s meaty counterparts, and it also takes less time to prepare.

Even if you are not a vegetarian, you may want to include some meatless recipes in your repertoire, and lasagna is a definite crowd pleaser.

Lasagna 

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1 16 oz. package lasagna noodles (whole wheat for better nutrition)

2 26 oz. jars marinara sauce (You can make your own if you have time. I like Dave’s Gourmet Red Heirloom Organic Pasta Sauce or Paul Newman’s Sockarooni Sauce, but any brand you like will do. Of course, the quality and flavor of your finished product will be affected by what sauce you choose.)

8 oz. sliced* mozzarella cheese

8 oz. sliced* Monterey Jack cheese

8 oz. sliced* Colby cheese

16 oz. ricotta cheese (part-skim)

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Fresh or dried parsley

Optional items: sliced black olives, sliced mushrooms, spinach, green beans, sliced carrots, slice peppers (hot or sweet, depending on what you like)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook your pasta in boiling water for about 10 minutes until it is flexible, but not too soft.

Remove it from the water with a tongs and lay it out on your counter to keep it from sticking together and wrinkling in the pan. Don’t leave it in the hot water or it will be overcooked.

Pour some sauce to cover the bottom of a deep 10x13 (or equivalent) baking pan.

Place your first layer of noodles lengthwise, side-by-side in the pan on top of the sauce. Put enough sauce over the noodles to wet them without drowning them. Dot some ricotta cheese along each noodle. Top with some alternating slices of mozzarella, Colby, and Monterey Jack cheese. Add a layer of any of the optional ingredients, if you wish. Pour a bit more sauce over the layer and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Place another layer of noodles, this time side-by-side across the width of the pan. You will need to cut them to size and you can use the extra piece to form part of the next row. (It’s okay to piece them together to form a row).

Put enough sauce over the noodles to wet them without drowning them. Dot some ricotta cheese along each noodle. Top with some alternating slices of mozzarella, Colby, and Monterey Jack cheese. Add a layer of any of the optional ingredients, if you wish. Pour a bit more sauce over the layer and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Repeat this process, alternating the noodles in each layer until your pan is full or you run out of ingredients. The last layer should just have noodles, the rest of the sauce, a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and a sprinkle of parsley.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove cover and bake for another 15-30 minutes or until lasagna is bubbling and top noodles are slightly browned.

Allow your lasagna to sit after it comes out of the oven for 15-20 minutes before cutting and serving.

After baking, this lasagna will freeze well and can be made ahead of time and then baked just before serving.

*The advantage of using thinly sliced cheese instead of shredded cheese, is that it helps your lasagna to hold together.

Serve with a nice antipasto tray, crusty whole-wheat rolls, and a vegetable or green salad. Keep in mind that a little lasagna goes a long way and don’t overdo.

Vegetarian Recipes Lasagna - Have it your way

Making lasagna is very individual, and how you build it will depend on the size and shape of your pan, how saucy you like it, how spicy you like it, how cheesy you like it and whether you use white noodles or whole grain noodles. Good lasagna is a true work of art, so enjoy making it your own way and serving it to your appreciative family or guests!

Eat and be healthy with my warmest regards,

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