Sausage, Cheese and Basil Lasagna

Sauce:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound spicy Italian sausages, casings removed
1 cup chopped onion
3 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with added puree
1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes with green pepper and onion (do not drain)
 
Filling:

1 1/2 cups (packed) fresh basil leaves
1 15-ounce container plus 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups (packed) grated mozzarella cheese (about 6 ounces)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 2 ounces)
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
 
Assembly:

12 no-boil lasagna noodles from one 8-ounce package
3 cups (packed) grated mozzarella cheese (about 12 ounces)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
Nonstick olive oil spray
 
Sauce:

Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Add sausages, onion, garlic, oregano and crushed red pepper and sauté until sausage is cooked through, mashing sausage into small pieces with back of fork, about 10 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes with juices. Bring sauce to boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer 5 minutes to blend flavors. Season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Chill until cold, then cover and keep chilled.)
 
Filling:

Using on/off turns, chop fresh basil leaves finely in processor. Add ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Using on/off turns, process filling until just blended and texture is still chunky.
 
Assembly:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread 1 1/4 cups sauce in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange 3 noodles on sauce. Drop 1 1/2 cups filling over noodles, then spread evenly to cover. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Repeat layering of sauce, noodles, filling and cheeses 2 more times.
Top with remaining 3 noodles. Spoon remaining sauce atop noodles. Sprinkle with remaining cheeses. Spray large piece of foil with nonstick olive oil spray. Cover lasagna with foil, sprayed side down.

Bake lasagna 40 minutes. Carefully uncover. Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Bake until noodles are tender, sauce bubbles thickly and edges of lasagna are golden and puffed, about 20 minutes. Transfer to work surface; let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Bon Appétit  February 2000 

Makes 6 to 8 servings

Garden Vegetable Lasagnes

1 cup bottled marinara sauce, perferably spicy
1 cup coarsely chopped seeded plum tomatoes
1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves or 1 tablespoon dried
1 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
8 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
3 lasagne noodles

Preheat oven to 450°F. Simmer marinara sauce, tomatoes, zucchini and basil in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until zucchini is tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix ricotta cheese and 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese in bowl to blend; season with salt and pepper. Cook lasagne noodles in pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite; drain. Cut noodles in half crosswise, making 6 pieces.

Set aside 2 tablespoons vegetable sauce for topping. Place 2 noodle pieces in buttered 8x8x2-inch glass baking dish, spacing apart. Spread 1/4 of cheese mixture, then 1/4 of sauce over each. Repeat layering of noodle pieces, cheese mixture and sauce. Top each with another noodle piece, 1 tablespoon reserved sauce, then 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.

Bake lasagnes uncovered until heated through, about 10 minutes. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.

Bon Appétit September 1995

Serves 2; can be doubled

Roasted Vegetable and Prosciutto Lasagna with Alfredo Sauce

2/3 cup purchased Alfredo sauce
2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 cups canned diced tomatoes with Italian seasonings, undrained
4 (about) no-boil lasagna noodles from one 8-ounce package
1 1/3 cups mixed roasted vegetables from deli (such as eggplant, squash and bell peppers)

Stir Alfredo sauce, prosciutto and basil in small bowl to blend. Spread 2 tablespoons Alfredo sauce mixture in bottom of two 1 1/2-cup oval-shape gratin dishes or two 2-cup soufflé dishes. Top each with 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices. Place 1 noodle in each dish, breaking into pieces to fit. Spread each with 2 tablespoons sauce mixture, then 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices. Top each with 2/3 cup roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Make another layer of noodles, breaking to fit. Top with remaining sauce mixture, dividing equally. Top each with 1/4 cup tomatoes with juices.

Cover dishes tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until noodles are tender but still firm to bite, about 10 minutes. Uncover lasagna and let stand 5 minutes before serving

Bon Appétit January 2001

Serves 2; can be doubled