Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Super-Fast Pesto Lasagna

I don't know where I got this one from, but we make it quite often. It was the last meal I had before Zoe was born, so it has a special place in my heart. It's very easy as-is since it uses lots of prepared foods, but you could certainly substitute for fresh/homemade ingredients. You could throw in more vegetables, or use less cheese, or whatever. I don't think you can mess up lasagna!

3 c. ricotta cheese
1 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
1 large egg
2 10-ounce packages frozen chopped spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
1 7-ounce package prepared pesto
4 c. bottled chunky pasta sauce
12 no-boil lasagna noodles from one 8-ounce package
2 c. grated Fontina or mozzarella cheese

Blend ricotta and parmesan in medium bowl. Season cheeses with salt and pepper; stir in egg. Blend spinach and pesto in another medium bowl.
Brush 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with oil. Spread 1 cup pasta sauce in prepared dish. Arrange 3 noodles side by side atop sauce. Spread 1 and 1/4 cups cheese mixture over in thin layer. Drop 1/3 of spinach mixture over by spoonfuls. Repeat layering with sauce, noodles, cheese mixture and spinach mixture 2 more times. Top with remaining 3 noodles and 1 cup sauce. Cover lasagna with foil. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead and refrigerated.)
Preheat oven to 350. Bake lasagna, covered, 35 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with Fontina cheese. Bake until lasagna is heated through, sauce bubbles and cheese on top is melted, about 15 minutes longer. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.


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