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Spinach & Sausage Lasagna

Source of Recipe

Eating Well, October 1996


List of Ingredients


12 ounces dried lasagna noodles-or 1 pound fresh lasagna noodles
3 cups low-fat milk
1/3 cup all-purpose white flour
2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese (3 tbl.)
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
20 ounces frozen chopped spinach-thawed and squeezed dry
3/4 cup low-fat 2% cottage cheese
6 ounces sweet Italian-style turkey sausage (casing removed)
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion -- sliced
2 cloves garlic -- minced
1 teaspoon dried marjoram or oregano
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
7 ounces roasted red peppers -- drained and chopped -about 3/4 cup
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup grated part-skim mozzarella cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley


Recipe


In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook noodles until barely tender (8 minutes for dried, 1 minute for fresh). Drain and rinse under cold water. Spread the noodles on clean kitchen towels, cover with plastic wrap and set aside. In a large saucepan, heat 2 1/2 cups of the milk over medium heat until steaming.

Meanwhile, put flour in a small bowl and gradually whisk in the remaining 1/2 cup milk until smooth; whisk into the hot milk and stir constantly over the heat until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens. Continue cooking and stirring for 1 minute. Remove from the heat. Whisk in cream cheese, then Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and nutmeg. Set the cheese sauce aside. In a bowl, stir together spinach and cottage cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.

In a large nonstick skillet, cook sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it is no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and chop fine. Set aside. Wipe the skillet clean and add oil. Return the pan to the heat, add onions and cook, stirring, until well-browned, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, marjoram or oregano, and fennel seeds and cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in peppers, wine and the cooked sausage and simmer until the wine has nearly evaporated, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or coat it with nonstick cooking spray. Smear the bottom of the prepared dish with 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce. Line the bottom with a single layer of noodles. Spread half of the spinach mixture over the noodles. Spoon on another 1/2 cup of sauce and use a rubber spatula to spread it evenly. Add another layer of noodles, top with all of the sausage mixture and another 1/2 cup sauce. Add a third layer of noodles, the remaining spinach mixture and another 1/2 cup sauce.

Finish with the remaining noodles and sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Lightly oil a large piece of aluminum foil or coat it with nonstick cooking spray, and use it to tightly cover the dish. Bake the lasagna for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for about 15 minutes more, or until lightly browned and bubbling. Let stand for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley and serve. Makes 8 servings.