Greek Lamb And Feta Lasagna Recipes

Steps:

• In a good sized Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pan, heat one tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat until it is shimmering. Add the lamb and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and a good grinding of black pepper. Cook, stirring to break it apart, until it is nicely browned. Remove the lamb with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate, reserving 2 tablespoons of the fat.
• Return the pot to the stovetop and add olive oil and the onion (still over medium-high). Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic. Stir in the spices (cinnamon, oregano, cumin, coriander, and red pepper)and cook until they start smelling toasted and fragrant (1 to 2 minutes). Stir in the whole tomatoes, crushed by hand. Cook the crushed tomatoes in the spices, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Then, add the can of diced tomatoes and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil, then turn down to a simmer and simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes.
• Add the cooked lamb back to the pot, give it a good stir, then cover the pot and leave it to cook, stirring from time to time, for 20 minutes. At this point, stir in the fresh spinach and cook just a couple more minutes until the spinach is wilted. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste (keeping in mind you'll be sprinkling a touch of feta and olives on, which will add to the saltiness). While the lamb and tomatoes are simmering together and marrying their flavors, bring a large pot of well-salted water (it should taste like sea water) to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente, about 7 or 8 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
• Drain the orzo. Toss the orzo with the 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the lemon juice, and all of the parsley, adding a bit of pasta water at a time, if you feel it needs additional liquid.Spread the orzo out on an enormous serving platter. Spoon the lamb and sauce all over the top, then sprinkle with the feta and chopped olives. A good red wine, on the dry side, is a highly recommended companion here.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion and next 4 ingredients (through beef); cook 14 minutes or until lamb and beef are browned, stirring to crumble. Add stock to pan; cook 3 minutes. Stir in salt, pepper, and tomatoes. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
• Combine ricotta and rind in a small bowl. Spread 1 tablespoons ricotta mixture over one side of each lasagna noodle.
• Spread 2 cups tomato mixture in bottom of an 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles, ricotta side up, over tomato mixture; top with 2 cups tomato mixture. Repeat layers twice, ending with 2 cups tomato mixture. Sprinkle evenly with feta cheese. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove foil; let stand 10 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Steps:

• Cut eggplant lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices and sprinkle slices on both sides with salt. Arrange eggplant in a large colander and weight it with a heavy bowl. Drain eggplant 1 hour. Remove bowl and pat eggplant dry.
• Set broiler rack so that eggplant will be about 4 inches from heat and preheat broiler.
• Arrange eggplant in one layer in oiled shallow baking pans and brush with oil. Broil eggplant until golden, about 3 minutes on each side.
• Make meat sauce:
• In a large heavy non-stick skillet cook onions and garlic in oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened. Add lamb and cook, stirring to break up, until it is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in remaining meat sauce ingredients and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, uncovered, 30 minutes. Meat sauce may be made 3 days ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered.
• Make white sauce while meat sauce is cooking:
• In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour until smooth. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Whisk in milk in a stream and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thick. Whisk in egg, whisking vigorously, and simmer sauce, whisking, 1 minute. White sauce may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, its surface covered with plastic wrap.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pour 1 cup meat sauce into a flame-proof baking dish, 13 by 9 by 2 inches (sauce will not cover bottom completely), and cover with 3 lasagne sheets, making sure they do not touch each other. Spread about 1 1/2 cups meat sauce over pasta and arrange 1 layer broiled eggplant on top. Gently spread about 1/2 cup white sauce over eggplant and sprinkle with about 1/3 cup feta. Make 2 more layers in same manner, beginning and ending with pasta. Spread remaining white sauce evenly over top pasta layer, making sure pasta is completely covered, and sprinkle with remaining feta.
• Cover dish tightly with foil, tenting slightly to prevent foil from touching top layer, and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake lasagne 10 minutes more, or until top is bubbling.
• Set broiler rack so that lasagne will be about 4 inches from heat and preheat broiler.
• Broil lasagna 1 to 2 minutes, or until golden. Let lasagne stand 5 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Cook Spaghetti as directed to desired firmness. Drain and set aside.
• While noodles are cooking, chop garlic clove, slice Green Pepper and Red Onion, and preheat olive oil enough to cover bottom of a frying pan. Drop half of the garlic into preheated oil, and add your lamb. If all 4 chops cannot be cooked at once, don't worry. Just cook as many as your pan can hold at one time. When chops have been thoroughly browned on both sides, set aside and let set 5 minutes.
• In another pan, cook veggies and remaining garlic lightly with olive oil until tender. Once cooked, remove from heat.
• When Chops have sat, cut into thin slices. Depending on what cut you have cooked, you may have some bones to negotiate. Make sure you have removed all bones and tough fat.
• Lightly grease a large casserole or lasagna pan; preheat oven to 400.
• Spread half the noodles evenly across pan. Then, layer 1/2 your veggies, lamb, tomatoes and olives, and roughly 1/3 of your feta.
• Cover with remaining noodles.
• Cover that with all remaining veggies, lamb and olives and tomatoes, while covering everything with the remaining feta. Lightly stripe with dressing.
• Bake until feta turns golden brown. Likely 11-15 minutes, but varies, so keep an eye on it.
• Once cooked, remove from oven and add more salad dressing, to taste.
• Serve and enjoy!