Lasagna With Sausage And Butternut Squash Recipes

Steps:

• For the sauce: Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and use a wooden spoon to break up the meat as it browns. When the sausage has cooked to golden brown, about 8 minutes, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the remaining tablespoon olive oil. Add the onions and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits left on the bottom of the skillet. Deglaze with 2 tablespoons water. Cook until the onions are translucent, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and a pinch of crushed red pepper and cook about 2 minutes. Add the sausage back to the skillet. Stir in the canned butternut squash, cream, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the filling: In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, Parmesan, kale, sage, garlic powder, salt, pepper, eggs and nutmeg. Stir to combine and set aside.
• For the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
• Cook the lasagna noodles in the boiling water for half the time the package recommends. Drain and toss with a drizzle of olive oil to prevent them from sticking together.
• Spray a 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Spoon about a cup of the sauce into the dish, spreading it to cover the bottom. Arrange half the lasagna noodles over the sauce, then begin layering first with half of the ricotta filling, then half of the sauce, then half of the mozzarella. Continue layering with the remaining noodles, filling and sauce, finishing with mozzarella on top. Sprinkle with the Parmesan. Tap the casserole on the counter to force out any air bubbles.
• Bake until the cheese is golden brown and the lasagna is bubbling, 35 to 45 minutes. Let it rest for 15 minutes so it can set and be cut easily.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large skillet set over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned throughout, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate.
• Add the onion and garlic to the pan, adding extra oil, if needed. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the butternut squash and parsnips and cook until the vegetables are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. If the squash and parsnips start to stick to the pan, add 1 tablespoon water. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove the pan from the heat and pour off any excess liquid. Stir in the reserved cooked sausage.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the ricotta, eggs, spinach, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
• In a separate bowl, combine the mozzarella, Parmesan, and basil.
• Spread one-third of the tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange a layer of lasagna noodles on top. Evenly distribute one-third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles, followed by one-third of the vegetable-sausage mixture. Then sprinkle with one-third of the shredded cheese mixture. Repeat to make two more layers, ending with the shredded cheese mixture on top. (The assembled lasagna can be kept tightly covered in foil in the refrigerator up to 1 day before baking.)
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the top is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.
• Veggie Lasagna: Prepare the lasagna recipe without the Italian sausage. Cut 1 medium eggplant and 1 medium zucchini into 1/2-inch dice. After the butternut squash and parsnips have been cooking for 5 minutes, stir in the eggplant and zucchini. Continue cooking for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the squash and toss to coat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the skillet and then cover and simmer over medium heat until the squash is tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly and then transfer the squash to a food processor. Add the amaretti cookies and blend until smooth. Season the squash puree, to taste, with more salt and pepper.
• Melt the butter in a heavy medium-size saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly. Transfer half of the sauce to a blender*. Add the basil and blend until smooth. Return the basil sauce to the sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the prepared baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom of the pan. Spread 1/3 of the squash puree over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over the noodles. Repeat layering 3 more times.
• Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the lasagna. Continue baking uncovered until the sauce bubbles and the top is golden, 15 minutes longer. Let the lasagna stand for 15 minutes before serving.
• *When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a large nonstick fry pan over medium-high heat, warm oil. Cook onion 8 minutes.
• Add garlic, salt and pepper; cook 30 seconds. Transfer to bowl.
• Cook sausage, breaking it into pieces, 8 minutes. Add to onion mixture.
• In fry pan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour; cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Slowly stir in milk; increase heat to medium-high; cook 8-10 minutes.
• Transfer to a separate bowl. Stir in 3/4 cup cheese, 1/4 cup parsley, sage, salt and pepper.
• Spread 1/3 cup sauce on bottom of fry pan; top with single layer of three noodles. Top with 1/3 cup of sauce, 1/3 cup sausage and layer of squash slices.
• Repeat layering of sauce, sausage and squash 5 more times, replacing squash layer with noodles every other layer. Top with remaining sauce and cheese.
• Bake 45 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1 Tb parsley. Let stand 15 minutes.