Vegetarian/General

Butternut Squash Lasagna

I’m crazy about butternut squash, especially when I find it already peeled and cubed. This recipe isn’t exactly quick, but it makes 2 pretty big ones, so  you have an extra for the freezer or for a friend. It’s another Cooking Light recipe, with only 254 calories per portion. But don’t hold this against it. It’s delicious!

Cooking spray
3  cups  chopped onion
10  cup  fresh spinach
3/4  cup  (3 ounces) shredded sharp provolone cheese
1/2  cup  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1  teaspoon  salt
1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
2  large eggs
1  (15-ounce) carton part-skim ricotta cheese
1  (15-ounce) carton fat-free ricotta cheese
3  cups  diced peeled butternut squash
6  cups spaghetti sauce
12  oven-ready lasagna noodles (such as Barilla)
1  cup  (4 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 375°.

Heat a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 4 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; sauté 1 1/2 minutes or until spinach wilts. Combine provolone, parsley, salt, pepper, eggs, and ricotta cheeses in a large bowl.

Place squash in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and cook on high 5 minutes or until tender.

Coat the bottom and sides of 2 (8-inch-square) baking dishes with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 cup Smoky Marinara in the bottom of one prepared dish. Arrange 2 noodles over sauce; spread 1 cup cheese mixture over noodles. Arrange 1 1/2 cups squash over cheese mixture; spread 3/4 cup sauce over squash.

Arrange 2 noodles over sauce; spread 1 cup cheese mixture over the noodles. Arrange 1 1/2 cups onion mixture over cheese mixture; spread 3/4 cup sauce over spinach mixture.

Arrange 2 noodles over sauce; spread 1 cup Smoky Marinara evenly over noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup Parmesan. Repeat procedure with remaining ingredients in remaining pan. Cover each pan with foil.

Bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.

To freeze unbaked lasagna: Prepare through Step 6. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing to remove as much air as possible. Wrap with heavy-duty foil. Store in freezer for up to 2 months.

To prepare frozen unbaked lasagna: Thaw completely in refrigerator (about 24 hours). Preheat oven to 375º. Remove foil; reserve foil. Remove plastic wrap; discard wrap. Cover lasagna with reserved foil; bake at 375º for 1 hour. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes or until bubbly.

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