LASAGNA WITH VEGETABLES AND MEAT RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 degrees C (350 degrees F).
• Heat oil, saute onion and garlic for 2 minutes.
• Remove approx half to a saucepan, heat and add mushrooms, canned tomatoes, zucchini, 1 tablespoon of the tomato paste, carrot, pepper and basil.
• Stir over a low heat for 20 minutes until sauce thickens.
• Meanwhile, add minced beef to the remaining onion and garlic and stir till pink colour is gone.
• Add fresh tomatoes, remaining tomato paste and stock and simmer 10 mins or until cheese sauce completed.
• Melt butter in a saucepan, remove from heat.
• Add flour, stir with a wooden spoon.
• Replace on low heat and heat for 30 seconds, stirring continuously.
• Remove from heat and add milk gradually, stirring vigourously, until smooth.
• Replace on heat and stir till boiling.
• Reduce heat and stir 1 minute.
• Add mustard, stir well, remove from heat and add 1/2 cup grated cheese. Put lid on saucepan.
• Place a layer of vegetable sauce on bottom of a large lasagne pan.
• Cover sauce with lasagne noodles, then spinach, then meat sauce, then noodles again.
• Continue with layers until used up. Final layer should be lasagne.
• Cover with cheese sauce and sprinkle with remaining grated cheese.
• Bake for 30 mins until cheese is melted and golden brown.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil then cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. (We add a couple teaspoons of olive oil to the water so the noodles do not stick together). Drain then lay flat on a sheet of aluminum foil.
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly oil a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish or spray with non-stick cooking spray.
• Heat the olive oil in a wide skillet with sides over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, zucchini, squash, and a pinch of salt then cook, stirring occasionally until softened but still with some crunch, another 5 to 8 minutes.
• Stir in the roasted red peppers and crushed tomatoes. Bring to a low simmer and cook until the liquid has thickened and reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Add the basil and season to taste with additional salt and pepper.
• While the sauce cooks, stir the ricotta cheese, eggs, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl until blended.
• Spoon just enough vegetable mixture into the baking dish to lightly cover the bottom (about 1 cup). Arrange four noodles lengthwise and side by side to cover the bottom. (If the noodles are short on one end, you may need to cut an extra noodle and place into dish to cover where the other noodles have not).
• Spread about half of the ricotta cheese mixture over the noodles. Sprinkle with a third of the parmesan cheese and a third of the mozzarella cheese. Top with a third of the vegetable mixture.
• Add another layer of four noodles then repeat with remaining cheese and vegetables. Finish with a final layer of noodles, vegetables, parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil and bake 20 minutes, uncover then bake 15 minutes until cheese is crusty around the edges. To make the cheese golden brown on top, slide under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes. Let rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving.