Recipe of the Day: Vegetable Lasagna

Main Ingredient
Cheese
Fresh Spinach
Carrots
Lasagna
Vegetables
Cooking Method
Stir-Fry
Bake
Difficulty
Easy
Moderate
Course/Dish
Pasta
Makes
6 servings

Want to know where the beef isn't? In this lasagna. Enjoy some lighter Italian fare with this vegetable lasagna that's chock full of goodness. Prepared with low-fat ingredients and no red sauce, it is a delicious deviation from the norm.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup zucchini, diced
• 1 cup yellow squash, diced
• 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 tsp. garlic, minced
• 6 tbsp. margarine
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup carrots, steamed and diced
• 1 cup broccoli florets, steamed
• 6 tbsp. flour
• 1/2 tsp. white pepper
• 3 cups 1% low-fat milk
• 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1 (16 oz.) pkg. lasagna noodles
• 1 lb. Low-fat mozzarella cheese, shredded
• 15 oz. low-fat ricotta cheese
• 1 (10 oz.) pkg. frozen spinach, thawed, chopped and drained  
• 3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• Fresh parsley, chopped

Methods/steps:

Sauté zucchini, yellow squash, mushrooms and garlic until tender in 2 tbsp. margarine. Add Italian seasoning and 1/4 tsp salt. Stir in carrots and broccoli; set aside and cool. Melt remaining margarine in saucepan; add flour, pepper and remaining salt. Cook over medium heat 5 minutes. Stir in milk and cook until thickened. Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese. Set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. Rinse in cool water and drain. Grease lasagna pan. Spoon only enough white sauce into lasagna pan to barely cover the bottom. Line with 3 noodles; spoon 1/2 the vegetable mixture over noodles, placing it down the center of each noodle; sprinkle 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese over the vegetable mixture. Cover with another layer of pasta; spread with 1/2 the spinach; cover with 1/2 the remaining white sauce. Repeat the layering; 3 noodles; remaining vegetables, 1/2 remaining mozzarella; 3 noodles, remaining ricotta, spinach and white sauce. Cover with remaining mozzarella; sprinkle with Parmesan and parsley over top. Bake 45 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. Let stand 15 minutes before serving. Serve with crisp green salad and fresh bread.

Additional Tips:

Ready in 1½ hour 30 min prep