Vegetable Lasagna

Another good group supper dish, this recipe it combines several elements of vegetable lasagna found in a Google search. The cheese amounts are approximate -- don't skimp on the cheese. You might also want to add red sauce to layers, but it is good without it.

Recipe

	12 lasagna noodles
	1/2 cup olive oil (divided in 2 portions)
	1/2 stick butter
	1 head fresh broccoli, chopped
	2 carrots, thinly sliced or slivered
	1 large onion, chopped
	1 green and 1 red bell peppers, chopped
	2 small zucchini, sliced
	4-5 cloves garlic, minced
	1/2 cup flour
	3 cups milk
	At least 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, divided
	salt to taste (I don't use salt, especially with cheese dishes. When I do, I use sea-salt)
	Fresh ground pepper
	1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed (place package in bowl, and microwave for 1-minute, allowing liquid to drain from package)
	About 1-cup small curd cottage cheese
	About 6-cups (24 ounces) ricotta cheese
	About 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish.

Cook lasagna noodles about 8 minutes (al dente). Drain and add 1/4 cup olive oil to keep from sticking.

Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat (I use my cast iron Dutch oven). Add broccoli, carrots, onions, bell peppers, zucchini and garlic. Stir and sauté until about half-cooked; set aside.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter, add flour, then whisk in milk while it comes to a boil and thickens. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper; cook for another minute or so until thick and creamy, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in spinach. Reserve 1/2 cup spinach mixture.

In bowl combine cottage and ricotta cheeses.

Spread about 1/2 cup of spinach mixture in the bottom of the prepared pan. Layer noodles, ricotta mixture, vegetables, spinach mixture and mozzarella cheese, ending with noodles. Top with reserved spinach mixture, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese.

Bake for 35 minutes, or until lightly browned on top. Cool for approximately 10 minutes before serving.

Dish can be baked ahead of time and warmed just before serving.

Page revised: 17 April 2008

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Vegetable Lasagna

Recipe