Butternut Squash Lasagna With Smoky Marinara

Total Time: 2 hrs Preparation Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped (or 4 tsp. dried)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (or 2 tsp. dried)
• 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped or 2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (28 ounce) can fire-roasted tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes (undrained)
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• cooking spray
• 3 cups onions, chopped
• 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
• 3/4 cup italian cheese blend, shredded
• 1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped (or 8 tsp. dried)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 large eggs
• 1 (32 ounce) carton cottage cheese, low-fat (2%)
• 3 cups butternut squash, peeled and diced
• 12 lasagna noodles (oven-ready i use barilla no-boil noodles)
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Recipe

• 1 make the sauce: heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. add garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano; sauté 1 minute, stirring frequently. stir in vinegar and remaining ingredients. reduce heat to the lowest simmer setting while you're making the lasagna.
• 2 make the lasagna: preheat oven to 375°.
• 3 in a medium bowl, combine the onions and the spinach. separate the spinach with a fork, making sure it is combined well with the onion pieces.
• 4 combine cheese blend, parsley, salt, pepper, eggs, and cottage cheese in a large bowl.
• 5 place squash in a microwave-safe bowl. cover and cook on high 5 minutes or until tender.
• 6 coat the bottom and sides of 2 (9-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.
• 7 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.
• 8 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.
• 9 cover each pan with foil that has been sprayed with cooking spray.
• 10 bake at 375° for 30 minutes. uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.
• 11 to freeze unbaked lasagna: prepare through step 8. 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.
• 12 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.