Spinach & Cheese Lasagna
An Original Recipe by Lorraine Elliott
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Cooking time:
Serves: 8
Spinach Filling
- 1kg/2.2lbs spinach, wilted, chopped and squeezed dry
- 2 large onions (around 300g/10.6ozs), peeled and finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 1kg/1.1lbs ricotta cheese
- 200g/7ozs. block feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup/100g/35.ozs parmesan cheese
- Salt, pepper and sugar
Bechamel white sauce
- 75g/2.6ozs. butter
- 1/4 cup/75g/2.6ozs. flour
- 3 cups/750ml/26flozs. milk, not
- 1 cup/100g/3.5ozs. grated mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Salt and pepper for seasoning
To assemble:
- 600g/21flozs. your favourite tomato pasta sauce (I used a spicy one)
- 2 cups/200g/7ozs. mozzarella cheese, grated
- 1/2 cup/50g/1.7ozs. parmesan cheese, grated
- 20 sheets lasagne pasta (to make 8 layers of pasta)
Step 1 - Saute the onions in the oil until softened. Add the garlic and saute for 1 minute. Then add the spinach and cook until the water has evaporated. Cool.
Step 2 - In a food processor, blend the ricotta, feta, eggs and parmesan. Then add the spinach mixture and blend. Set aside (you can do this the night before too).
Step 3 - Make the bechamel sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan and then add the flour and cook for a minute. Then add the milk in 4-6 lots slowly at first whisking to combine it slowly until all the milk has been added and there are no lumps. You should have a silky mixture. Add the cheese and nutmeg and stir. Season with salt and pepper.
Step 4 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Spray a lasagne tray 23x33cms with oil. Spread some bechamel on the base. Then layer with pasta, then the tomato pasta sauce. Then keep layering with the spinach and bechamel making the last layer pasta and then the tomato pasta sauce on top. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and parmesan. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes turning around halfway to ensure even browning. Allow to cool for 2 hours.
Note: to cut the lasagna cleanly, refrigerate for 4-5 hours or overnight in the fridge and then slice.