Mushroom, Sausage & Spinach Lasagna by Rev. Carol A. Ingle (Raven)

[Dept of PMM Artists & things]

Mushroom, Sausage & Spinach Lasagna

This Italian classic is made healthier with whole-wheat lasagna noodle that are higher in fiber than white noodles. To make this dish vegetarian, substitute a sausage-style soy product, such as Gimme Lean.

Ingredients:

8 ounces lasagna noodles, preferably whole-wheat
1 pound lean spicy Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
4 cups sliced mushrooms (10 ounces)
1/4 cup water
1 pound frozen spinach, thawed
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes, preferably chunky
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste
1 pound part-skim ricotta cheese (2 cups)
8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 2 cups), divided

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9” x 13” glass baking dish with cooking spray. Put a large pot of water on to boil.

2. Cook noodles in the boiling water until not quite al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain, return the noodles to the pot, cover with cool water and set aside.

3. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and water; cook, stirring occasionally and crumbling the sausage more, until the sausage is cooked through, the water has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Squeeze spinach to remove excess water, then stir into the pan; remove from heat.

4. Mix tomatoes with basil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

5. To assemble lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup of the tomatoes in the prepared baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top, trimming to fit if necessary. Evenly dollop half the ricotta over the noodles. Top with half the sausage mixture, one-third of the remaining tomatoes and one-third of the mozzarella. Continue with another layer of noodles, the remaining ricotta, the remaining sausage, half the remaining tomatoes and half the remaining mozzarella. Top with a third layer of noodles and the remaining tomatoes.

6. Cover the lasagna with foil and bake until bubbling and heated through, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on the lasagna. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is just melted but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.