Dairy Matzo Lasagna Recipes

PASSOVER MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Soak matzo sheets in a large bowl of hot water until tender, about 30 seconds. Drain. Combine eggs, cottage cheese, and 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese in a bowl. Pour 1/2 of a cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Place 2 matzo sheets over the sauce, then pour another layer of sauce over the sheets. Spread 1/2 of the cheese mixture on top, then another layer of sauce. Continue layering until all the matzo sheets are used, finishing with a layer of sauce. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbly, 30 to 40 minutes.

EGGPLANT MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until the onions are translucent and very soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, until the tomato paste deepens in color, about 4 minutes. Add the wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the pot, until the liquid mostly evaporates, about 3 minutes. Add the crushed and diced tomatoes, 2 teaspoons salt and several grinds of black pepper. Rinse out each tomato can with 1/2 cup of water and add it to the sauce. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until reduced by about one-fourth and thickened, about 1 hour.
• Blend the sauce with an immersion blender until smooth. Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper and stir in the basil. Set aside (see Cook's Note).
• For the eggplant: Arrange the eggplant slices on a rack set over a baking sheet and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon salt. Set aside to draw moisture out from the eggplant, flipping them over halfway through, about 30 minutes.
• Combine the matzo meal, thyme, oregano, 1 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a shallow bowl. Whisk the eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper together in another shallow bowl.
• Blot the eggplant slices very dry on both sides with paper towels. Working one slice at a time, dip the eggplant into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl, then dredge it in the matzo mixture, pressing gently to coat. Place coated slices back on the rack and repeat with the remaining eggplant.
• Pour enough oil into a large skillet to reach a depth of about 1/4 inch and heat over medium-high heat until very hot and shimmering and a slice of eggplant immediately sizzles as when it touches the oil. Working in batches, fry the slices until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Place cooked eggplant back on the rack to drain and season lightly with salt while hot. Repeat until all the eggplant is fried.
• For the ricotta filling: In a medium bowl, stir the ricotta, Parmesan, egg, basil, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper together. Refrigerate until ready to assemble the lasagna.
• To assemble the lasagna: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray all sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan or casserole dish at least 2 1/2 inches deep with nonstick spray. Set aside 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce, 3/4 cup of the ricotta filling and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella.
• Spread 1 cup tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of the dish. Top the sauce with full sheets of matzo, then break others to fit as needed. Spread 3/4 cup ricotta filling evenly over the matzo with a small offset spatula. Layer one-third of the eggplant over the ricotta, top with one-third of the mozzarella and top with one-third of the remaining sauce. Repeat the layers of matzo, ricotta, eggplant, mozzarella and sauce two more times. Add a final layer of matzo, then spread with the reserved 3/4 cup ricotta, the reserved 3/4 cup sauce and sprinkle with the 1 1/2 cups reserved mozzarella and 3 tablespoons Parmesan.
• Spray a piece of foil large enough to fit over the baking dish generously with nonstick spray and cover the baking dish tightly. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the matzo is soft and the sauce is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake until the mozzarella is lightly browned in spots, 15 to 20 minutes longer. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

EASY PASSOVER LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat ricotta cheese and eggs together in a bowl.
• Briefly pass each matzah sheet under warm running water; layer moistened sheets on a plate.
• Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of a deep 11x15-inch baking dish; top with a layer of moistened matzah sheets, breaking pieces as needed to completely cover marinara. Spread a layer of ricotta mixture over matzah mixture. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over ricotta mixture layer. Repeat layering with remaining ingredients, ending with a layer of matzah, marinara, and mozzarella cheese, respectively.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is bubbling and browned, about 45 minutes.

MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large saute pan over medium-low heat, melt butter. Add onions, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• Add chard, and cook, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon for about 10 seconds. Cover, and cook until chard is wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in ricotta, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Meanwhile, place matzoh in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Cover with 6 cups water. Add remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Let stand until soft, about 2 minutes. Drain matzoh; dry baking dish.
• In the same baking dish, arrange one-third of the drained matzoh in an even layer. It may be necessary to break some of the pieces for even coverage. Spread half the ricotta mixture evenly over the matzoh, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Fontina. Repeat with remaining matzoh, ricotta mixture, and Fontina, finishing with a layer of matzoh. Sprinkle remaining 2 cups Fontina cheese evenly over the top. Bake until the cheese has melted and is beginning to brown, about 45 minutes.

MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large pot over medium, heat oil, and stir in garlic, anchovies (if using), pepper and red-pepper flakes. Cook until garlic starts to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Use your hands to squeeze and crush the whole tomatoes as you add them to the pot, along with any liquid in the cans (or use kitchen shears to cut the tomatoes in the can). Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and rosemary sprig, bring to a gentle simmer, and simmer at medium-low heat for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together ricotta, egg, basil, pepper, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and nutmeg.
• To assemble the lasagna, spread generous 1/2 cup sauce on the bottom of a 9-by-13 baking dish. Place matzo crackers in an even layer on top, breaking crackers to fit as necessary.
• Spread half the ricotta mixture over the matzo layer, spreading all the way to the edges. Top with generous 3/4 cup tomato sauce, then scatter with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
• Repeat matzo, ricotta, tomato sauce, and mozzarella layers.
• Top with a final layer of matzo, then spread remaining tomato sauce (about 2 cups) on top, making sure all of the matzo is covered. Top with remaining mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
• Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until cheese is golden and sauce is bubbly, about 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then serve topped with more basil, a drizzle of olive oil and more red-pepper flakes, if you like.

DAIRY MATZO LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-low heat. Add onions, 1 tsp kosher salt (or 1/2 t table salt), 1/4 tsp pepper and sugar. Saute, stirring occasionally, until caramelized and brown, about 30 minutes.
• Add chard and cover. Cook until chard is wilted, about 3 minutes. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, then transfer to a bowl. Add ricotta, eggs, 1/2 t kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt) and remaining pepper, and stir to combine.
• Place matzos in a 13x9x2 baking dish. Cover with 6 cups warm water. Add remaining salt. Let stand until soft, 2-3 minutes. Drain matzos and dry out dish.
• Place 1/3 of drained matzos in the bottom of the dish, breaking pieces if necessary to get a single layer. Top with half the ricotta mixture, spreading evenly, then cover with 1/4 c grated Fontina. Repeat with another 1/3 of the matzos, the remaining ricotta mixture, and another 1/4 c of the Fontina. Top with remaining matzo, then cover evenly with the remaining 2 c Fontina. Bake until cheese is melted and bubbly and beginning to brown, about 45 minutes.

YAYA'S MATZAH LASAGNA (DAIRY)

Steps:

• Combine milk, ricotta cheese, eggs, salt and pepper and 1 cup of sour cream in a medium sized bowl. Set remaining sour cream aside to serve with prepared matzo lasagna.
• Grease a baking dish with margarine.
• Cover bottom of baking dish with a single layer of matzah. Spoon 1/3 of the mixture over matzah and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Repeat twice, ending off with shredded cheese.
• Bake covered at 350°F for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for a further 15-20 minutes until top is bubbly and golden.
• Serve hot, topped with a dollop of sour cream.