Deep Dish Mediterranean Style Lasagna Recipes

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Coat 9x13 glass baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
• In a large skillet brown Laura's Lean 92% Ground Beef with onion; drain.
• Add jar of puttanesca pasta sauce to meat and stir to combine.
• In a small mixing bowl combine ricotta cheese and 1 1/2 tablespoons oregano.
• To make lasagna with three layers: place one layer pasta (3 sheets lasagna) in bottom of baking dish, thin layer of meat sauce (approximately 1 cup per layer), 8 tablespoons ricotta cheese (spread with spoon), 1/3 cup greek feta cheese, 2 cups spinach, and repeat two more times. Placing a layer of sliced tomatoes in the middle and on the top layers of lasagna.
• Top with remaining oregano and ricotta cheese mixture.
• Drizzle water around the outside edge of pan, cover with foil, and bake for 35-40 minutes or until center pierces easily with fork.
• To serve: sprinkle with parsley and Greek feta cheese.
• Enjoy your Mediterranean Lasagna Recipe! :)

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions, just until al dente. Toss in olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a small bowl, combine ricotta, egg, 1 teaspoon oregano, and a couple large pinches of salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large saute pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic and 1 teaspoon of oregano. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Add feta and heavy cream to the pan.
• Stir to combine and cook for 3-5 minutes or until the feta melts into a creamy sauce.
• Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 a cup of Parmesan until melted. Set aside.
• Spread 1/2 a cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Layer 4 noodles on top of the sauce, overlapping them slightly. Spread half the ricotta mixture in an even layer over the noodles.
• Then spread the spinach and artichoke hearts in an even layer.
• Add 1/2 a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and drizzle 1/2 a cup of sauce over the mozzarella.
• Add 4 more noodles, overlapping them slightly.
• Spread all of the feta mixture in an even layer on top of the noodles. Add sun-dried tomatoes and add another 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella.
• Add 4 noodles, overlapping slightly. Then spread the remaining ricotta on top and arrange zucchini slices in a single layer.
• Add another 1/2 cup of shredded mozzarella. Then drizzle another 1/2 cup of sauce.
• Add the remaining 4 noodles, overlapping slightly.
• Add remaining sauce, spreading it in an even layer. Top with remaining mozzarella and add 1/2 a cup of shredded Parmesan.
• Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10 minutes. Broil for 1-2 minutes.
• Let baked lasagna rest for 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and enjoy!

EGGPLANT LASAGNA RECIPE

Steps:

• Season the eggplant slices on both sides with kosher salt and set aside for 20 to 30 minutes (if you don't have the time, this step can be optional).
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and position a rack in the middle.
• Wipe the eggplant slices very well with a paper towel (you want to dry it well and remove any excess salt), then arrange on lightly oiled baking sheet (or two if needed). Brush the top of the eggplant with extra virgin olive oil. Roast in the heated oven until the eggplant softens and becomes pliable (about 15 to 20 minutes or so).
• While the eggplant is roasting, prepare the ricotta filling. In a mixing bowl, beat the egg. Add the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, ¼ Parmesan, garlic, oregano, spinach and chopped herbs. Add a small pinch of kosher salt and black pepper to your liking. Mix well to combine.
• Remove the eggplant from the oven. Lower the heat to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Pour a bit of the pasta sauce (about ½ cup or so) and spread it out into one layer. Lay a few eggplant slices (anywhere from 4 to 6 and it's fine if they overlap a bit). Spread 1/2 of the ricotta filling, then spread a thin layer of the sauce. Repeat the process in the same pattern. Spread the final layer of sauce and follow with the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup of Parmesan.
• Cover the dish tightly with foil. Bake in the heated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully uncover and return to the oven. Bake for another 10 to 20 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the edges of the lasagna turn a nice golden brown.
• Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Use a mandolin to thinly slice, about an 1/8th inch thick, the zucchini and eggplant into long strips. Line two half sheet trays with paper towel and lay the strips of vegetables over the lined sheet trays. Evenly sprinkle the salt over the vegetables and then top them with another sheet of paper towel. Continue to layer the vegetables and paper towels in single layers until all the vegetables are covered. Let the vegetables stand while you prep the rest of the ingredients, at least 30 minutes; the vegetables will let off their excess moisture.
• Meanwhile bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Lay the lasagna noodles on a sheet tray in an even layer. Carefully pour the hot, salted water over the noodles. Let the noodles soak for 20 minutes to soften.
• Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook about 6-8 minutes or until softened and the excess liquid has evaporated from the pan. Season with salt. Stir in the garlic and cook an additional minute or until fragrant. Next add the spinach to the pan and cook until wilted. Season the mixture again with salt to taste once the spinach has completely wilted and excess liquid has cooked off. Turn the heat off and let the mixture cool.
• To a large bowl combine the ricotta, lemon zest, spinach and mushroom mixture, parsley, basil, dried oregano and red pepper flakes. Season the ricotta mixture with salt to taste.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish evenly spread 3/4 cup of tomato sauce over the bottom. Top the sauce with 4 lasagna noodles. Evenly spread one third of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Next, shingle half of the eggplant slices over the ricotta and press down on the eggplant firmly to ensure the layers are even. Spread another 3/4 cup of sauce over the eggplant followed by half of the zucchini. Again, press down on the zucchini to keep the layers even. Spread another third of the ricotta over the zucchini, followed by four more noodles and another 3/4 cup tomato sauce. Shingle the remaining eggplant over the sauce and press firmly down on the eggplant. Spread the remaining ricotta over the top, the last four noodles and another 3/4 cup tomato sauce. Shingle the zucchini over the top of the lasagna and sprinkle the top with shaved parmesan.
• Place the lasagna in the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the lasagna is bubbling on the sides and the cheese is beginning to brown on top. Remove from the oven and let stand 15 minutes before cutting and serving.
• Nutrition Info Per Serving.
• Calories: 361.
• Total Fat: 15 grams.
• Saturated Fat: 7 grams.
• Total Carbohydrate: 40 grams.
• Sugars: 12 grams.
• Protein: 6 grams.
• Sodium: 886 milligrams.
• Cholesterol: 34 milligrams.
• Fiber: 6 gram.

CLASSIC LASAGNA

Steps:

• Make the sauce: Heat oil in a large, heavy bottomed pot over medium heat. Add sausage, if using, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it's starting to brown but not yet crisp, about 5 minutes.
• Add onion and garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is totally softened and translucent (without letting it brown), 8 to 10 minutes. Add tomato paste and continue to cook, stirring until the tomato paste has turned a deeper brick red color, tinting the oil and onions a fiery orange color, about 2 minutes.
• Using your hands, crush the whole tomatoes into smaller, bite-size pieces and add them and the crushed tomatoes, stirring to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Fill one of the tomato cans halfway with water and add it to the pot. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomato sauce has thickened and flavors have come together, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Make the lasagna: Heat oven to 375 degrees and set a large pot of salted water to boil.
• Set aside 1 cup mozzarella. In a medium bowl, combine remaining mozzarella, ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan and cream; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Cook lasagna noodles in the large pot of salted boiling water until just softened (before they are even aldente), about 4 minutes. Drain and separate any noodles that are trying to stick together, slicking them with a bit of olive oil to prevent them from sticking further.
• Spoon a bit of sauce on the bottom of a 3-quart baking dish and top with a layer of noodles, avoiding any heavy overlap.
• Top with about 1 ¼ cups of sauce, and dollop ¼ of the cheese mixture over. Top with another layer of noodles and repeat three more times, ending with the last of the noodles (depending on size of the noodle/shape of the baking dish, you may have a few extra noodles) and the last of the sauce. Top with reserved 1 cup mozzarella and more Parmesan, if you like.
• Cover loosely with aluminum foil and place baking dish on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet (to prevent any overflow from burning on the bottom of your oven).
• Bake until pasta is completely tender and cooked through and sauce is bubbling up around the edges, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove foil and increase temperature to 450 degrees. Continue to bake until lasagna is golden brown on top with frilly, crispy edges and corners, another 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool slightly before eating.

DEEP DISH LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add lasagna noodles and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• In skillet over medium heat, brown the sausage with the onions, garlic and 1/2 the parsley; drain excess fat. Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, oregano, and basil; mix well. Simmer, covered, for 5 minutes; stirring occasionally.
• In a bowl, combine remaining parsley and ricotta, spinach, Parmesan, eggs, garlic salt, and pepper; mix well.
• Spread 2 cups sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Begin layering with 4 noodles, 1/2 cheese mix, 1/3 remaining sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat this layer again; the last layer will be noodles, sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cover pan with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil; bake, uncovered, an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and starting to brown. Let cool 10 minutes before serving.

THE BIG LASAGNA

Steps:

• Prepare the ricotta filling: If using fresh spinach, set a large skillet over high heat. (If using thawed frozen spinach, skip to Step 2.) When hot, add 2 tablespoons oil and half the fresh spinach. Season with a pinch of salt and sauté to wilt. Cook until stems are tender, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and allow to cool in a single layer. Repeat with remaining spinach.
• While spinach cools, combine ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, basil and a generous pinch of salt in a large bowl.
• Taking handfuls of the cooled or thawed spinach, squeeze out as much water as possible, then chop finely and add to cheese mixture. Mix thoroughly, then taste and adjust seasoning for salt. (Filling makes about 6 cups.) Cover and set aside until ready to assemble lasagna. (Ricotta filling can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before assembling lasagna.)
• Prepare the béchamel: Set a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat and add butter. Once butter has melted, whisk in flour, reduce heat to very low and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent browning. After the mixture foams a bit, it will visibly transform - the butter will separate, the bubbles will reduce in size, and the mixture will look like freshly wet fine sand. Whisking vigorously, slowly pour in milk. Increase heat to medium and whisk until the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg (if using) to taste.
• Return heat to low. Continue cooking, whisking regularly, for 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce is thick and smooth, with no raw flour flavor. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt. If béchamel is lumpy, strain through a fine sieve or purée with an immersion blender. (You'll have about 3 1/2 cups.) Press a piece of parchment or plastic against the surface of the sauce to prevent a skin from forming and set aside until ready to assemble lasagna. (Béchamel can be made up to 1 day in advance, covered directly and refrigerated. Return to room temperature before using.)
• Prepare the lasagna: Position the highest rack in the oven so that it sits about 6 inches below the top. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• If tomato sauce, béchamel and ricotta filling are cold, bring to room temperature or warm them as needed.
• Set a large pot of water over high heat. Cover and bring to a boil. Set a large colander in a baking dish and place near stove.
• Season the boiling water generously with salt until it tastes like sea water. Carefully lay one sheet of pasta on the water's surface. Let it be completely immersed in the boiling water, using a slotted spoon to gently it push down if needed, before adding the next sheet. Add two more pasta sheets in this way and cook for about 2 minutes, or until light in color, floppy in texture and completely cooked through. If pasta bubbles above the water's surface, use a slotted spoon to encourage it back in. Use a sieve to gently remove pasta from the water and into the prepared colander. Rinse under cold water until cool enough to handle, then begin assembly. Continue cooking, draining and rinsing pasta two or three sheets at a time as you assemble lasagna.
• Spoon about 3/4 cup béchamel into a 9-by-13-inch metal, glass or ceramic baking pan, and use a rubber spatula or your hands to generously coat bottom and sides of pan with sauce.
• Gently squeezing any remaining water from the pasta, use two or three sheets to entirely cover the bottom of the pan with minimal overlap, and leave ends hanging over sides. (They'll be helpful for sealing the top.) All four sides need not have overhang; two is plenty.
• Crumble about 1/3 of the ricotta mixture evenly over pasta to create foundation, then layer with sheets of pasta from edge to edge of pan. Use kitchen shears to help trim pasta to appropriate size and avoid overlap.
• Spread about 1/3 of the tomato sauce over next layer and cover with pasta.
• Spread about 1 cup béchamel evenly over next layer, sprinkle with 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and cover with pasta.
• Repeat with remaining layers: ricotta, tomato sauce, béchamel and Parmesan, ricotta, tomato sauce, béchamel and Parmesan, following each with a layer of pasta. (If using thicker noodles, you might not be able to fit 8 layers of noodles in the pan. If using store-bought or dried pasta, you can skip the noodle layer between the ricotta and tomato sauce as needed to prevent the lasagna from stretching higher than the top of the pan.)
• For the top, fold overhanging pasta over a whole sheet to create a sealed pasta layer, then spread with remaining béchamel. Gently cover lasagna with a piece of parchment and wrap tightly with foil. Place onto a baking sheet to catch any overflow and bake on prepared rack.
• After 40 minutes, pull lasagna from oven and carefully remove foil and parchment. Sprinkle with grated mozzarella and return to oven until golden brown and bubbling on surface, about 20 minutes.
• Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Leftover lasagna can be wrapped and refrigerated for up to 4 days. To freeze, bake 30 minutes but do not brown, then cool, and freeze for up to 4 weeks. Defrost, then sprinkle with mozzarella and bake uncovered at 400 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes until golden brown and bubbling on surface.

THE ULTIMATE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook the lasagna noodles in plenty of boiling salted water until pliable and barely tender, about 10 minutes. Stir with a wooden spoon to prevent sticking. Drain the noodles thoroughly and coat with olive oil to keep them moist and easy to work with.
• Coat a large skillet with olive oil, add beef and sausage and brown until no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. In a food processor, combine the onion, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, parsley, an oregano. Process until pureed, add to the pan with the ground meat and stir to combine. Stir in the flour. Add the wine and cook until it has reduced by half. Stir in the tomatoes and add the heavy cream and the cinnamon.
• In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta and the parmesan. Stir in the eggs and season with salt and pepper.
• To assemble the lasagna: Coat the bottom of a deep 13 by 9-inch pan with olive oil. Arrange 4 noodles lengthwise in a slightly overlapping layer on the sauce. Then, line each end of the pan with a lasagna noodle. This forms a collar that holds in the corners. Dollop 1/2 of the ricotta mixture over the pasta, spread to the edges with a spatula. Spread 1/2 of the meat mixture over the ricotta. Sprinkle 1/2 of the mozzarella on top of the ricotta. Top with a ladle full of sauce, spread evenly. Repeat with the next layer of noodles, ricotta, sauce, and cheeses. Top last layer with noodles, sauce, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan. Tap the pan to force out air bubbles. Bake for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Let lasagna rest for 30 minutes so the noodles will settle and cut easily. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve.

DEEP-DISH MEDITERRANEAN-STYLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium heat.
• Trim and discard ends of zucchini and eggplant. Cut trimmed vegetables into thin lengthwise slices; place in large bowl. Add oil and pepper; toss until vegetables are evenly coated with oil mixture.
• Grill 2 to 4 min. on each side or until vegetables are tender. Set aside.
• Heat oven to 350º F.
• Blend ketchup, onions, water, tomato paste, olives, herbs, capers and garlic in blender until smooth; pour into medium bowl. Stir in Parmesan.
• Break each lasagna noodle into thirds.
• Spread 1/4 cup ketchup mixture onto bottom of 9x5-inch loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray. Top with 3 noodle pieces, thin layer of remaining ketchup mixture, and half each of the zucchini and eggplant slices. Repeat layers; cover with remaining noodles. Spread with remaining ketchup mixture; sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover.
• Bake 45 min. or until heated through, uncovering for the last 15 min. Let stand 5 min. before cutting to serve.

NOR'S MEATY DEEP DISH LASAGNA

Steps:

• 1. Make sauce: it is easier to make a day ahead. Pour the 3 jars of sauce in to a large pot. Add all seasonings and stir to combine. Set on low heat uncovered. Stir occasionally.
• 2. Heat oven to 425 degree's. On a foil lined baking sheet. Line up sausages. Bake and turn occasionally until cooked through. 30 minutes or more. Remove from oven to cool
• 3. While sausages are baking. Cook and drain hamburger. Add to sauce.
• 4. Cook chopped green pepper and onion together in a TBS of olive oil mixed with a TBS of butter. Cook on med high stirring until cooked. Add to sauce.
• 5. Fry mushrooms in butter olive oil mixture until done. Add to sauce.
• 6. Add garlic to sauce. Slice cooled sausage into 1/2 inch slices. Add to sauce to combine. Cook sauce uncovered on medium until it boils. Reduce to simmer. Simmer about 2 hours stirring occasionally. Proceed on,with recipe, or cool and refrigerate over night. ( do not refrigerate sauce while hot. Doing that sours the sauce.)
• 7. Cook Lasagna noodles per instructions on box. I layer cooked moodles between parchment paper on a sheet pan to prevent sticking.
• 8. Mix cottage cheese with Parmesan cheese, basil salt and pepper. Beat eggs and combine with cheese. Set aside.
• 9. Heat oven to 375 degree's. Place some sauce in bottom of foil pan to cover bottom. I remove sausage from it after spreading on bottom only. Place noodles length wise in pan on top of sauce. Use enough noodles to cover the width ( occasionslly I have to cut a noodle in half. 3 1/2 noodles.
• 10. Spread enough cottage cheese mixture to cover noodles. Sprinkle a little mozzarella over it. Top with noodles. Sauce, noodles, cottage cheese cheese etc. continue layering.
• 11. Last layer should be sauce and lots of Mozzarella on top. Place Lasagna on baking sheet. Spray dull side of aluminum foil with vegetable oil spray. Lay over top of Lasagna. Place in oven and bake until bubbly about 1 1/2 hours. Remove foil from top the last 15 minutes of baking. Remove from oven and let sit about 30 minutes before slicing.

OVERNIGHT MEDITERRANEAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• In medium bowl, combine pasta sauce, olives and water; blend well. In another medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, lemon juice and oregano; mix well.
• In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish or lasagna pan, spread 1 cup of pasta sauce mixture. Top with 4 uncooked noodles, half of the ricotta cheese mixture, half of the mozzarella cheese, half of the feta cheese and all of the spinach.
• Repeat layering with 1/2 cup sauce mixture, remaining 4 noodles, 1 cup of the remaining mozzarella cheese, remaining ricotta mixture, remaining feta cheese and remaining sauce mixture. Cover tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 12 hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Uncover baking dish; bake 35 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, an additional 15 to 20 minutes or until casserole is bubbly, noodles are tender, and cheese is melted. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.