Grilled Summer Vegetable Lasagna Recipes

INDIVIDUAL VEGETABLE LASAGNAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a saute pan over medium heat, add extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the carrot and cook for 3 minutes. Add the zucchini and squash cook for 5 minutes. Add asparagus and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat when all vegetables are completely cooked but still have a good crunch. Allow to cool.
• Using a 6-inch round cookie cutter, cut circles out of the lasagna sheets. You will need 18 circles. Coat the bottom of 6 (6-inch) gratin dishes with a teaspoon of tomato sauce in each. Place a circle of pasta on the bottom of each ramekin. Rinse the beans with water and season with salt and pepper. Divide the beans between each ramekin. Next, divide the spinach between the ramekins. Place a second layer of pasta on top and gently press down. Divide the sauteed vegetables among the ramekins and top with a tablespoon of tomato sauce in each. Place the third layer of pasta in each ramekin and coat with a tablespoon of tomato sauce. Sprinkle ramekins with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and top each with 1/2 tablespoon of butter. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and place gratin dishes on top. Bake in oven for 20 minutes or until brown and bubbling.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

GRILLED VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush the vegetables with 1/4 cup of the oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions. Arrange the vegetables on a platter. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herb mixture over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables, warm or at room temperature.

GRILLED LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium. Combine the mozzarella, parmesan, red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and all but 1/4 teaspoon garlic in a bowl; drizzle with olive oil and toss. Season the sliced tomatoes with salt. Lay out 4 double-layer sheets of nonstick foil. Drizzle each with olive oil, top with 1 noodle and sprinkle each noodle with 1 tablespoon water. Divide half each of the spinach, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella mixture among the noodles. Repeat to make another layer of noodles, water, spinach, tomatoes and mozzarella mixture. Finish each stack with a noodle, 1 tablespoon water and a drizzle of olive oil. Bring the foil together and crimp tightly closed to make 4 flat packets. Grill the packets, covered, until tender, about 10 minutes per side. Let rest 5 minutes. Meanwhile, mix the grated tomatoes, a pinch of salt, the reserved 1/4 teaspoon garlic and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a bowl. Open the packets and cut the lasagna in half, if desired. Top with the tomato mixture, ricotta and herbs.

SUMMER VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425.
• To prepare the veggies: In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Once shimmering, add the carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, yellow onion, and salt. Cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until the veggies are golden on the edges, about 8 to 12 minutes.
• Add a few large handfuls of spinach. Cook, stirring frequently,until the spinach is wilted. Repeat with remaining spinach and cook until all of the spinach has wilted, about 3 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and set aside.
• Meanwhile, to prepare the tomato sauce: Pour the tomatoes into a mesh sieve or fine colander and drain off the excess juice for a minute. Then, transfer the drained tomatoes to the bowl of a food processor. Add the basil, olive oil, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes.
• Pulse the mixture about 10 times, until the tomatoes have broken down to an easily spreadable consistency. Pour the mixture into a bowl for later (you should have a little over 2 cups sauce). Rinse out the food processor. Add the basil,olive oil, garlic, salt, and red pepper flakes.
• Pour half of the cottage cheese (1 cup) into the processor and blend it until smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl. No need to rinse out the bowl of the food processor this time. Just put it back onto the machine because you'll need it later.
• Transfer the cooked veggies and spinach mixture to the bowl of the food processor. Pulse until they are more finely chopped (but not pureed), about 5 to 7 times, stopping to scrape down the sides as necessary. Transfer the mixture to the bowl of whipped cottage cheese. Top with the remaining cottage cheese, then add 1/4 tsp to 1/2 tsp salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine.
• Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce evenly over the bottom of a 9x9 inch baking dish. Layer 3 lasagna noodles on top (snap off their ends to fit, and/or overlap their edges as necessary). Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the noodles. Top with 3/4 cup tomato sauce, then sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheese on top.
• Top with 3 more noodles, followed by the remaining cottage cheese mixture (we're skipping the tomato sauce in this layer). Sprinkle 1/2 cup shredded cheese on top.
• Top with 3 or more noodles, then spread 3/4 cup tomato sauce over the top (you may have a little sauce left over) to evenly cover the noodles. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup shredded cheese.
• Wrap a sheet of parchment paper or foil around the top of the lasagna (don't let it come in contact with the cheese). Bake, covered, for 18 minutes, then remove the cover, rotate the pan by 180 and continue cooking for about 10 to 12 more minutes, until the top is turning spotty brown.
• Remove from the oven and let the lasagna cool for 15 to 20 minutes, so it has time to cool to a reasonable temperature. Sprinkle additional basil over the top, then slice and serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Coat veggies in olive oil, salt & pepper, and grill until charred. (Note: Grill a few extra veggies and save them in the fridge until you're ready to make this. No need to fire up the grill just for this recipe.).
• Sautee onion in a little olive oil until soft and translucent. Add the pressed garlic and wine and cook until wine has reduced by at least half.
• Add in tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, half the parsley, red pepper flakes, and salt & pepper (to your taste).
• While the sauce is simmering over low heat, combine the cottage cheese, ricotta, the remaining parsley, salt & pepper, and egg in a bowl and mix well.
• Spray a lasagna pan with non-stick spray. Spoon in 1/2 cup sauce and spread over the bottom. Layer as follows: noodles, half the cheese mixture, half the veggies, half the sauce, shredded cheese. Repeat once more, ending with the shredded mozzarella.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking until the top layer of cheese is golden.

GRILLED VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat grill.
• Coat eggplants and zucchini with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 1/2 t salt and 1/4 t pepper. Grill eggplant and zucchini 1 1/2 min on each side or just until tender. Cool; combine in a large bowl.
• Place bell peppers on grill, skin-side down; grill 3 min or til tender. Cut into 1 inch wide strips. Add bell peppers to eggplant mixture.
• Combine ricotta, egg, 1/2 c asiago, basil, parsley, remaining 1/2 t salt, and 1/2 t pepper.
• Cook pasta according to pkg.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Spread 1/2 c sauce on bottom of 13x9 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 3 noodles over sauce. Top with half of the eggplant mixture. Spread half of ricotta mixture over eggplant mixture; sprinkle with 1/4 c mozzarella.
• Arrange 3 noodles and 1 c sauce over cheese; cover with remaining eggplant mixture. Top with remaining ricotta mixture. Spread pesto over ricotta; sprinkle with 1/4 c mozzarella. Cover with remaining 3 noodles. Spoon 1 c sauce over noodles. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 c asiago and mozzarella.
• Bake at 375°F for 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

GRILLED SUMMER VEGETABLE LASAGNA

Steps:

• In a medium size pot, place potatoes, garlic cloves and salt. Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tip of knife pierces the flesh, approximately 12-15 minutes. Potatoes should be firm enough to grill. Drain and spread out on sheet pan to slightly cool and dry. Reserve garlic for lasagna assembly.
• Preheat gas grill to medium high. Brush potatoes, squash and onions with olive oil; place on grill, turning frequently to roast all sides. After 10-15 minutes, when vegetables are browned and tender, remove from grill. Allow to slightly cool, remove root from onions and roughly chop. Quarter the potatoes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In bowl of stand mixer or food processor, combine cream cheese, half of asiago cheese and egg. Add black pepper to taste.
• Pour half of sauce on bottom of 9 x 13 baking dish. Layer as follows: Five noodles, cheese and egg mixture, potatoes and garlic, five noodles, remaining sauce, onions and squash, top with remaining asiago cheese.
• Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.