Retro Recipe Seafood Lasagna Revised December 2018

RETRO RECIPE: SEAFOOD LASAGNA (REVISED DECEMBER 2018)

Steps:

• Generously butter bottom and sides of 11x13 inch glass pyrex casserole dish and if using dried pasta noodles, cook as directed on the side of the box; drain well and toss with a little olive oil to avoid sticking while making the remainder of the dish. If using frozen or fresh flat pasta, no need to cook.
• Cover prepared bottom of 11x13 inch casserole dish with pasta noodles and pre-heat oven to 350°F if baking (I often make ahead and freeze, then bake another day)
• Saute onion in butter; add cream cheese, basil, salt and pepper and turn off heat when cream cheese is partially melted continuing to stir until cheese is fully melted via the retained heat of the pan
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl, mix eggs into cottage cheese, then add to onion mixture and stir well to fulling incorporate all ingredients (There will be a little over 5 1/2 cups)
• Spread half cheese mixture (2 3/4 cups) over first layer of pasta noodles and cover with another layer of noodles
• In large bowl place mushroom soup with wine or vermouth and stir well to combine
• Strain crabmeat and shrimp to ensure all liquid is dispelled; pat shrimp dry and combine in medium bowl
• Add flour to crab/shrimp mixture, stir to combine, then add to larger bowl with mushroom/vermouth and mix together
• Place half seafood mixture (about 2 1/2 cups) over the second layer of pasta noodles and spread to cover evenly
• Repeat layers, starting with noodles and ending with seafood
• Sprinkle top with Parmesan and bake or freeze
• Leave uncovered, bake at 350°F for 75 minutes, checking every 30 minutes and cover with foil to avoid over-browning, if necessary
• After 60 minutes in the oven, add cheddar cheese to cover casserole; bake remaining 15 minutes until melted
• Remove from oven and rest 20 to 30 minutes to enable slicing without oozing, lightly tented with foil
• Slice into generous slabs, serve with a crisp green salad and enjoy!
• Wrap well with plastic wrap, cover with foil and freeze, clearly dated and labelled
• Also freezes well sliced and well wrapped in individual portions, after baked

SEAFOOD LASAGNA II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sautee garlic and mushrooms until tender. Pour in 2 jars Alfredo sauce. Stir in shrimp, scallops and crabmeat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until heated through. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg and pepper.
• In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer noodles, ricotta mixture, Alfredo mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ensuring that there is shredded cheese for the top.
• Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover, and bake 15 minutes.

MOM'S SEAFOOD LASAGNA

Steps:

• For the seafood: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shrimp, garlic and seafood seasoning and cook until the shrimp turn pink, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the shrimp from the skillet.
• Add the wine and lemon juice to the skillet, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Bring to a simmer and cook until the mixture is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the shrimp and crabmeat.
• Make the béchamel sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until combined. Gradually add the milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the Romano until melted. Set aside.
• Make the spinach-artichoke ricotta: Stir together the ricotta, spinach, artichoke hearts, mozzarella, breadcrumbs, lemon zest and egg until combined. Season with salt. Fold in 1 cup of the béchamel sauce.
• Assemble the lasagna: Spread about 1/2 cup of the béchamel sauce in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Top with 3 to 4 lasagna noodles and about 2/3 cup béchamel sauce. Top with half of the spinach-artichoke ricotta and half of the seafood. Repeat the layers once. Top with the remaining 3 to 4 lasagna noodles and béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with the mozzarella and Romano.
• Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil (coat with cooking spray before adding to the top to prevent the cheese from sticking). Bake, covered, until the lasagna is bubbly, about 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until the noodles are tender and the top is golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and let stand for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.