Vegetarian Lasagna With Chavrie Goat Cheese Recipes

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA (THAT MEAT EATERS WILL LOVE!)

Steps:

• For this recipe, you are essentially just creating the different elements for the lasagna and then layering them. There is a tomato sauce layer, a pasta layer, a béchamel sauce layer, and a cheese layer.
• Saute the garlic and onion in a large, wide bottomed saucepan.
• Meanwhile chop up your zucchini, mushrooms, and tofu, if using. Size is what you prefer. You can put them through a food processor if you are running short on time or better yet, pass this job to your lowly sous-chef.
• When the onions are nearly softened, add the chopped veggies (and tofu) to the saucepan.
• Once the vegetables are somewhat softened, add the tomato puree, bay leaf, oregano, dried basil, chili powder, salt and pepper. Taste as you go for your preference in saltiness and spiciness. Remember, ambitious guests can always add more spice at the table.
• Bring the tomato sauce to a simmer and then keep it aside on a very low heat.
• Now create the béchamel sauce. Melt the butter into a saucepan and then slowly add the flour, stirring constantly as you go.
• Once the butter and flour are blended, slowly add the milk, again stirring as you do.
• Now add the softened goat cheese to the mixture and stir until blended. Spice the sauce with salt, pepper, and nutmeg to taste. Lastly, let simmer until thickened. Add milk if it thickens too quickly (you want a gravy consistency).
• Now you are ready for assembly. Pour a spoonful of sauce onto the bottom of a large (9x13 inch) baking dish (glass or aluminum) to just cover the surface. Then add a layer of lasagna noodles, a layer of sauce, a layer of mozzarella, and then another layer of lasagna. For the next layer, add a thick layer of the goat cheese bechemal sauce. Continue layering, adding in fresh basil leaves as you like in the middle layers. Finish off with a layer of lasagna topped with mozzarella.
• Bake about 25 minutes in ? degree oven and serve to great delight.
• NOTE: For a more robust tomato sauce, you can use Alan Leonetti's marinara sauce recipe (Recipe #84217), especially if you've made it in advance and frozen it.
• NOTE: Variation With Ground Beef: To make a more traditional meat lasagna I follow the same recipe as above but I omit the tofu (of course!) and the goat cheese. I still use the mushroom and courgette/zucchini but I cut back on the amount. I brown the beef in a separate pan and then combine it in the layer of tomato and vegetable sauce. The addition of the courgette/zucchini and mushroom in with the meat it usually a welcome twist!

ROASTED VEGETABLE LASAGNA WITH GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In pan, place bell peppers, summer squash, onion and mushrooms in single layer. Spray vegetables with cooking spray; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, turning vegetables once, until crisp-tender.
• Meanwhile, spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Cook and drain noodles as directed on package using minimum cook time. In medium bowl, crumble chèvre into pesto; stir.
• Spread 1/2 cup pasta sauce in baking dish; top with 3 noodles. Layer with half the pesto mixture and 2 cups of the vegetables. Top with 3 more noodles. Top with 3/4 cup sauce and 1 cup shredded cheese blend. Top with 2 cups vegetables, 3 noodles, remaining half of pesto mixture, 2 cups vegetables, 3 noodles and 3/4 cup sauce. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup shredded cheese over top.
• Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes or until hot. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

VEGETARIAN LASAGNA WITH CHAVRIE GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant and squash lengthwise into 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick strips. Lay the strips out on baking sheet pan and salt generously. Set aside.
• Slice the peppers lengthwise into 1 1/2-inch strips.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Mix the Chavrie®, olives, thyme, and eggs together in a bowl and season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
• Thoroughly wipe excess salt and moisture from eggplant and squash with paper towel.
• Spread 1 cup of the tomato sauce into the bottom of an 8x11-inch baking dish. Begin layering, remembering to season with pepper between each layer. Start with the eggplant and then summer squash , peppers and pasta.
• Spread sauce evenly over pasta.
• Dollop spoonfuls of the cheese mixture over the sauce cover.
• Repeat with the remaining eggplant, squash, goat cheese, and sauce.
• Sprinkle top layer with Parmesan and bake, covered, for 30 minutes, then uncover. Continue baking until the vegetables are tender and the sauce thickens, about 15 minutes more.
• Let lasagna stand for 10 minutes before slicing.