Veggie Lasagna W Garlic Bread Crumb Topping Recipes

VEGGIE LASAGNA W/ GARLIC BREAD CRUMB TOPPING

Steps:

• In a large pot sauté chopped onion and garlic in olive oil over medium heat until almost transparent. Add all cans of tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir to blend. Reduce heat and add grated carrots and zucchini. Cook covered on medium low heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
• After sauce has cooked down and veggies have become al dente reduce heat to low and add tomato paste, chopped spinach/arugula greens and wine, if using. Adjust salt and pepper. Stir well and cover. Turn heat off and let sauce sit until you're ready to assemble your lasagna.
• Put a large pot of water with salt and olive oil on to heat up. Do not let it boil. Get out a large baking dish. (at least 11 x 14 x 2 1/2 deep) Make your cheese filling and bread crumb topping.
• In a large deep bowl pour carton of Ricotta and break up. Add shredded Mozzarella, Parmesan and shredded Provolone. Add herbs and stir well. Set aside. In a small food processor put bread, garlic powder and melted butter in and process until you have medium grain crumbs evenly coated with butter and garlic. Set aside.
• Add noodles to hot water and cook just until they get soft and pliable. Do not boil the noodles and do not overcook the noodles; they should be firm while assembling the lasagna. (They will cook the rest of the way in the oven and in the sauce.)
• Assembling the lasagna: Pour a couple of spoonful of sauce in the baking dish to coat the bottom. Top with 4 noodles lengthwise and one noodle widthwise. Add 1/3 of the cheese mixture over the noodles. Top with approx. 1/3 of the veggie sauce. Repeat with noodles, cheese and sauce until all is used. (I like to tuck in any noodles that may be standing up and will burn in the oven.) Sprinkle with Parmesan and or Mozzarella on top and bake in 325 oven for about 1 hour. In the last 10 minutes of baking put garlic bread crumbs on top of lasagna, spreading them evenly over the entire surface. Return to oven for the last 10 minutes of cooking. When the lasagna is hot and bubbly and the bread crumbs are toasty brown remove the pan from the oven and let sit for at least 10 minutes to settle before serving. This dish has everything in it to make a meal, but feel free to add your own sides to finish off your meal.
• Note: Use whatever vegetables you prefer. I have made it with asparagus, mushrooms, olives and other squashes. Experiment with the flavors your family likes.