SPINACH, PESTO, AND FONTINA LASAGNA

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Spinach, Pesto, and Fontina Lasagna image

Provided by Jeanne Kelley

Categories     Pasta     Bake     Vegetarian     Dinner     Spinach     Family Reunion     Party     Fontina     Bon Appétit     Pescatarian     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free     Kosher

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 20

Sauce:
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups reduced-fat (2%) milk
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
Spinach:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
3 6-ounce packages baby spinach
Lasagna:
15 no-boil 7 x 3 1/2-inch lasagna noodles (from two 9-ounce packages)
3 1/2 cups fresh ricotta cheese* (28 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
1 large egg
2 cups coarsely grated Italian Fontina cheese (8 to 9 ounces), divided
Herb Pesto

Steps:

  • For sauce:
  • Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk 1 minute (do not brown). Add milk and wine and whisk until smooth. Cook until sauce thickens and comes to boil, whisking constantly, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in Parmesan cheese and salt. Season sauce to taste with pepper. DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.
  • For spinach:
  • Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic. Sauté until shallots soften, about 2 minutes. Add all spinach (pot will be full). Cook spinach until wilted but still bright green, tossing often, about 3 minutes. Using tongs, transfer spinach to large sieve set over bowl; reserve pot. Press out excess liquid from spinach. Drain 10 to 15 minutes longer.
  • Return drained liquid from spinach to reserved pot. Boil until liquid is reduced to glaze. Return spinach to pot and toss 1 minute. Remove spinach from heat. Mix in 1 1/2 cups sauce. Season spinach to taste with pepper.
  • For lasagna:
  • Place noodles in large bowl. Fill bowl with hot tap water. Soak noodles until pliable, stirring occasionally to separate, about 15 minutes. Place large sheet of parchment paper on work surface. Transfer noodles to parchment in single layer, shaking off excess water.
  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2- inch glass baking dish. Mix ricotta, Parmesan, and lemon peel in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt. Mix in egg.
  • Spread 1/2 cup sauce thinly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with 3 noodles, arranged side by side and covering most of bottom of dish. Spread half of spinach mixture over (about 1 1/2 cups). Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Fontina. Top with 3 noodles and half of ricotta mixture (generous 1 3/4 cups). Drop half of pesto over by teaspoonfuls, spacing drops evenly apart. Continue layering with 3 noodles, remaining spinach mixture, 1/3 cup Fontina, 3 more noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, then remaining pesto. Top with last 3 noodles. Spread remaining sauce over; sprinkle with remaining Fontina. Cover dish with buttered foil.
  • Bake lasagna until heated through and bubbling at edges, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven. Remove foil from dish.
  • Preheat broiler. Broil lasagna until top is browned in spots, turning dish occasionally for even browning, about 4 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes to set up.
  • Available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.

Jye Featherstone
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This lasagna was so good! The spinach pesto was a great addition and the fontina cheese was a perfect touch. I will definitely be making this again.


josh conneely
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I followed the recipe exactly and the lasagna turned out perfect! My family loved it.


Jennifer Adjei
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This was a great recipe! The lasagna was easy to make and it turned out delicious. I would definitely make it again.


Sarah Mensinger
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This lasagna was amazing! The spinach pesto was so flavorful and the fontina cheese was perfectly melted. I will definitely be making this again.


Danielle Kangas
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I loved this lasagna! The spinach pesto was a great way to add some extra flavor and the fontina cheese was a nice touch. I will definitely be making this again.


Babby Dazz
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This recipe was easy to follow and the lasagna turned out great! I would definitely make it again.


Stella Morris Ohaesokam
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This lasagna was delicious! The spinach pesto added a nice flavor and the fontina cheese was perfectly melted. I would definitely make this again.


Mursaleen Khan
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I followed the recipe exactly and the lasagna turned out great! My family loved it.


Lord btc Comedy
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This was a great recipe! The lasagna was easy to make and it turned out perfect. The spinach pesto and fontina cheese were a great combination.


Alfa Omega
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I'm not a big fan of lasagna, but I tried this recipe and I was pleasantly surprised. The spinach pesto was really tasty, and the fontina cheese gave it a nice gooey texture. I would definitely make this again.


Scammer Beware
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This lasagna was delicious! The spinach pesto was a great way to add some extra flavor, and the fontina cheese was a nice touch. I would definitely make this again.


Janette Jackson
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I was a little hesitant to try this recipe because I'm not a huge fan of pesto, but I'm glad I did! The pesto was not overpowering at all, and it added a really nice flavor to the lasagna. I also loved the fontina cheese. It was a great choice for th


Esrafi Khan
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I've made this lasagna twice now, and it's always a crowd-pleaser. The flavors are amazing, and the dish is easy to make. I highly recommend it!


Karlis
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This lasagna was a hit with my family! The spinach pesto added a delicious and unique flavor, and the fontina cheese was perfectly melted and gooey. I will definitely be making this again.