Spinach Lasagna Recipe. Gluten-Free and all Variations
Lasagna is a real chore to me, sorry.
Dear reader, please don’t ask me why until recently I found the preparation of lasagna so daunting.
I do love lasagna flavors, and I do appreciate it as a great treat. I can whip up a couscous or a Bourguignon or an apple tarte and much more to feed a dozen guests, in no time flat and with great alacrity and success. But in the traditional lasagna preparation, it is the layering I feel OCD type A about. That and boiling the noodles. Oh, and sauteing vegetables for the sauce. A baking pan, a pot to boil pasta, a skillet to make the sauce. Then all aboard in the oven, ciao, see you again in about an hour and a half. See what I mean? I know many people find making lasagna a piece of cake. But can I tell you, I have a blind spot when it comes to lasagna. This is how I saw my mother in law make it. Her lasagna was out of this world. We all begged her for it.
Once years ago, I catered an annual Dinner for Ramaz School, and the lady who was working on the menu with me explained that she would love to offer the dinner guests a first course with all the components of lasagna…. my heart skipped a beat, but she continued cheerfully… looking more elegant, prepared individually: Pasta shells, two per person…. I exhaled. Anyone else would have been sweating bullets at these news. Now, simple math: About 350 guests, 2 per person, total 700 shells, much more labored than, say, 20 giant pans of lasagna that would have given me about 35 pieces each. I could have kissed her. So what’s wrong with me?
Since all kids big and small love lasagna, which my granddaughter Sara calls lasa-nee-a (rhyming with Tanzania), I recently revisited my phobia with the hope of conquering it.
Since I very rarely use regular wheat for anything, I got Gluten-free no-boil noodles, and proceeded to assemble my lasagna.
For some frustrating and puzzling reason, it took forever to cook, it never got ready for dinner, and my kids, grandkids and we settled (happily thank Goodness I might add) for crepes. My granddaughters laughed heartily at their la-di-da hotshot bubbie chef who couldn’t whip up a lasagna. PS eventually, the lasagna finished cooking and we saved it for the next day’s dinner. Too little too late, but yes it WAS delicious.
Well that did it! That fiasco made me feel like those recalcitrant bikers who after taking a spill vow to go right back on and hit the road again. I was prepared to pull out all stops. With the help of some lasagna mavens, and I am embarrassed to say, a near sleepless night, I did some real troubleshooting before my next launch.
– No-boil noodles, including gluten-free. OK if there’s plenty of moisture (sauce, liquid from frozen veggies etc…) so they are thoroughly imbibed.
– Try your very best for FLAT (not ridged) noodles. They are immersed evenly in liquid so, it will work better and will cook faster.
– Allow a little more baking time than instructed on the box, so you are ready for dinner.
The night I tried Lasagna again:
Phew! I served four children and six adults. Great trepidation from all of us, same cast as on the night of the lasagna that got cooked after the children’s bedtime and close to our own. Looking gorgeous, obediently yielding to the knife all the way to the bottom. YESSS!!! Thank You Gd for small blessings! There was one thing I nipped in the bud before we started, I had just worked too hard for this: on average one pre-dinner gripe per person: I don’t like spinach; I don’t like cheese; I avoid gluten; I’m on a low carb diet.
In other words, to accommodate all quirks and all special needs, it looks like I should have made one variation per person. A minor miracle took place just then. Seeing how crushed I was, all the clamor subsided: Don’t worry I’ll eat it, everyone said, adding lots of hugs and kisses to their promises. I am delighted to report I sold out! So will I do it again: Yes, gladly!
Children-friendly Lasagna
Here I am giving you a very simple but no less delicious and, totally streamlined, taking into account the dislike many of us have for dishes that require multiple steps and multiple utensils.
I only used my ingredients, plus my baking pan; I hate to say I won’t have it any other way, but if you don’t mind the extra steps and the extra utensils, for special occasions go ahead and saute mushrooms, onions, garlic, even ground meat for a dairy-free lasagna.
Attention low carb lovers: In the whole Lasagna recipe, I only use about 10 ounces of pasta sheets total, averaging at about one ounce pasta per serving: Not bad at all, is it?
No Carb Lasagna?
No Problem. Check out my Low-Carb ideas and recipes! You’re welcome!
Scroll down for all variations!
Ingredients
- 2 jars marinara sauce, any natural brand you like. 6 cups total
- 1 9 ounce box flat no boil noodles or Gluten-free no boil noodles
- 1 pound ricotta cheese
- 1 pound feta cheese, crumbled (or other cheese, grated)
- 1 pound frozen chopped spinach, defrosted (don't drain, the moisture is useful here)
Instructions
Follow the steps, each layer clearly given below, one by one. As simple and as dumb as that!
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Use a 9x13 baking pan. Try your very best for REAL, not disposable. Make sure each layer covers the whole surface thoroughly
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce (save the measuring step, eyeball)
lasagna noodles side by side, covering the whole surface
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
Ricotta. All of it
lasagna noodles side by side, covering the whole surface
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
half the cheese
spinach. All of it
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
lasagna noodles side by side, covering the whole surface
1 1/4 cups marinara sauce
second half of the cheese
Cover tightly and cook 45 minutes. Uncover and cook another 20-30 minutes, until the mixture is nice and melted and bubbly.
Lazy Lasagna. Low Carb Lasagna.
Here's what I would do: I would boil 1 pound of my favorite noodles, including gluten-free or low carb (like shirataki noodles, also called miracle noodles. almost no carb, no cooking required), throw them in a large skillet, and toss them with all above ingredients minus the lasagna noodles, on a low flame, until heated through. This will save you the whole layering and the whole baking time, preserving all of the flavors.
Baked Stuffed Pasta Shells:
My all time favorite! You can even make meat stuffing, like bolognese. Pasta shells are much easier than it sounds, and really fun. Remember: The shells are large, the opening is large, so the stuffing step is very quick. Two shells per guest, a dozen guests? That's 2 dozen shells: 5 minutes flat for the stuffing step.
Boil giant pasta shells until just al dente, Mix the ricotta, cheese and spinach (this time squeeze it dry first), add any seasonings you like (basil, oregano etc) stuff the shells with the mixture, and place them on a baking pan with the open side down, pour marinara sauce all over (you might not need all of the 6 cups), and bake in a preheated 375 degrees about 20 minutes. Low carb version: Stuff partially hollowed zucchini or eggplant or pumpkin instead of shells.
Roasted Vegetable Lasagna:
No tomato sauce. Follow the instructions in my Roasted Vegetable Lasagna Recipe
I think pasta is one of the most popular food choices for social gatherings. and if its on a big scale you can just make it your self and not hire a catering service. I love your recipe. Just from reading makes me want to get up and go to the kitchen
Why are you interested in gluten free and celiac recipes so much? Just wondering
Bracha, why? Here are a couple main reasons: Because some people are allergic to gluten; Because some people (like me) like to explore with non-wheat alternatives, even thought they have no allergies, just to explore with better whole grains; because most commercial prepared Gluten-free offerings are not so healthy, and making them at home is in my opinion the way to go.
Levana— I hit on many of the same methods for my lasagna, but instead of Feta, I use Farmer Cheese, which has less fat. I mix equal parts Farmer and lo fat ricotta with an egg (or egg whites) and some dried herbs/garlic for the cheese layer. I love Feta and will give your combo a try.
Judith Yes It sounds great. There’s plenty of room to play!