Lasagna · Spinach Ricotta
Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna
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Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Swaps for ricotta
Instead of ricotta
- Cottage cheese: The same amount, drained and pulsed a few times in a blender. Wetter and saltier; drain it well and cut other salt a little.
- Firm tofu, mashed: The same amount, mashed with a squeeze of lemon and a pinch of salt. Mild and crumbly; close in lasagna and stuffed shells.
- Mascarpone: The same amount. Much richer and smoother.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for egg
Instead of eggs
- Flax egg: 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Binds well but gives less lift, so bakes are a little denser and flatter, with a mild nutty taste and brown flecks.
- Chia egg: 1 tbsp chia seeds + 3 tbsp water for each egg. Works like a flax egg: good binding, little lift, slightly denser crumb.
- Unsweetened applesauce: ¼ cup for each egg. Moister and denser, with a soft, slightly gummy crumb if you swap more than one egg.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for parmesan
Instead of parmesan
- Pecorino Romano: The same amount. Sharper and saltier (it is made from sheep's milk), so go easy on other salt.
- Grana Padano: The same amount. Milder and a little softer, very close otherwise.
- Nutritional yeast: 2 tbsp for each ¼ cup grated parmesan. Nutty and cheesy, but it doesn't melt or brown.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for ground nutmeg
Instead of nutmeg
- Ground mace: A little less. Made from the same fruit; slightly sharper.
- Pumpkin pie spice or allspice: The same amount. Warmer and more cinnamon-forward.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for olive oil
Instead of olive oil
- Avocado oil or another neutral oil: The same amount. No olive flavor; avocado oil handles higher heat.
- Butter: The same amount. Richer and nutty when browned.
- A neutral oil + more seasoning: The same amount. Dressings lose the fruity, peppery note; a little extra lemon, garlic or mustard makes up for it.
Step 1 of 13
Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
375°F
Step 2 of 13
Bring a large pot of water to a and add 1 tablespoon salt.
boil (how to boil)
Boil Heat liquid until big bubbles rise and break all over the surface. 1. Use a pot big enough that the water fills it no more than three quarters.2. Cover it to boil faster, over high heat.3. Salt pasta or vegetable water once it boils.4. Add the food, stir, and bring it back to a boil before you start timing. Done when: A rolling boil keeps bubbling hard even when you stir. Safety: Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove, and drain pasta into a colander in the sink, pouring away from you. Steam burns fast: lift lids and foil away from your face, tipping the far edge up first.How to boil water for pasta and vegetables: mistakes to avoidStep 3 of 13
Cook the noodles until bendable but still firm, about 2 minutes less than the package says.
Step 4 of 13
Drain the noodles and lay them flat on a sheet pan brushed with the oil.
Step 5 of 13
Wrap the thawed spinach in a clean kitchen towel and twist hard over the sink until no more water drips out.
Step 6 of 13
In a bowl, stir together the spinach, ricotta, egg, 1/2 cup parmesan, salt, pepper and nutmeg.
Step 7 of 13
Spread 1 cup marinara over the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish.
Step 8 of 13
Lay 3 noodles over the sauce. Spread one-third of the spinach filling over them, sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and spoon on 1 1/4 cups marinara.
Step 9 of 13
Repeat that layer twice more.
Step 10 of 13
Finish with the last 3 noodles, the remaining marinara, the remaining mozzarella and 1/4 cup parmesan.
Step 11 of 13
Tent the dish with foil and bake.
375°F
Step 12 of 13
Remove the foil and bake until bubbling and browned in spots.
375°F
Step 13 of 13
Let it before cutting.
rest (how to rest)
Rest Leave cooked meat, baked goods or dough alone for a while before you cut, slice or shape it. 1. Move meat to a board or plate as soon as it is done (a few degrees shy of target for big roasts; it keeps rising).2. Tent it loosely with foil if the kitchen is cool.3. Rest steaks and chops 5 minutes, roasts 15 to 20, a turkey 30.4. For dough, cover it so it doesn't dry out while it relaxes. Done when: Meat juices stay in when you slice; dough rolls out without springing back. Safety: Rest at room temperature for under an hour, then refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.How to rest meat and dough: mistakes to avoidAll done
Enjoy!
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