Roasted Squash, Spinach & Ricotta Lasagna

Written By Kim Manunui

Sponsored by Chef’s Compliments

Recipe by Le Creuset

Recipe Created For: Casseroles & Baking Dishes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Serving Size: 6-8

Ingredients

  • 1.4–1.8 kg pumpkin or squash (butternut, crown, etc.), halved & deseeded

  • Olive oil

  • Salt

  • 6 cloves garlic

  • 10 sage leaves

  • 1 tbsp honey (15 mL)

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Filling

  • 450 g ricotta

  • 1 cup spinach (about 30–40 g frozen, thawed & squeezed dry)

  • 1 cup grated parmesan, plus extra for serving

Sauce & Pasta

  • 375 mL Alfredo sauce (1½ cups)

  • 250 g oven-ready lasagna sheets

  • 900 g sliced mozzarella

This easy weeknight lasagna comes together entirely in one baking dish, and most of the cooking time is hands-off. It packs some of our favourite wintertime squash flavours, plus it’s less mess and less hassle than traditional lasagna. The creamy winter squash puree roasts first with garlic and sage until tender in the same dish. To speed up prep, roast the squash and make the spinach ricotta mixture ahead of time and keep it in the fridge until ready to assemble.

 

  1. Preheat oven to 220°C. Drizzle squash with some olive oil, season with salt, then place in a large rectangular baking dish. Drizzle garlic cloves and sage leaves with olive oil and wrap in a foil pouch. Place alongside squash in a Le Creuset Rectangular Baking Dish. Cover and bake in a preheated oven for 30–40 minutes, or until the squash is completely soft. Remove and cool slightly.

  2. Reduce oven temperature to 180°C. Scoop out the flesh of the squash and place in a large mixing bowl. Add roasted garlic, toasted sage leaves, and honey. Season with salt and pepper, and stir until smooth and combined.

  3. Stir together ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, and 1/2 cup parmesan cheese in another medium mixing bowl, and season with salt and pepper.

  4. To assemble the lasagna, start by pouring 1/2 cup alfredo sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. Top with a layer of lasagna sheets. Add 1/3 of the squash mixture, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and a layer of sliced mozzarella cheese. Repeat with another layer of lasagna sheets, 1/3 of the squash mixture, 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and a layer of sliced mozzarella cheese. Repeat the last layer with lasagna sheets, the remaining squash mixture, remaining ricotta cheese, and a final layer of sliced mozzarella cheese. Top with a final layer of lasagna sheets, and pour 1 cup of alfredo sauce on top, making sure to cover the entire surface of the lasagna sheets. Sprinkle the top with 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and season with black pepper.

  5. Cover the baking dish with a lid and bake in the oven undisturbed for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 25-30 minutes until the top is starting to brown and crinkle and the lasagna noodles are fully cooked. Cool slightly before cutting, and serve with additional parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Find the Le Creuset range in-store at Chef’s Compliments or online www.chefscomplements.co.nz

11 Gascoigne Street, Taupo 07 377 4455

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
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