COMMENT:
With a name like Mama Fresina's Lasagna, there's no debate what
culture this recipe represents! Italians are known for their great
cooking and so many famous Louisiana dishes can be traced back to
humble Italian beginnings in bayou country. This reduced fat recipe
is perfect for anyone watching their waistline. You won't even have
to sacrifice flavor!
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef
- 1 pound extra lean ground turkey
- 1 (8-ounce) package lasagna noodles
- 2 cups onions, diced
- 1/4 cup garlic, minced
- 1 tsp oregano
- 2 tsps parsley
- 2 tsps sweet basil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt substitute
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 3 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce, no salt added
- 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste, no salt added
- 1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
- 1 cup fat-free cottage cheese
- 1 cup fat-free Ricotta cheese
- 2 cups frozen spinach, drained
- 2 cups low-fat Mozzarella cheese, shredded
METHOD:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In lightly salted water, boil lasagna
noodles according to package directions. Drain, rinse well to keep
from sticking and set aside. In a 5-quart cast iron Dutch oven,
brown ground meat and turkey over medium-high heat. Continue to
chop and cook meats until they separate, grain for grain. After
meats are well browned, approximately 20-30 minutes, add onions
and garlic. Sauté 3-5 minutes or until vegetables are wilted.
Drain the excess fat. Season with oregano, parsley, basil, garlic
powder, salt substitute and pepper. Add tomato sauce and tomato
paste. Blend well into the meat mixture and bring to a low simmer.
Add mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, 15-20 minutes. Remove
from heat and adjust seasonings if necessary. Add cottage cheese,
Ricotta and spinach to the mixture. Once all is well blended, place
a layer of sauce in the bottom of 9" x 13" baking dish.
Add one layer of noodles and top with sauce and shredded Mozzarella.
Repeat 3 times, leaving approximately 1/2-inch at the top of the
dish for overflow. Sprinkle the top layer evenly with Mozzarella
cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes. |
