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Loaded Veggie White Lasagna Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 70 reviews

This Loaded Veggie White Lasagna is a delicious and hearty vegetarian dish featuring layers of tender lasagna pasta, sautéed mixed vegetables, creamy ricotta and cottage cheese blend, and rich mozzarella cheese, all baked in a savory white pasta sauce. It’s perfect for a comforting family meal and balances fresh vegetables with cheesy goodness.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetable and Cheese Filling

  • ¼ cup Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 Serrano Peppers, chopped
  • 1½ cup Finely Chopped Onions
  • 2 Medium Graffiti Eggplant, cubed
  • 2 Medium Zucchini, cubed
  • 5 oz Baby Spinach, chopped
  • ¾ cup Whole milk ricotta cheese
  • ¾ cup Full Fat Cottage Cheese
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Dry Oregano
  • ⅛ tsp White Pepper Powder
  • ¼ tsp Black Pepper Powder
  • 1 tsp Red Chili Flakes

Lasagna and Toppings

  • 12 Lasagna Pasta Sheets
  • 4½ cup Full Fat Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • 25 oz White Pasta Sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare Lasagna Sheets: Cook 12 lasagna pasta sheets according to package instructions, undercooking by 1-2 minutes since they will bake later. Rinse with cold water to stop cooking, coat each sheet lightly with olive oil, and set aside to prevent sticking. Avoid using dry ready-to-bake sheets as they can result in a dry, chewy texture.
  2. Sauté Aromatics: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Add chopped onions, sliced serrano peppers, and minced garlic and sauté until the onions turn translucent, releasing their aroma.
  3. Cook Eggplant: Add the cubed graffiti eggplant and sauté until the pieces become completely mushy, ensuring they break down nicely.
  4. Cook Zucchini: Add the cubed zucchini to the pan and sauté until similarly soft and mushy.
  5. Wilt Spinach: Add the chopped baby spinach and cook until fully wilted. Continue cooking until all excess liquid from the vegetables evaporates. Then remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  6. Mix Cheese and Spices: Once the vegetable mixture is cooled a bit, stir in the ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, garlic powder, red chili flakes, oregano, black pepper, white pepper, and salt. Mix thoroughly and set the filling aside.
  7. Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13″x10″ baking tray to prevent sticking.
  8. Start Assembling: Pour a thin layer of white pasta sauce at the bottom of the tray to coat it evenly.
  9. Layer Lasagna Sheets: Place 3 boiled lasagna sheets on top of the sauce evenly in the tray.
  10. Add Filling: Spread the veggie and cheese filling over each lasagna sheet, avoiding the edges to prevent spillover.
  11. Sprinkle Mozzarella: Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the filling on each pasta sheet.
  12. Add Sauce: Spoon white pasta sauce onto the mozzarella layer in the middle of each lasagna sheet, avoiding edges.
  13. Continue Layering: Repeat the layering process in the same order until all 12 sheets are used. After placing the last 3 sheets, spread a generous amount of white pasta sauce over the top layer and cover with shredded mozzarella cheese evenly.
  14. Prepare for Baking: Poke toothpicks lightly in the lasagna before covering with aluminum foil to prevent melted cheese from sticking to the foil.
  15. Bake Covered: Cover the tray with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes at 350°F.
  16. Broil for Browning: After 45 minutes of baking (or 60 minutes if prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking), remove the foil. Switch the oven to broil setting and broil the lasagna for 2-4 minutes until the cheese turns golden brown. Watch closely to prevent burning.
  17. Rest and Serve: Remove the lasagna from the oven and let it sit for at least 15 minutes to set. Serve hot with a side salad and garlic bread for a complete meal.

Notes

  • Partially boiling lasagna sheets helps prevent dryness and chewy texture when baking.
  • Do not use dry ready-to-bake lasagna noodles as they make the dish dry.
  • Poking toothpicks in the lasagna before covering prevents melted cheese from sticking to foil.
  • Allow resting time after baking for easier slicing and better flavor melding.
  • The layers should avoid spreading filling or sauce to the edges to maintain neat layers and prevent bubbling over.

Keywords: vegetarian lasagna, white sauce lasagna, healthy lasagna, veggie lasagna recipe, baked pasta dish

Find it online: https://platedbyemma.com/loaded-veggie-white-lasagna-recipe/