Spinach Mushroom Lasagna

ceilmary's Note:

From the US Weekend Magazine on Oct.11; have not tried recipe yet.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 45 mins
• Prep Time: 1 hrs
• Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 4 tablespoons olive oil , divided
• 3 garlic cloves , minced
• 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes , preferably fire-roasted
• 1 ¼ tablespoons salt
• 15 no-boil lasagna noodles , rippled style
• 2 (10 ounce) packages frozen chopped spinach , thawed in microwave
• 1 lb mushroom , cleaned and sliced
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
• 12 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese , divided and softened
• 3 ¾ cups part-skim or whole milk mozzarella cheese , shredded
• ¾ cup parmesan cheese , grated

Directions:

1. Saute garlic over medium-high heat in 2 tablespoons oil until garlic starts to sizzle. Add tomatoes and enough water to make a sauce that's neither thin or gloppy. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, for about 10 minutes (makes a generous 3 cups) Time saver: Use 1 25 to 26 ounce good-quality marinara sauce.
2. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; preheat oven to 400°F.
3. Dissolve salt in 2 quarts of hot tap water in a 9 x 13 inches lasagna dish. Add noodles; soak until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain and arrange noodles in a single layer on baking tray.
4. Squeeze dry the thawed spinach in a colander. Set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12 inches skillet over medium-high heat. Saute mushrooms, preferably baby bella, until tender and well-browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add spinach, stir, then remove from heat. Stir in basil, 8 ounces cream cheese, and 1/4 cup broth.
5. Smear 1/4 cup marinara over the bottom of the baking dish, then make four layers in the following orderL three lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup marinara, a scant cup of vegetable filling, 3/4 cup mozzarella, 2 tablespoons Parmesean. Top it all off with the last three noodles, the cream cheese mixture, 3/4 cup mozzarella, and 1/4 cup Parmesean. Spray foil with cooking spray; cover pan.
6. Bake until bubbly throughout, about 40 to 45 minutes. Leaving lasagna on same rack, turn oven to broil. Remove foil and broil until top is spotty brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from oven; let sit for 10 minutes. Cut into squares and.

Reviews

[jade1977]

It was tasty, and I will make again, however I wonder about the measurements. The "sauce" was watery (will use canned next time), and the directions only have you add 8 oz of the cream cheese. I didn't know what it wanted me to do with the other 4 oz, of if that was a typo.