Ratatouille Lasagna

This is not your ordinary lasagna- a ratatouille sauce is layered with the lasagna noodles and the cheese.A delicious and slightly different take on lasagna- add a side salad and some crusty bread and dinner is served! I usually will add about 1/2 teaspoon oregano and 1 t. basil to the vegetable mixture just because I like those spices in Italian food!

• Ready In: 1 hr 50 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 2  small zucchini (about 8 oz. each)
• 1  small eggplant (about 1 lb.)
• 1  large green pepper
• 1  large  red pepper
• 4  tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 4 1⁄2 teaspoons sugar, divided
• 2 1⁄4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1⁄2 cup water
• 1 (16 ounce) package  lasagna noodles (16 noodles)
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 1 (35 ounce) can Italian plum tomatoes
• 1⁄2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
• 1  lb fontina (4 cups) or 1  lb mozzarella cheese, shredded (4 cups)
•  parmesan cheese, for serving if desired

Directions

1. Cut zucchini, eggplant, and green and red peppers into 3/4 inch pieces.
2. In a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat, in 3 tablespoons hot olive oil, cook peppers until tender-crisp.
3. Stir in eggplant, zucchini, 2 teaspoons sugar, 1 t. salt and the water;over high heat, heat to boiling.
4. Reduce heat to low;cover and simmer 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
5. Remove cover and cook vegetables over high heat 5 minutes longer or until any liquid evaporates.
6. Meanwhile, prepare lasagna noodles as lable directs, but do not add salt to water; drain.
7. Prepare sauce: In 4-quart saucepan over medium heat, cook onion in remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until very tender.
8. Add tomatoes and their liquid, thyme, 2 1/2 teaspoons sugar, and 1 1/4 teaspoons salt, stirring to break up tomatoes; heat to boiling.
9. Reduce heat to medium; cook, uncovered 15 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
11. In a 13x9 inch glass or ceramic baking dish arrange one-fourth of lasagna noodles, overlapping to fit.
12. Spread one-third of vegetable mixture over noodles; spoon one-fourth of tomato sauce over vegetables; sprinkle with one-fourth of grated cheese. Repeat layering twice; top with remaining noodles, sauce and cheese.
13. Bake lasagna, uncovered, 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly and top is lightly browned.
14. Remove lasagna from oven; let stand 10 minutes for easier serving. Serve with parmesan cheese, if desired.