Dear Distracted Cook:
We were at your house years ago and you made these lasagna roll ups using no-boil lasagna noodles. Can I get that recipe?
Your friend,
E.J.
Dear E.J.:
I love getting questions from my friends! Yes, this continues to be a favorite recipe of ours and I am happy to share the sheer simplicity of Lasagna Roll Ups - a recipe I got from one of my American Test Kitchen magazines (Baked Manicotti).
Lasagna Roll Ups
1 package no-boil lasagna noodles (I highly recommend Barilla 16 oz).
1 tub of part-skim (lower fat) Ricotta
1 16 oz package shredded Mozzarella
Freshly grated Parmesean - 2 cups
1 1/2 jars of your favorite tomato-basil spaghetti sauce (or, make your own)
Basil leaves - 1 - 2 Tb fresh is better, cut into ribbons but 2 Tb of dry will do as well
Parsley leaves - 1 Tb fresh is better but 1 Tb dry will do as well
1 egg, beaten
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
For the cheese filling:
Combine ricotta, 1 cup Parmesan, mozzarella, eggs, salt, pepper, and herbs in medium bowl; set aside.
To assemble:
Pour 1 inch boiling water into 13 by 9-inch broilersafe baking dish, then add noodles one at a time. Let noodles soak until pliable, about 5 minutes, separating noodles with tip of sharp knife to prevent sticking. Remove noodles from water and place in single layer on clean kitchen towels; discard water in baking dish and dry baking dish.
Spread bottom of baking dish evenly with 1 1/2 cups sauce. Using soupspoon, spread 1/4 cup cheese mixture evenly onto bottom three-quarters of each noodle (with short side facing you), leaving top quarter of noodle exposed. Roll into tube shape and arrange in baking dish seam side down. Top evenly with remaining sauce, making certain that pasta is completely covered.
Cover with aluminum foil. Bake until bubbling, about 40 minutes, then remove foil. Remove baking dish, adjust oven rack to uppermost position (about 6 inches from heating element), and heat broiler. Sprinkle manicotti evenly with remaining Parmesan. Broil until cheese is spotty brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Cool 15 minutes, then serve.
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Comments
Hmm...what does one do with that olive oil? I think I drizzled a bit in the pan with the sauce and then drizzled a small amount in the cheese/egg mixture. Yeah, that sounds about right...( :
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