I think “Lazy Man’s Lasagna” is a better name for this dish. I don’t think the ingredients cost all that much less than if you made a regular lasagna, but the labor involved is greatly reduced. I personally think of it as a poor man’s dish, because after I have spent so much time and effort making a nice lasagna to give as a gift, I still have to feed my family that night. I usually throw together whatever ingredients I have leftover to make my poor family’s meal.
You can make this as a meat or meatless meal quite easily. For a vegetarian version substitute beans, especially cannelloni or pinto beans for the meat. Darker beans don’t work as well, but they can be used.
Poor Man’s Lasagna
by Diane Balch
simplelivingeating.com
simplelivingeating.com
prep: 15 min. serves: 4-6
1 14.5 oz of Barilla Plus Pasta (any kind other than spaghetti you can use Schar's gluten-free pasta)
1 jar of good quality marinara sauce (Rao’s is good)
approx. 1/4 to 1/2 cup of part-skim Ricotta cheese.
1 6 oz bag of shredded Mozzarella cheese part-skim.
1 tablespoon of chopped or dried parsley
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lbs of meatloaf mix ground meat or 1 can of beans
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon of olive oil
Directions:
1) Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees and put a large pot of water well salted on for the pasta.
2)While the pasta water is coming to a boil. If you are using meat season it with the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Sauté it in 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
3) While the meat is browning in a large bowl mix together the ricotta, parmesan and parsley. Add meat when it is done.
3) While the meat is browning in a large bowl mix together the ricotta, parmesan and parsley. Add meat when it is done.
3)When the pasta is cooked mix it with red sauce, meat or beans and the ricotta cheese mixture.
4) Spread out in a lasagna pan and top with Mozzarella cheese
5) Bake at 400 degrees until cheese starts to get brown in spots approximately 20 minutes.
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