Weekly Recipe – Eggplant Spinach Lasagna Curls

Every now and then a girl just wants a good piece of pasta and this easy lasagna dish does the trick.  We used eggplant in place of meat and curled it to help with portion control.  Traditional lasagna always has me going back for seconds but this method kept me satisfied without the additional calories and provides 24.9% of the daily recommended intake for calcium!  For more on the need for calcium see, Mama always said to drink my milk!

 

Eggplant Spinach Lasagna Curls

Makes 8 individual curls

Prep time: 1 hour; Cook time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 Medium Japanese Eggplant, fresh, sliced crosswise in strips 1/4 inch thick
• 1 garlic clove, crushed and chopped
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 8 – Lasagna Noodles Whole Wheat
• 1 16 oz-pkg Chopped Frozen Spinach
• 1lb or 16 oz – Ricotta Cheese, part skim milk
• 1 oz or .5 cup Grated Parmesan + 4 tbsp (set aside)
• 1 egg yolk
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 14.5oz can of Fire Roasted Diced tomatoes
• 1/2 cup – Marinara Sauce

Directions

Heat Oven to 450.

Roast eggplant:

In a large bowl, toss eggplant slices with oil, garlic, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper (to taste). Arrange slices in an even layer on two baking sheets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching baking sheet position halfway through baking, turning slices over once. Bake until tender, 12 to 14 minutes. When done, remove and set aside.

Reduce oven temperature to 350.

Make filling and assemble lasagne:

Cook lasagne noodles according to instructions on package. Drain noodles and rinse under cold running water.  While lasagna noodles are boiling, cook frozen spinach in microwave according to package instructions. Drain. Set aside.

Blend together ricotta, yolk, cooled spinach, parmesan, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper until combined.

Spoon canned tomatoes into a 13- by 9-inch glass baking dish. Lay out 4 lasagne noodles. Spread 1/3 cup filling evenly over each noodle and cover with eggplant slices in 1 layer. Roll up and place seam side down in dish, making sure sides do not touch. Brush rolls with water, then spoon marinara sauce over each roll. Sprinkle with the 4 tbsp of parmesan that was set aside. Cover tightly with foil.

Bake in middle of oven for 20 minutes or until heated through and enjoy!