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Creamy Spinach and Cheese Lasagna Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 100 reviews

This creamy spinach and cheese lasagna is a rich and comforting Italian-inspired dish featuring layers of tender lasagna sheets, a smooth spinach and cheese mixture, and luscious béchamel sauce topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan. Perfect for a hearty family meal or special occasion, this recipe combines the freshness of sautéed spinach with a blend of ricotta, feta, and parmesan cheeses, all baked to golden, bubbly perfection.

Ingredients

Scale

Spinach-Cheese Mixture

  • 200 g fresh spinach
  • 2 tsp olive oil (to sauté the onion)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, pressed
  • 500 g ricotta (2 cups)
  • 200 g feta cheese (7 oz), crumbled
  • 60 g parmesan (half of 120 g / 1 cup), grated

Béchamel Sauce

  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 1 liter milk (4 cups)
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

Lasagna Assembly

  • 15 sheets lasagna sheets
  • 60 g parmesan (half of 120 g / 1 cup), grated (for sprinkling)
  • 90 g mozzarella (1 cup), grated

Instructions

  1. Sauté Spinach: Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add fresh spinach (a mix of baby and regular leaves if desired) and sauté until completely wilted. Drain the spinach well to remove excess water.
  2. Prepare Spinach Mixture: In the same pan, sauté chopped onion and pressed garlic until fragrant and translucent. Transfer the cooked onion and garlic along with the sautéed spinach into an electric chopper or blender. Pulse until the mixture becomes smooth and well combined.
  3. Combine Cheeses: Return the spinach mixture to a pan set on low heat. Add ricotta, crumbled feta, and half of the grated parmesan cheese. Stir gently and continuously until the mixture is creamy and all ingredients are well blended. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Make Béchamel Sauce: In a separate saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter completely. Add 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour to the melted butter and whisk continuously for 1-2 minutes to create a smooth roux, ensuring the raw flour taste is cooked out.
  5. Thicken Sauce: Gradually add milk to the roux, pouring a little at a time and whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Continue to whisk as the sauce warms and thickens, which takes about 3-5 minutes. Season with salt, freshly grated nutmeg, and black pepper to taste. The sauce should have a smooth and creamy consistency. If needed, adjust thickness by adding a bit more milk.
  6. Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 190°C (375°F) to ensure it is properly heated for baking the lasagna.
  7. Assemble Lasagna: In a 20 x 35 cm (8×12 inch) baking dish, spread a thin layer of béchamel sauce on the bottom to prevent sticking. Place a layer of lasagna sheets on top of the béchamel. Then add a layer of béchamel sauce, followed by a layer of the creamy spinach-cheese mixture. Sprinkle some parmesan over this layer. Repeat layering—lasagna sheets, béchamel, spinach-cheese mixture, and parmesan—until ingredients are used up, finishing with a top layer of lasagna sheets covered generously with béchamel sauce. Finally, sprinkle remaining parmesan and grated mozzarella evenly over the top.
  8. Bake Lasagna: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake covered for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld and the pasta to cook fully. Then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes to achieve a golden bubbly top with melted mozzarella and crisped parmesan edges.

Notes

  • Drain spinach thoroughly after sautéing to avoid watery layers in the lasagna.
  • Use fresh nutmeg for the béchamel sauce to enhance its aroma and flavor.
  • Allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes after baking before serving to make cutting easier and layers to set.
  • You can prepare the spinach-cheese mixture and béchamel sauce a day in advance to save time on the day of baking.
  • For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free flour and lasagna sheets suitable for gluten-free diets.

Keywords: Spinach cheese lasagna, creamy lasagna, vegetarian Italian recipe, béchamel sauce lasagna, ricotta feta lasagna

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/creamy-spinach-and-cheese-lasagna-recipe/