Zesty Lasagna
Ingredients:
1 lb. of lasagna noodles – broken into threes
Sauce:
2 grilled Jalapeño’s – chopped with seeds
7 cloves garlic – crushed & chopped
1 healthy handful cilantro – chopped
1 sweet onion – sliced
1 - 35oz. can crushed tomatoes
1 pinch of sugar
½ tsp brown sugar
Sprigs of fresh oregano – chopped
4-5 Sage leaves – chopped
Dashes of fresh ground black pepper
Dashes of sea salt
Olive oil
Meat:
4 links of sausage – 2 hot and 2 sweet
Cheeses:
16 oz. of cottage cheese
Zest of 1 small orange or ½ a large orange
1 tablespoon of brown sugar
Dashes of fresh ground black pepper
¼ cup or grated Romano cheese
8 oz. mozzarella - shredded
Grated Romano cheese
Heat the griddle and place the jalapeño’s on the griddle along with the sausage links. Grill until the peppers become slightly charred. Remove from the griddle, chop and set aside. When the sausage is cooked chop into pieces and set aside.
Heat a saucepan with a drizzle of olive oil and place the chopped jalapeño, garlic, onion and cilantro. Sauté until the onion becomes clear. Add the sausage, oregano and sage leaves. Add the tomatoes and the seasonings and simmer on low while preparing the cheeses and the noodles.
Prepare the water for the lasagna noodles. Break the noodles into threes before putting in the water. Cook as directed on package.
Preparing the Cheese:
Place the cottage cheese in the food processor and process until smooth.
Add the orange zest, grated cheese, brown sugar, white sugar, black pepper and a tablespoon of sauce to the cottage cheese and blend again.
Preheat Oven 350 degrees:
Drizzle a little olive oil at the bottom of a baking dish along with a ladle of sauce. Drain the noodles and layer the bottom of the pan with noodles. Top with a layer of cottage cheese mixture, mozzarella, sauce and grated Romano cheese. Repeat this process until all of the noodles are used up.
Place in the oven for about 20-25 minutes.
Let the lasagna rest for about 10 minutes after it comes out of the oven.
This has a unique and delicious flavor that is sure to please the loved ones at your table.
Enjoy with Much Love.
Catherine
xo
Zesty Lasagna