Elena uses this dish to zhush up her weeknight meals and kindly shared her recipe so you could add a similar pizzazz to your week! Elena’s Lasagna Rolls give lasagna flavors the enchilada treatment, wrapping creamy ricotta cheese and wilted spinach in tender lasagna noodles and blanketing them in bright marinara sauce. Baked to bubbly perfection and with notes of parmesan and citrus, Elena’s Lasagna Rolls are an exceptional dish that you can make in under an hour. Plus it’s vegetarian!
Ingredients
- water, for boiling
- 1/2 (1-pound) box lasagna noodles
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- kosher salt, to taste
- freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 10 ounces baby spinach
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 cup ricotta
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup parmesan, freshly grated and divided
- 2 cups marinara, plus more for the bottom of the dish and for topping
- 2 cups mozzarella, shredded and divided
- parsley, optional, chopped, for garnish
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the lasagna noodles to al dente according to the package directions.
Step 3 –In a large skillet over medium heat on the stove-top, heat the olive oil.
Step 4 –Add the onion and garlic to the skillet, seasoning with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the onions soften, about 5 minutes.
Step 5 –Add the spinach and cook until wilted, about 3-5 minutes.
Step 6 –Stir in the lemon zest.
Step 7 –Remove the skillet from the heat.
Step 8 –In a large bowl, mix the ricotta, egg, and 1/2 of the parmesan together until combined.
Step 9 –Season the ricotta mixture with salt and pepper.
Step 10 –Spread the ricotta mixture on one side of each lasagna noodle.
Step 11 –Layer the marinara and spinach mixture on each lasagna noodle on top of the ricotta spread.
Step 12 –Evenly sprinkle the noodles with 1/2 cup of the mozzarella.
Step 13 –Roll the lasagna up tightly so the ricotta, marinara, and spinach are all on the inside.
Step 14 –In a 9×13-inch baking dish, spoon the marinara sauce on the bottom.
Step 15 –Place the roll-ups in the baking dish.
Step 16 –Top the rolls with more of the marinara sauce.
Step 17 –Sprinkle on the remaining mozzarella and the remaining parmesan.
Step 18 –Bake until the cheese is bubbly and melted, about 20 minutes.
Step 19 –Garnish with the parsley and serve.
