BIDDY'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND TURKEY LASAGNA

Biddy's Butternut Squash and Turkey Lasagna image

With this unique, autumnal twist on lasagna, you get the sweet goodness of butternut squash combined with moist turkey, packaged between tender noodles and stuffed with cheese.

Provided by Christine Houser

Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Italian

Time 2h30m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

1 large butternut squash, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons olive oil, or as needed
1 teaspoon dried sage
salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 (20 ounce) jar spicy red pepper marinara sauce
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 cloves minced garlic, divided
olive oil, divided
1 (16 ounce) bag fresh spinach
1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
9 lasagna noodles
10 ounces ricotta cheese, or more to taste
2 large eggs
1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Toss butternut squash, olive oil, sage, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven until soft, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat marinara sauce in a saucepan over low heat until warm, about 5 minutes. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil a saute pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion and 2 garlic cloves until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Add onion mixture to marinara in the saucepan and remove from heat.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in the saute pan over medium heat. Add spinach and cook until wilted, about 3 minutes. Transfer spinach to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the moisture; move spinach to a bowl. Add turkey, remaining garlic, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper to the pan. Cook until brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper and mix into the bowl with the spinach.
Remove butternut squash from the oven and leave oven on.
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook lasagna noodles in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and lay noodles separately on a plate to keep from sticking.
Combine cooked butternut squash, ricotta cheese, and eggs together in a bowl until smooth.
Coat the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking pan with a thin layer of marinara sauce. Layer 3 lasagna noodles over the marinara, followed by ricotta mixture and ground turkey. Repeat marinara, noodles, ricotta mixture, and turkey 2 more times. Top with mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Bake in the hot oven for about 45 minutes; let cool 10 minutes before cutting.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 323.8 calories, Carbohydrate 36.6 g, Cholesterol 70.2 mg, Fat 13 g, Fiber 5.1 g, Protein 18.1 g, SaturatedFat 3.8 g, Sodium 353.7 mg, Sugar 7.8 g