The Creamiest Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne Recipe For Dinner Joy

Crafting a delectable spinach and ricotta lasagne promises pure comfort on chilly evenings.

Layers of creamy cheese and tender greens create a Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece.

Pasta sheets nestle between vibrant ingredients, promising rich flavors in every bite.

Homemade recipes like this connect us to traditional cooking techniques passed through generations.

Cheese melts into silky ribbons, while fresh spinach adds nutritious depth to this classic dish.

Weeknight dinners become extraordinary with such a satisfying and elegant meal.

You’ll fall in love with this simple yet impressive Italian-inspired culinary creation.

Why Nigella Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne Is So Comforting

• Craft Gourmet Comfort: Transform ordinary ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish that impresses family and friends with sophisticated layers of flavor and texture.
• Customize with Ease: Swap blue cheese for another variety, adjust spices, or include additional vegetables to make this recipe uniquely yours without compromising the core technique.
• Prep-Ahead Champion: Assemble the lasagne in advance and refrigerate, allowing busy cooks to have a delicious meal ready to pop in the oven when needed, reducing day-of cooking stress.
• Nutrient-Packed Delight: Pack powerful nutrition into every bite with spinach's iron, ricotta's protein, and pine nuts' healthy fats, creating a balanced meal that tastes incredible.

What You’ll Need for Nigella Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

• Spinach: A nutrient-packed leafy green that provides a vibrant color and earthy flavor to the lasagne.
• Ricotta Cheese: A creamy, mild cheese that adds richness and smooth texture to the filling.
• Pasta Sheets: The classic foundation of lasagne, creating layers of delicious comfort.

• Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully to create a golden, stretchy topping.
• Blue Cheese, Parmesan Cheese: Add deep, complex flavor notes to enhance the overall taste profile.
• Milk, Butter: Essential for creating a silky smooth white sauce base.

• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings that balance and highlight the dish's flavors.
• Nutmeg: A warm, aromatic spice that complements the spinach and cheese mixture.
• Pine Nuts: Toasted to bring a delicate, nutty crunch to the lasagne.
• Bay Leaf: Infuses subtle herbal notes into the white sauce.
• Flour: Helps thicken the white sauce to the perfect consistency.

How to Make Nigella’s Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

Step 1: Craft Creamy White Sauce

Warm milk gently in a saucepan with butter, creating a silky base. Sprinkle flour gradually while whisking to prevent lumps. Add a fragrant bay leaf to infuse delicate flavor. Continue stirring until the sauce transforms into a smooth, luxurious consistency. Remove the bay leaf and stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of richness.

Step 2: Prepare Vibrant Spinach

Melt butter in a skillet and add fresh spinach leaves. Gently cook until the spinach wilts and releases its moisture. Drain excess liquid thoroughly. Chop the spinach into fine, delicate pieces that will blend beautifully with the ricotta.

Step 3: Blend Filling Ingredients

Combine the chopped spinach with creamy ricotta cheese in a mixing bowl. Add a portion of the white sauce for extra moisture. Crumble blue cheese for a tangy kick. Sprinkle ground nutmeg, salt, and pepper to elevate the flavors. Toast pine nuts in a dry pan until golden and fragrant, releasing their nutty essence.

Step 4: Assemble Luxurious Layers

Begin layering your lasagne in a baking dish. Start with a generous spread of white sauce on the bottom. Add a layer of pasta sheets, followed by the spinach and ricotta mixture. Scatter toasted pine nuts between layers. Repeat the process, creating multiple delectable layers. Top the final layer with torn mozzarella and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.

Step 5: Bake To Perfection

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Slide the lasagne into the oven and bake for 50-60 minutes until the top turns golden and bubbly. Once done, remove from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. This allows the layers to set and makes serving easier. Slice and serve this irresistible spinach and ricotta lasagne.

Cooking Tips for a Better Spinach Ricotta Lasagne

• Drain Spinach Thoroughly: Squeeze out excess moisture to prevent a watery lasagne and maintain a rich, creamy texture.
• Toast Pine Nuts Carefully: Watch them closely in the dry pan to avoid burning, as they can quickly go from golden to burnt.
• Experiment with Cheese Varieties: Swap blue cheese for goat cheese or feta if you prefer a milder flavor profile.
• Layer Strategically: Spread sauce evenly between layers to ensure each bite is moist and flavorful.
• Rest Before Serving: Allow the lasagne to sit for 10 minutes after baking to help it set and make slicing easier.

Delicious Variations for Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

• Vegan Veggie Lasagne: Replace ricotta with tofu, use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan, swap mozzarella for vegan cheese. Choose cashew cream for white sauce base.
• Gluten-Free Spinach Layer: Substitute wheat pasta with zucchini strips or gluten-free lasagne sheets. Keep filling ingredients the same for celiac-friendly version.
• Low-Carb Spinach Roll-Ups: Skip pasta layers, use thin eggplant or cabbage slices as replacement. Maintain original cheese and spinach mixture for protein-rich alternative.
• Mediterranean Herb Lasagne: Add fresh basil, oregano, and thyme to spinach mixture. Include sun-dried tomatoes and swap pine nuts for roasted almonds for Mediterranean flair.

What Goes Best with Nigella Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

• Pair Fresh Sangiovese Wine: Light-bodied red wine complements the creamy ricotta and earthy spinach, cutting through the richness with bright acidity.
• Create Green Salad Side: Prepare crisp arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, which balances the lasagne's heavy texture and adds refreshing contrast.
• Select Crusty Garlic Bread: Serve warm, golden-brown bread to soak up extra white sauce and provide delightful textural crunch alongside the soft lasagne layers.
• Recommend Herb Roasted Vegetables: Add roasted zucchini and bell peppers seasoned with thyme and rosemary to enhance the lasagne's Mediterranean flavor profile.

How to Keep Lasagne Fresh After Baking

• Store leftover lasagne in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent drying out.
• Wrap individual portions or the entire lasagne in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2-3 months. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• Place a single portion on a microwave-safe plate. Cover with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
• Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F). Cover lasagne with foil to prevent burning. Warm for 15-20 minutes until heated completely through.

Questions About Nigella’s Spinach and Ricotta Lasagne

• Can I use frozen spinach instead of fresh?

Yes, thaw frozen spinach completely, squeeze out excess water, and chop it finely before mixing with ricotta.

• Is blue cheese necessary for this recipe?

No, you can substitute blue cheese with more Parmesan or skip it entirely if you don’t enjoy its strong flavor.

• How do I prevent my lasagne from becoming watery?

Ensure spinach is well-drained and not too wet when mixing with ricotta to avoid excess moisture in the dish.

• Can I make this lasagne vegetarian?

This recipe is already vegetarian, featuring spinach, ricotta, and various cheeses as the main ingredients.

Spinach And Ricotta Lasagne Recipe

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4.6 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 70-80 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Culinary magic unfolds with this spinach and ricotta lasagne, a comforting Italian classic layered with creamy richness and verdant greens. Hearty flavors and silky textures invite you to savor each delectable bite of this soul-warming dish.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 600g fresh spinach
• 225g ricotta
• 200g blue cheese
• 200g mozzarella
• 250g fresh lasagne sheets

Sauce Ingredients:

• 850 milliliters milk
• 50 grams butter
• 50 grams plain flour
• 1 bay leaf
• 14 grams nutmeg
• 60 grams Parmesan

Garnish and Seasoning Ingredients:

• 50 grams pine nuts
• 1 knob butter
• Salt
• Pepper

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Instructions

1. Craft a velvety white sauce by gently warming milk with butter, flour, and a fragrant bay leaf, whisking consistently until the mixture thickens and develops a smooth consistency.
2. Remove bay leaf and incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until fully integrated and creating a luxurious base sauce.
3. Melt butter in a separate pan and gently wilt fresh spinach, seasoning with a pinch of salt. Thoroughly drain excess moisture and finely chop the wilted greens.
4. Combine the chopped spinach with creamy ricotta, a portion of the prepared white sauce, crumbled blue cheese, a whisper of nutmeg, and season with salt and pepper to develop a rich, complex filling.
5. Carefully toast pine nuts in a dry skillet until golden and aromatic, watching closely to prevent burning.
6. Assemble the lasagne by layering white sauce, delicate pasta sheets, the spinach-ricotta mixture, and sprinkle toasted pine nuts between each layer.
7. Repeat layering process, ensuring even distribution of ingredients and finishing with a generous topping of shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan.
8. Bake in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 50-60 minutes, until the top turns golden and bubbling.
9. Allow the lasagne to rest for 10 minutes after removing from oven, enabling the layers to set and flavors to meld before serving.

Notes

• Toast pine nuts carefully to prevent burning, as they can quickly turn from golden to charred in seconds.
• Squeeze excess moisture from wilted spinach to ensure a thick, creamy filling without watery layers.
• For a gluten-free version, replace traditional pasta sheets with zucchini slices or gluten-free lasagne noodles.
• Make extra white sauce to prevent dry layers, keeping the lasagne moist and rich throughout baking.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 50-60 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 666 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 580 mg
• Fat: 43 g
• Saturated Fat: 25 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 115 mg