Vegetable Lasagna

 

Ingredients:-

For Pasta Sheets:

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tbsp oil

Water as required to knead the dough

Dry flour to roll the sheets

For vegetable layer:

2 tbsp oil

3-4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp chilli flakes

3/4 onion, chopped

1/2 carrot, chopped

3-4 beans, chopped

1/2 capsicum, chopped

1/2 cup spinach and coriander, chopped

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper powder

For assembling:

1 cup grated cheese

1 cup white sauce

1 cup red sauce

Method:-

To make pasta sheets:

1. In a mixing bowl, add in the all purpose flour, salt and oil. Mix them well to get a crumbly texture. Further add in water as required to form a smooth and soft dough. Knead the dough for 5 mins. Cover and keep aside for 30 mins. 

2. Now, divide the dough into 4 equal portions. Take one portion of the dough and sprinkle a good amount of dry flour over the dough. Start rolling the dough using a rolling pin. Dust in between as required as you need to prepare very thin sheets. Roll them thin and to the size of your pan where you'll be preparing the lasagna. 

3. Prepare all the sheets in the similar manner. Place the sheets on the newspaper or an oven rack and dry them under the fan for 30-40 mins or till they completely dry out. The pasta sheets are ready. 

To make vegetable layer:

1. Firstly, in a pan, heat oil. To it, add the chopped garlic cloves and saute for a few seconds. Next, add in oregano and chilli flakes. Saute them till the oil becomes fragrant but do not burn them. 

2. Now, add in the chopped onions and saute them till they turn translucent. Further add in the chopped carrot, beans and capsicum. You can also use in any veggies of your choice.  Saute them for 3-4 mins on high flame.

3. Next, add in salt and black pepper powder. Mix them well. Now, add in the chopped spinach and coriander. Saute and toss them till they become dry on medium flame for 2-3 mins. Turn off the flame and take them out in a bowl. Keep aside. 

To make red sauce:

1. Firstly, make crisscross on the base of 2 tomatoes and place them in boiling water for 4-5 mins or till the skin begins to peel.
2. Drain the tomatoes and cool completely. Peel and roughly chop the tomatoes. Blend the tomatoes to a smooth puree. Keep aside.
3. Now, in a non-stick pan, heat 1/2 tsp oil. Add 1 tsp chopped garlic cloves and saute on medium flame for a few seconds.
4. Add 1/4 cup chopped onions and saute for 1-2 mins on medium flame. Now add the prepared tomato puree, 1/2 tsp mixed herbs, 1 tbsp tomato ketchup, 1/4 tsp red chilli powder, 1/4 tsp sugar and salt as per taste. Mix them well and cook on medium flame for 2-3 mins or till the sauce thickens while stirring occasionally .
5. The red sauce is ready. Switch off the flame and keep aside.

To make white sauce:

1. Firstly, heat a saucepan at low flame. Add in 2 tbsp of butter. As soon as the butter starts melting, add in 3 tbsp of all purpose flour. 

2. With the help of a wired whisk, stir the flour quickly as soon as you add it. Keep stirring the flour, so that no lumps are formed. Saute the flour, till you get a nice aroma but do not burn them. 

3. On a low flame, add in 1 cup of chilled milk. Pour in the milk with one hand and keep stirring the sauce mixture with the other one. 

4. Keep stirring continuously till the milk heats up. Simmer the sauce on low flame till it thickens. Switch off the flame once the sauce thickens. 

5. Now, add in 1/4 tsp black pepper powder, a pinch of mixed herbs or oregano and salt as required. Mix them very well and keep aside. The white sauce is ready. 

6. Also keep in mind that on cooling the white sauce thickens more, so adjust the consistency accordingly.

Assembling lasagna and baking:

1. Pre-heat the oven at 180 degree Celsius. 

2. In a baking pan, take about 2 tbsp of red sauce and spread them evenly. Now place one lasagna sheet on top of the sauce. 

3. Next, add in some red and white sauce over the lasagna and spread them. Further add in the prepared vegetables and some grated cheese.

4. To make it slightly more cheesy, add some white sauce on top. Repeat the steps again and again till the last layer. 

5. In the last layer, spread some generous amount of red and white sauce, veggies and lots of cheese. 

6. Now, cover the baking pan with aluminum foil, making sure that the foil does not touch the sauce and cheese. 

7. Place the pan in the oven and bake the lasagna for 20 mins. After 20 mins, remove the aluminum foil and again bake them for 10-15 mins. Your lasagna is ready.

8. Take out the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 10-15 mins so that the cheese settles down. 

9. Finally, using a cutter knife, cut the lasagna into squares and serve immediately.