This cheesy lasagna is full of spicy Italian turkey sausage, whole-wheat noodles, mushrooms and spinach. A serving of this version has about one-third the fat and saturated fat, and only half the calories of the original. Use soy-based sausage for a hearty vegetarian variation.

Servings: 10 servings
Total Time: 2 hours
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Health: Healthy Weight, High Calcium, High Potassium, Low Cholesterol, High Fiber, Low Calorie


Ingredients:

Sausage, Mushroom & Spinach Lasagna
8 ounces whole-wheat lasagna noodles
1 pound lean spicy Italian turkey sausage , casings removed (see Variation)
4 cups sliced mushrooms (10 ounces)
1/4 cup water
1 pound frozen spinach , thawed
1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes , preferably chunky
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
1 pound part-skim ricotta cheese (2 cups)
8 ounces part-skim mozzarella cheese , shredded (about 2 cups), divided


Steps:

1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

2: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles and cook until not quite tender, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain; return the noodles to the pot, cover with cool water and set aside.

3: Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add mushrooms and water; cook, stirring occasionally and crumbling the sausage more, until it is cooked through, the water has evaporated and the mushrooms are tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Squeeze spinach to remove excess water, then stir into the pan; remove from heat.

4: Mix tomatoes with basil, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.

5: To assemble lasagna: Spread 1/2 cup of the tomatoes in the prepared baking dish. Arrange a layer of noodles on top, trimming to fit if necessary. Evenly dollop half the ricotta over the noodles. Top with half the sausage mixture, one-third of the remaining tomatoes and one-third of the mozzarella. Continue with another layer of noodles, the remaining ricotta, the remaining sausage, half the remaining tomatoes and half the remaining mozzarella. Top with a third layer of noodles and the remaining tomatoes.

6: Cover the lasagna with foil and bake until bubbling and heated through, 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes. Remove the foil; sprinkle the remaining mozzarella on top. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is just melted but not browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Vegetarian Variation: Use a sausage-style soy product, such as Gimme Lean, or simply omit the sausage altogether.

Nutrition: (Per serving)

Calories - 333
Carbohydrates - 28
Fat - 14
Saturated Fat - 5
Monounsaturated Fat - 3
Protein - 26
Cholesterol - 41
Dietary Fiber - 7
Potassium - 606
Sodium - 655
Nutrition Bonus - Vitamin A (128 daily value), Calcium (23 dv), Iron (21 dv), Folate (19 dv), Potassium (17 dv).

Prepare through Step 5 up to 1 day ahead.

Ingredient Note: Whole-wheat lasagna noodles are higher in fiber than white noodles. They can be found in health-food stores and some large supermarkets.

Related Links:

  • Florentine Lasagna Roll-Ups
  • 5 Secrets to Healthier Lasagna