8ouncechunk of butternut squashed sliced in 1/4-inch slices
1large leek(white and light green only) thinly sliced
2 -3ouncesfresh spinach leaveschopped
4-6Roma tomatoessliced into 1/4-inch slices
1tablespoonfresh oregano leaveschopped
1tablespoonfresh rosemarychopped
1tablespoonfresh parsleychopped
Dusting of paprikaoptional
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the noodles according to package directions. Do not over cook, they should be al dente. Drain and place on an oiled baking sheet while preparing the sauce and vegetables.
Preheat the oven to 350°F and coat a 9x13-inch baking sheet with oil spray.
To make the Béchamel Cheese Sauce:
Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Add the garlic and sauté until fragrant - stir continuously to avoid burning. Add the flour and salt. Whisk and cook for 1-2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, cream and wine one cup at a time, whisking after each addition. Bring to a boil, stirring continually while it thickens, about 2 minutes.
Remove from the heat and add 2 cups of the shredded pepper jack cheese stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth and creamy. Cover and set aside while preparing the vegetables.
Prep the Veggies
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat and cook the mushrooms for 3-5 minutes until slightly soft and they have released their liquid. Remove from heat, drain on paper towel-lined plate and cool.
When preparing the vegetables keep them separated into individual bowls or plates. Chop the fresh herbs and combine them together in a small dish. For assembling the lasagna there will be one layer with butternut and mushrooms, one layer with leeks or onions and one layer with mushrooms and tomatoes. A tablespoon of the fresh herbs and ⅓ of the remaining cheese will be sprinkled on each layer.
Putting it all together:
Begin by scooping ¾ cup of the cheese sauce onto the bottom of the baking dish. Add 4 of the noodles, overlapping to cover the bottom.
Add enough of the butternut squash to cover the noodles and add one-half of the mushrooms. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the chopped fresh herbs and ⅓ of the remaining pepper jack cheese.
Cover with 4 more lasagna noodles. Spread another ¾ cup of sauce over the noodles and add the leeks and spinach. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the herbs and ⅓ of the pepper jack cheese. Add another 4 noodles, cover with ¾ cup of sauce and add the remaining mushrooms and the sliced tomatoes and the remaining herbs . Spread the rest of the cheese sauce over the tomatoes and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
Cover the dish with a sheet of foil that has been sprayed with non-stick oil spray and transfer to the oven. Place a sheet pan or foil on the rack below the casserole in case there are drips bubbling over.
Bake for 45 minutes, remove the foil and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Notes
When the pasta is rolled out you could either cut the lasagna noodles or cut 3 sheets the same size as your baking dish to make 3 layers of noodles.
Homemade pasta will cook much faster than store-bought pasta. They should cook just long enough to take the 'raw flour' taste out, this will take from 45 to 60 seconds but we recommend doing a taste-test.
Mushrooms have a lot of water in them which if they are used without sautéing may cause the dish to be too wet when baked. Sautéing them lightly will improve the finished casserole.