Vegetarian Pesto Lasagna in the Slow Cooker
Published: Thu, 08/17/17
Happy Friday Eve, Slow Cookerers!
I hope you are enjoying your week so far.
If you're looking for something meatless to add to your slow cooker repertoire, this is it.
this is the best Vegetarian Lasagna you will ever have.
Honestly, there are very few vegetarian lasagnas worth eating. I've probably offended a bunch of people.
I'm sorry.
But I stand by this claim: I haven't found a vegetarian lasagna (even in restaurants) where I haven't walked away wishing for meat and more flavor.
but I've found the secret to worthwhile vegetarian lasagna: Throw in pesto!
[CLICK through to see the photos of this recipe and reader comments]
Pesto Lasagna
serves 8
1 (26-ounce) jar prepared pasta sauce
1 (10-ounce) box lasagna noodles (I use gluten free Tinkyada brown rice noodles)
1 (11-ounce) container pesto (or by all means, make your own!)
1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 (12-ounce) bag baby spinach
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
1/4 cup water
The Directions.
Use a 4 or a 6 quart slow cooker (if you have one of those new fancy casserole crockpots, this is a great use for it!).
Put a spoonful of pasta sauce (about 1/4 cup) into the bottom of your cooker and swirl it around.
Add a layer of uncooked lasagna noodles (you're going to have to break them to make a layer). Smear ricotta cheese and pesto onto the noodles.
Add a handful or two of baby spinach, and top with a layer of Parmesan and slice mozzarella cheeses.
Repeat layers until you've run out of ingredients. The spinach is fluffy, so you're going to have to squish it down to make it all fit.
Before closing the pot, put 1/4 cup of water into the empty pasta sauce jar and close and shake. Pour this saucy water over the top of everything.
Now cover up and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for about 3 to 4.
You'll know it's done when the top layer begins to brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. It will also pull a bit away from the sides.
Taste-test a noodle to check texture.
Uncover, and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
The Verdict.
This recipe was a complete surprise. I was on the phone with my friend Danielle, and Adam walked in the door with 2 packages of pesto (I had asked him to pick up one, and it was buy 1 get 1 free).
Instead of being a gracious wife, I began to whine about having too much pesto in the house to Danielle, and she told me to put it in lasagna.
She was right. I shouldn't have complained, life is good, lasagna rocks, it's fun to get the kids to eat spinach without them realizing it, and there are DEFINITELY worse things in the world than extra pesto.
Lesson learned.
Head held in shame.
EVEN MORE Lasagna!! :-)
Traditional Super Easy Lasagna
No Noodle Veggie Lasagna
Buffalo Lasagna (not made with buffalo, but buffalo wing flavored... )
🍗 🍗 🍗
Have a great day! Happy Slow Cooking!!
steph
---> all of my ebooks are now in one hand-dandy location. Click here to check them out! <---