Chicken Florentine Lasagna

MsKittyKat's Note:

This recipe is a recreation of my friend's favorite Lean Cuisine (they have discontinued it). I don't create my own recipes very often so any input that could improve the final product would be appreciated.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 40 mins
• Cook Time: 1 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 10

• 1 lb cooked chicken breast, chopped
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
• 1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cups lowfat mozzarella cheese
• 16 ounces low-fat ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup parmesan cheese
• 9 lasagna noodles (I precooked mine)
• white sauce
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 quart skim milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon white pepper

Directions:

1. Pre-cook your lasagna noodles according to the package directions. Set aside.
2. Saute onions and mushrooms in the butter until all the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated and the onions have softened.
3. Add the flour and cook for 1 minute.
4. Add the skim milk and cook over low heat stirring frequently until the sauce has thickened.
5. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg and 1/3 cup parmesan cheese.
6. Stir until cheese has melted and add chicken breast and spinach. Set aside.
7. In a small bowl mix ricotta, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese and egg until well blended.
8. Begin to layer the lasagna (I used a deep 9x9 stoneware dish I had, but a 13x9 dish would work as well).
9. Spread a small amount of sauce over the bottom of your pan.
10. Cover sauce with one layer of pasta.
11. Spread 1/2 the ricotta cheese mixture and 1/3 of the remaining mozzarella over the pasta.
12. Cover the cheese with 1/3 of the remaining sauce.
13. Add another layer of pasta.
14. Spread the remaining ricotta mixture and 1/2 the remaining mozzarella over the pasta.
15. Cover the cheese with 1/2 of the remaining sauce.
16. Add a final layer of pasta.
17. Cover the pasta with the remaining sauce and cover the pan with foil.
18. You will have some mozzarella and parmesan cheese leftover. Reserve this for later.
19. Bake the lasagna at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Uncover the dish and sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top.
20. Return to the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is golden and the lasagna is bubbling around the edges.
21. Let the lasagna rest for 15-20 minutes before serving.

Reviews

[Chef #827612]

I found that the mix of ingredients is very nice but the result is a little bit dry. I would suggest to use some cream (creme fraiche would be awesome, but it is pricy and sometimes difficult to find) as well as ricotta:)