A creamy, vegetarian lasagna featuring pumpkin ricotta and garlicky kale, perfect for a cozy fall main course or holiday gathering.
Author:michaelcarter
Prep Time:25 min
Cook Time:40 min
Total Time:65 min
Yield:8 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound kale, stems removed and chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
12 lasagna noodles
1 (24 ounce) jar marinara sauce
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add kale and cook until wilted, about 5-7 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant. Remove from heat.
In a medium bowl, combine pumpkin puree, ricotta cheese, egg, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined.
Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and rinse with cold water.
Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over the sauce.
Spread half of the pumpkin ricotta mixture over the noodles.
Top with half of the kale and garlic mixture.
Spoon about 1/3 of the remaining marinara sauce over the kale.
Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese.
Repeat the layers: 3 noodles, remaining pumpkin ricotta, remaining kale, another 1/3 of the marinara sauce, and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Top with the final 3 noodles, the remaining marinara sauce, the remaining mozzarella cheese, and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
Cover the baking dish with foil.
Bake for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until bubbly and golden brown.
Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
For a make-ahead option, assemble the lasagna up to the point of baking. Cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
To freeze, assemble and bake as directed. Let cool completely, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through.
Serve with a simple green salad and crusty bread for a complete meal.