Recipe Review: Easy Spinach Lasagna

Following my last post, I opted to make an easier meal this time around. Another vegetarian favorite is this easy spinach lasagna recipe written by Kristen Carli and posted on mashed.com. 

Ingredients:

• 9 no-boil lasagna noodles
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 15 ounces ricotta cheese
• 1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
• 2 cups frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

To prep for this lasagna, drain your ricotta and set your spinach out to thaw. I set my spinach out all day, drained it, then hand squeezed out the extra liquid and pressed it in paper towels. This step is especially important because the excess liquid from the spinach will make the lasagna runny. I recommend using paper towels to press the spinach because it will stain any regular cloth towel green. 

When I make this lasagna, my first step is always making my ricotta mixture. To do so, add your ricotta, ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine, and then set aside for layering. The mixture might get watery the longer it sits because of the ricotta, but simply stirring it will reincorporate all of the ingredients. 

The first step to actually putting together your lasagna is to put a layer of three no-boil lasagna noodles in a greased 9×13 inch pan. On top of your noodles, spread about ⅓ of your marinara sauce. Next, add ½ of your ricotta mixture directly on top. On top of the ricotta, add ½ of your spinach, and then ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. 

Then, add another three noodles and repeat the previous step. Finish both your ricotta mixture and your spinach. 

For the final layer, start again with three no-boil noodles. Add the remaining ⅓ of marinara sauce, then your remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. 

The recipe calls for the lasagna to be baked at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, but follow the directions on the noodle box rather than the recipe. Your noodles will not be cooked properly if you follow the recipe’s instructions unless they’re the same as the noodles’ cooking instructions. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this lasagna. I’m by no means a good cook, but this lasagna was nearly impossible to mess up. It was delicious for its simplicity, and surprisingly flavorful. I was really impressed with the no-boil noodles, and the lasagna wasn’t soggy. I would absolutely recommend this recipe and plan on making it again.