Lasagna Roll Ups

A pantry clean up reveals a hidden box of no-boil lasagna noodles. Not enough for a traditional bake, so I improvise. A quick boil softens the noodles. Ricotta cheese is whisked with egg, chives, mint and parsley. Each noodle gets a schmear of cheese before it is rolled and nestled in marinara sauce. Dabs of fresh mozzarella top the rolls.The oven works its magic as I make a salad. Any Italian is a hands down favorite.

LASAGNA ROLL UPS
Serves 4-6
VG

12 no-boil Lasagna Noodles
2 cups Ricotta Cheese
1 Egg
2 tablespoons minced Chives
2 tablespoons slivered Mint Leaves
1/4 cup Parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 teaspoon ground Black Pepper
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
6 Garlic cloves, minced fine
3 cups canned crushed Tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon Kosher Salt
1/2 cup fresh Mozzarella Shreds


Pour 4-5 cups of water in a wide saucepan. Set the pan over a high flame and bring to a boil. Add 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt to water. 

Float 4 noodles at a time in the boiling water, moving noodles gently as they cook. Boil noodles for 4-5 minutes. Remove noodles carefully onto a large sheet pan. Cook all the noodles in the same manner.

Mix ricotta cheese, egg, chives, mint, parsley, salt and pepper in bowl. Roughly divide cheese into 12 portions.

Lay one noodle on a flat surface. 

Smear about 2 tablespoons of cheese all over the noodle. 

Roll up noodle carefully. Do the same with the rest of the noodles. 

Heat crushed tomatoes in a saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.

In a separate small saucepan heat olive oil. 

Add minced garlic to oil. Let garlic turn pale brown and aromatic. 

Pour this oil over the tomatoes. Mix gently to infuse the marinara.

Heat oven to 350F/180C.

Ladle 3-4 spoons of marinara into the bottom of a baking dish. 

Arrange lasagna rolls over the sauce. 

Spoon the rest of the sauce over the rolls. 

Dot rolls with shredded fresh mozzarella.

Cover tightly with foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Uncover and savor with garlic bread or a salad.

There is much comfort in the aroma that emanates from the oven. The Italian in all of us eagerly dig into the end product. Happiness is baked pasta!

Pin It