Vegetarian Spinach And Sun-Dried Bechamel Lasagna

BECHAMEL SAUCE:

6 tablespoons butter

6 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup heavy unwhipped whipping cream (33-35%)

2 cups milk (can use 1 cup each milk and half and half)

1/3-1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

seasoning salt & freshly ground black pepper (to taste)

CHEESE FILLING:

4 cups ricotta cheese

3 large eggs, beaten

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, drained and finely chopped (can use a little more)

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

1 teaspoon seasoned salt (or to taste, can use white salt)

1/2 (10 ounce) box frozen chopped spinach (cooked to package directions then hand-squeezed dry to remove excess moisture)

INSTRUCTIONS:————————————–

Grease a 13 x 9-inch lasagna pan.

Make the bechamel sauce in advance as 1-1/2 cups will need to be slightly cooled before adding into the ricotta cheese filling mixture.

For bechamel sauce; ; melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat; add in the flour and whisk for 1 minute.

Slowly add in the cream and milk, then cook over medium heat whisking constantly until bubbly and thickened.

Remove 1-1/2 cups of the sauce and refrigerate until slightly cooled.

To the remaining sauce mix in 1/3 to 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and season with salt and black pepper to taste; set aside to spread on top of the lasagna.

In a bowl mix all the cheese filling ingredients until well combined, then mix in the cooled 1-1/2 cups bechamel sauce to the cheese mixture; reserve the remaining cheese sauce to spread on top of the lasagna noodles before baking.

TO ASSEMBLE; place 4 noodles into the bottom of the greased baking dish.

Spread half of the cheese filling over the noodles, then sprinkle 1-1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella over cheese filling, then 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (can use more mozzarella cheese and/or Parmesan cheese if desired).

Repeat with 4 noodles, remaining half of ricotta mixture, 1-1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, then 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

Top with remaining 4 noodles.

Spread the remaining reserved bechamel sauce over the top of the noodles.

Set the baking dish onto a baking sheet then cover with foil.

Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree F oven (bottom rack) for 30 minutes.

Remove from oven then sprinkle 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese over the top then continue to bake for another 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly (or you may bake covered with foil for 30 minutes and uncovered forthe remaining time.

Allow to sit for 30 minutes before slicing.