Squash Lasagna w/Spinach

By brenie_shydee

Ingredients

• SQUASH
• 1 small kabocha squash (3 1/4 pounds), quartered, seeded, peeled, and cut into 1/2-inch wedges
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• BECHAMEL
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 small onion, minced (1/2 cup)
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• Coarse salt
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup dry white wine, such as Sauvignon Blanc
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups whole milk, plus more if necessary
• FILLING
• 1 1/2 cups fresh ricotta
• 2 cups coarsely grated Gruyere (10 ounces)
• 2/3 cup finely grated Parmesan (1 1/2 ounces)
• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
• Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 large egg
• LASAGNA
• 1 pound lasagna noodles (12 sheets)
• Coarse salt
• Extra-virgin olive oil, for baking sheet
• 2 packages (10 ounces each) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed well to remove excess liquid (1 1/4 cups packed)

Preparation

Step 1

Squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Arrange squash in a single layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Dot with butter and season with salt and pepper. Roast 5 minutes. Flip squash, coating in butter, and roast 10 minutes more. Flip again and roast until tender, about 2 minutes more. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees.

Bechamel: Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Add onion, nutmeg, and 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent, about 3 minutes. Stir in mustard, then wine. Boil 1 minute. Stir in flour and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce to a simmer; cook 3 minutes. (You should have 4 cups; add more milk if necessary.)
Filling: Stir together ricotta, 1 1/2 cups Gruyere, and Parmesan. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Stir in egg.

Lasagna: Cook noodles in a large pot of generously salted boiling water, gently stirring occasionally, until almost al dente, about 6 minutes (or according to package instructions). Drain. Rinse under cold water and lay noodles flat on a lightly oiled baking sheet to drain. (Do not let them touch.)
Spread 1 cup bechamel in the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Arrange 4 noodles on top. Dot with one-third of filling. Top with half of squash, then spinach. Spread 1 cup bechamel over spinach. Top with 4 more noodles, one-third of filling, remaining squash, 1 cup bechamel, and layer of remaining 4 noodles. Finish with remaining filling and bechamel. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup Gruyere.

Cover lasagna with parchment-lined foil and bake until heated through and bubbling at edges, 35 to 40 minutes. Turn oven to broil, remove foil, and broil until golden brown in spots and bubbling, 2 to 5 minutes. Let cool 20 minutes before serving.