With the cooler weather here, who isn’t hankering for a creamy pasta dish? To kick off Veggie-licious Week of #HealthyPastaMonth (in honor of “National Pasta Month”), I am making my daughter, Samantha’s, favorite pasta dish: lasagna. I whipped up a veggie version and mixed the ricotta cheese with butternut squash and chives + cinnamon and nutmeg to capture the essence of fall.
This post is sponsored by Dreamfields Pasta (click on the link for more fun and tasty pasta facts and recipes) — it’s made with premium durum wheat semolina and it’s an excellent source of fiber with a 2-ounce serving having 5 grams of fiber, as well as 7 grams of protein. Plus, it’s tasty - my kids love it, too!
Share to win! If you share or like this post add a comment below to be entered into a contest to win a Family Pack of Dreamfields (1 each of 7 shapes) and a $25 gift card.
What is so great about this lasagna recipe it incorporates butternut squash that is low-calorie and jam-packed with beta-carotene, which is great to your eyes, as well as cell health. It gets an extra boost of goodness with cinnamon, which has been found to be great for blood sugar control. Plus, when combined with nutmeg, it has the spices of fall that go so well with squash. It’s the perfect creamy, cheesy combo that makes this lasagna a go-to cold weather classic.
Simply Veggie Lasagna with Butternut Squash and Chive Ricotta Cheese
Enjoy this lasagna with a mixed greens salad for a tasty lunch or dinner.
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 30 – 45 minutes
Serves 10
Ingredients
1 box Dreamfields Lasagna
2 ½ cup raw butternut squash, cubed
2 cloves of garlic
2 Tablespoons fresh chives, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces part-skim ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 cans (15 ounces each) tomato sauce
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 cup part-skim mozzarella, finely shredded
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Lightly spray noodles with nonstick cooking spray when finished to prevent sticking; set aside.
- Microwave squash in microwave-safe bowl on HIGH 4 to 5 minutes or until tender.* Place squash and garlic in blender or food processor container. Blend or process until smooth. Pour squash mixture into large bowl. Stir in chives, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Fold in ricotta.
- Meanwhile, heat oil in medium saucepan over low heat until hot. Add tomato sauce and oregano. Cook 10 minutes to heat through, stirring occasionally.
- Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce (about 1/2 cup) on bottom of 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with one layer of pasta (3 noodles). Spread with a thin layer of squash-ricotta mixture (about 1/2 cup). Sprinkle with (scant 2 tablespoons) mozzarella cheese and top with a thin layer of tomato sauce (about 1/2 cup). Repeat this process until the baking dish is filled to the top.
- Bake 30 to 45 minutes or until bubbly. Remove from oven. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
*If desired, squash can be steamed in a saucepan on the stovetop instead of cooking in microwave.
Nutrition information (1/10 of recipe): 280 calories; 14 g protein; 40 g carbohydrates; 8 g total fat; 4 g saturated fat; 20 mg cholesterol; 690 mg sodium; 6 g total dietary fiber.
How are you enjoying #HealthyPastaMonth? Hopefully you’re enjoying it with veggies today!
Enjoy eating simply,
-Vicki
Lasagna is my favorite Italian dish and I love to add spinach, turkey meatballs, a ricotta mixture. A bit over a month ago I made a Chicago inspired pizza stuffed with a lasagna, it was epic. I shared the post on Twitter: https://twitter.com/FireRunner2379/status/656081802373804032.
Thanks, Jeffrey! Your lasagna sound delish!
You are entered to win — good luck!
Have a great day,
Vicki
I love your lasagna! It looks so healthy and delicious! I want to make it. Thanks for sharing and thanks for an awesome giveaway!
Shared on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/julie.wood.5015/posts/695387717258904
Thanks for sharing and commenting, Julie! You are entered - good luck!
Have a great day,
Vicki
I liked and shared the post on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/sandy.headtke/posts/1085153348176349?pnref=story
Thanks, Sandy! You are entered to win — good luck!
Have a great day,
Vicki
excellent recipe - big fan of Dreamfields and clean eating -
Thanks, Freddie! Have a great day.
Best,
Vicki
I’ve made all kinds of lasagna including veggie lasagna, but not yet with butternut squash - wow does this ever look wonderful I must make it!!
Thanks, Rosie. Please let me know if you try it and what you think!
Have a great day.
-Vicki
Love this pasta
Thanks, Clara!
Dreamfield pasta tastes just like any other pasta,even better!
Agree, Marilyn. Thanks for your input!
Best,
Vicki
Love lasagna and using a veggie makes it even better!
Love this recipe and Dreamfield’s pasta.
Shared on Twitter
https://twitter.com/aktheartist63/status/656256831510192128
[email protected]
Posted a share on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SusanPertierra/posts/10208107901035158
Followed and liked post on Instagram as @orchidlady01
I tweeted: https://twitter.com/cowladydeland/status/656259291414966272
I am a Dreamfield cheerleader, I’m diabetic and I know for a fact that Dreamfield Pasta is a diabetics best friend. I’ve tested it again and again over the past 7 years. And it tastes better than other pasta! At Christmas I always make a seafood lasagna and a butternut squash lasagna. It would be nice not to have to order online, for some reason it’s impossible to find in stores. Happy Holidays!
Thanks, Leslie. Your lasagna sounds delicious. Thanks for taking the tome to comment.
Happy Holidays to you, too!
-Vicki
Hi Vicki, I’ve not used squash in my recipes as we didn’t grow up eating it. I like the layers in your recipe and hope to try it soon as squash is so healthy for us
Great- thanks, Jennifer! You’re in — good luck!
Hope you try it. I love squash and blended with the ricotta, cinnamon and nutmeg it makes a great fall flavor…
Best,
Vicki
here is the link to my share https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.essad/posts/848589548587665
Thanks, Jennifer!
You are entered!
Best,
Vicki
I love pasta, but love Dreamfields Pasta even more. Now all of my family loves Dreamfields most.
I use roasted butternut squash in my tomato sauce all the time now - it makes it less acid-y so it doesn’t upset my Dad’s stomach, and I get to feel sneaky that I got him to eat another vegetable!
I Love pasta dishes, shared the post -https://www.facebook.com/nikki.p.smith.1/posts/1184452818233442
Oh lasagna is one of our favorites here! I have never heard of one with the butternut squash! I cannot wait to try it…we love squash!
I shared on my pinterest so I can make it!
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277464027020316253/
Definitely the most delicious lasagna recipe I’ve seen! I shared https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216735800795269120/ Thanks for the chance!
Thanks, Amanda! I hope you try it.
Best,
Vicki
I haven’t had lasagna in ages, I think it’s time to make it
shared G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/117322433833774024546/posts/TEwfefBEaN8
Thanks for the chance!
jslbrown2009 at aol dot com
sooo good. I shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/mts2457/status/657690469321842688
Thanks, Sally! I hope you try it!
-Vicki
I Love pasta dishes, I shared the post https://www.facebook.com/nikki.p.smith.1/posts/1184452818233442 kraftmaking at gmail dot com
Great - thanks! I hope you try it!
- Vicki
facebook share
https://www.facebook.com/tom.murphy.946179/posts/972310419506661
Great - thanks!
-Vicki
This sounds delicious! I shared on Twitter
https://twitter.com/tlcfromtn/status/658076993829781504
This lasagna looks and sounds absolutely delicious! I love that it’s veggie and the use of butternut squash…especially this time of year! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Thank you for sharing! And I shared this post on Twitter! https://twitter.com/PJGurganus/status/658289493057908737
Thank you! Hope you enjoy it!
You are entered — good luck!
-Vicki
I shared on twitter: https://twitter.com/CbytheSea5/status/658371139215847424
That lasagna looks so delicious..and thick!