Recipe: Butternut Squash & Sausage Lasagna
There are a handful of cold-weather meals that I put on rotation every winter, including long-and-slow braises, cozy soups, and hearty lasagnas. They’re all more templates than recipes, but each year I usually settle on some combination of ingredients that my family deems worthy of repeating.
For lasagna, the winner this time around is undoubtedly this combination of sweet Italian sausage, roasted butternut squash, and spinach. Filled out with noodles and a creamy bechamel, it’s a meal that’s greater than the sum of its parts.
I think of lasagna as a labor of love. Sometimes it feels like a lot of work, but I’m always happy to have put forth the effort. There is just something about pasta layered with whatever flavors we’re currently craving (and cheese — always cheese) that makes this dish so satisfying. Also, the nights we eat lasagna are some of the very few where we end up with leftovers, which means we’re off the hook for planning our next dinner.
It’s up to you just how labor intensive your homemade lasagna ends up being. If you want to save some time, use frozen spinach rather than blanching your own or purchase pre-grated cheese. If you’re feeling ambitious, lasagna is absolutely divine with homemade pasta. Whatever you decide, I highly recommend using the mix of flavors in the recipe below.
Butternut Squash & Sausage Lasagna
Serves 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1
medium butternut squash (about 2 1/2 pounds)
- 1 tablespoon
olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds
sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 pound
fresh spinach
- 1 pound
dry lasagna noodles
- 1/2 cup
(4 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup
all-purpose flour
- 6 cups
whole milk
- 1/2 teaspoon
freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon
salt
- 1 pound
fresh mozzarella, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup
grated Parmigiano Reggiano
Butter, to grease the dish
Instructions
Cook the butternut squash: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Peel the squash and cut the neck into round slices, 1/4-inch thick. When you get to the bottom of the squash, slice it in half, remove the seeds and pulp, and slice each half into 1/4-inch thick half moons. Place the slices on a large baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil, and toss to evenly coat. Spread the squash in an even layer and roast until tender, about 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Cook the sausage: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and, once hot, add the sausage to the pan. Once it begins to brown, use a wooden spoon to break the sausage into small pieces. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until uniformly browned and cooked through.
Cook the noodles: While cooking the sausage, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Stir in the noodles and cook until al dente. Remove using tongs and place in a single layer on clean kitchen towels.
Blanch the spinach: Fill a bowl with ice and cold water, and place it near the stove. Bring the pasta water back to a boil and add the spinach. Cook until wilted and bright green. Scoop the spinach from the water with a slotted spoon and transfer to the ice water bath. Once cool, drain the spinach, squeeze it of excess water, and then chop finely.
Make the bechamel: In a deep saucepan or medium pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking to combine smoothly. Add the nutmeg and salt and continue cooking, stirring often, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
Assemble and cook the lasagna: Heat the oven to 350°F.
Grease the bottom of a 2-quart baking dish. Add a single layer of noodles, and spread about a fourth of the bechamel over top. Top with half the spinach and a third of the mozzarella. Add another layer of noodles, a fourth of the bechamel, half the sausage, half the squash, and another third of the mozzarella. Add a third layer of noodles, a fourth of the bechamel, the second half of the spinach, the second half of the sausage, the second half of the squash, and the final third of the mozzarella. Add one more layer of noodles and the final fourth of bechamel. Finally, sprinkle the Parmigiano Reggiano over the top of the lasagna.
Bake the lasagna until hot and the cheese has melted, 30 minutes. If you'd like, finish for a few minutes under the broiler until the top develops golden brown spots. Cool at least 15 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes
You'll need enough noodles for four layers, so base the exact amount on how many needed to cover the bottom of your baking dish four times. For my baking dish, the amount is just shy of 1 pound dry noodles.