MUSHROOM-EGGPLANT LASAGNA

Mushroom-Eggplant Lasagna image

In this vegetarian lasagna with no-boil noodles, silky eggplant and umami-rich cremini mushrooms take the place of the meat and serve as delicious foils for three kinds of cheese: mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains

Time 2h45m

Yield Serves 8 to 10

Number Of Ingredients 20

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Ingredients

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound cremini mushrooms, chopped (about 5 cups)
1 pound eggplant (1 to 2 medium), peeled and chopped (about 5 cups)
1 medium onion, chopped (1 1/2 cups)
2 carrots, peeled and chopped (3/4 cup)
2 celery stalks, chopped (3/4 cup)
Kosher salt
6 garlic cloves, minced (2 tablespoons)
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cans (28 ounces each) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
24 ounces whole-milk ricotta (3 cups)
1 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
4 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, finely grated (1 1/4 cups)
1 pound low-moisture mozzarella, shredded (4 cups)
3/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
18 dry lasagna noodles

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sauce: Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add mushrooms and eggplant and saute 10 minutes. Add onion, carrots, celery, and 1 teaspoon salt; cook until vegetables have browned in places and most of moisture is cooked out of mushrooms and eggplant, about 15 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red-pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add tomato paste; cook 2 minutes more. Puree tomatoes in a blender or food processor; add to pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened slightly but still very loose, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
Cheese Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together ricotta, milk, eggs, 1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, 2 1/2 cups mozzarella, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Assembly: Spread 2 cups sauce evenly in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, preferably ceramic or enameled cast iron. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles over sauce (space noodles evenly; they will expand as the lasagna cooks). Spread 2 cups cheese mixture over noodles; top with 3 more noodles. Repeat layering of vegetable and cheese mixtures between noodles twice more. Spread 2 cups sauce evenly over top layer of noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and 1/4 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano. Loosely cover with parchment-lined foil and transfer to a rimmed baking sheet.
Bake until noodles are tender but still al dente (easily pierced with the tip of a knife), 40 to 45 minutes. Uncover; continue baking until bubbly and puffed slightly along edges and golden brown in places on top, 20 to 25 minutes more. (There may appear to be a lot of liquid in the dish. It will be absorbed as the lasagna cools.) Transfer dish to a wire rack and let cool slightly and set, about 20 minutes; cut into squares to serve.