This time of year you want something warm, cozy, yummy, rich and satisfying! Well I have just that for you – a butternut squash lasagna. Usually this type of thing is made with heaps of butter and a bechamel sauce that is made with butter and cream and milk and all sorts of ingredients I know I can not have as a celiac and anyone who is even looking to lose some weight shouldn’t have or high cholesterol… And as a celiac we can not have traditional lasagna, so I decided to attack this venture one rainy afternoon and my results were astounding! My recommendations on making this is to be really hungry because it is rich and satisfying – yet it is packed with vitamins and vegetables and good and good for you ingredients. I’ve made the bechamel sauce out of cauliflower and I promise you – you do not taste the cauliflower and take this from me, because I do not like cauliflower. When this is done you’ll have a creamy rich sauce that is just sinful – at least it tastes sinful. So, for your next gathering, or whatever Holiday or occasion you will be celebrating this is for you and I promise this is a great way to sneak vegetables in for your kids because they will never know! If you can have dairy, by all means put it in there or stick with the recipe I made below. This meal truly-truly fooled my celiac free friends! I enjoyed this with a side of a spinach, pomegranate, and fennel salad with light olive oil and lemon dressing, it has a nice clean crisp taste to go with this heavier dish. A tip when making this – make as many layers as you can with the goal of 10 layers. The butternut squash is thick and the sauce is thick, and you want the dish to have some firmness which will come from the pasta. This recipe has few more steps but don’t get discouraged – it is well worth the end result!! YUM!!!
Roasted Butternut Squash Lasagna
Ingredients:
2 large butternut squash
4 tbls olive oil
1 tsp salt pepper
2 boxes gluten free lasagna noodle
Butternuts squash filling (will be added to butternut squash when finished cooking):
simmer 1/2 cup Earth Balance
1/4 cup sage (chopped)
3 tbls nutmeg fresh
3/4 cup almond milk
4 tbls finely chopped hazelnuts
Bechamel Sauce:
4 tbs olive oil
3 cups cauliflower heads
1 cup water
1/2 cup onion
2 tbls nutmeg
1 3/4 cup almond milk
1/2 tsp course salt
6 tbls Earth Balance or butter
3 tbls tapioca starch
Step One:
Preheat oven to 400
1. Cut squash in long length wise. Drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Place cut side down on baking sheet for about 1 hour – should be brown and able to put fork through it. When cool, scoop out flesh from skins and puree in food processor.
2. While squash is in the oven put a large pot full of water on medium flame to boil for pasta. On low heat, in small sauce pan add Earth Balance (or butter), 1 tsp salt, sage, almond milk, nutmeg and hazelnuts, combine until smooth. Add more salt to taste.
3. In a food processor combine the scooped out butternut squash and mixture from step two until smooth, set aside.
4. Make the bechamel sauce – place onion in a saucepan with 2 tbls olive oil until onion is translucent. Add chopped cauliflower to onion for minute or two, then add water and cook cauliflower until soft. Place in food processor until pureed. Leave in food processor.
5. In same saucepan add milk of choice (I used Almond milk), tapioca starch, nutmeg, salt and stir or whisk for 2 to 3 minutes on low heat. Want to work off the flour taste.
6. Add mixture to cauliflower already in food processor and puree adding in remaining olive oil.
7. When water is boiling put in pasta and stir until just soft enough to bend but not quite done. Every gluten free pasta is different so check the box.
8. Strain pasta and rinse with water. I suggest this because gluten free pasta tends to be very starchy but again check your pasta box.
Step Two:
Assembling lasagna (for 10 layers adjust thickness of layers according to your lasagna pan):
1. Take small amount of bechamel and distribute on bottom of dish.
2. Take pasta and line bottom of dish (side by side). Cover entire bottom (might want to have pasta sheet hang over sides then fold at the end).
3. Take butternut mixture and place evenly over pasta.
4. Repeat layers of bechamel, pasta, and butternut mixture ending with bechamel sauce on pasta and freshly grated nutmeg.
5. Bring oven down to 375, cover lasagna with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Take off foil and bake uncovered for 35 more minutes. Enjoy!!!
Mmmm, YUM! I will certainly be trying this one out. I have a thing for butternut squash soup and pasta sauce, so this is right up my alley!
Thanks for the awesome ricpee – I made this two nights ago, and then tonight decided to experiment – I used shells instead of elbows, only added salt and pepper for spices, 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and approximately 2oz worth of frozen spinach (defrosted and added to the pasta about half way through the simmer).
I have seen Jennifer several times and saw her on a cooking show. I know she has published a book on Gluten Free and I would like to purchase the book. What is it’s name and where can I buy it.?
I just made this recipe and in the list of ingredients, for the bechamel sauce it lists 6 Tbsp. butter. In the directions, when making the bechamel, it does not include the 6 Tbsp. butter? I hope it comes out ok as I did not add the butter and only realized it when I was re-reading the ingredient list and saw the butter. I had already put the pan in the oven so we’ll see how it comes out?!
Thanks for pointing that out about the “butter”. I’m sure it will still come great. Also if dairy intolerant use Earth Balance! Its delicious tastes just like butter AND bakes and cooks like it as well. I like the soy free one as well.
Let me know how it comes.
Ever Onward
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Great site, stubbled upon it thru Dr. Oz’s. Would love to know where to find GF
Lasagna noodles! Many thanks,
Denise
(big fan!)
Jennifer,
This looks amazing! I will definitely give it a try.
I was planing on making homemade gluten free ravioli .
Have you ever tried to make pasta dough? Any tips?
Thanks!
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