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Lasagna florentine slice with creamy tomato spinach filling and melted mozzarella layers

Lasagna Florentine with Creamy Tomato Spinach Filling

Lasagna Florentine is a creamy layered pasta bake with a smooth spinach filling, rich tomato sauce, and a melted mozzarella topping. It is a comforting choice for family dinners or gatherings when you want a hearty homemade meal.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Rest Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 363

Ingredients
  

Spinach Filling
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4-5 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 cups 4% cottage cheese
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup ground flaxmeal (optional, see FAQs)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (if using a non-salted variety, add an additional 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt)
  • a very tiny dusting of nutmeg
  • a squeeze of lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Assembly
  • 4 cups tomato sauce
  • 12 no-boil or oven ready lasagna noodles
  • 3-4 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
Serving
  • Chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese for serving

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Heat olive oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat, then cook the garlic for 1-2 minutes. Add the spinach and stir until it is just wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Process the cottage cheese in a blender or food processor until mostly smooth. Transfer to a bowl and combine with eggs, flaxmeal, oregano, Italian seasoning, nutmeg, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese. Mix in the prepared spinach and set the filling aside.
Assembly
  1. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Spread a few spoonfuls of tomato sauce over the bottom, then arrange 3 noodles on top. Add about 1 cup sauce, 1 cup spinach filling, and 3/4 cup Mozzarella cheese. Repeat for three full layers.
  2. Finish with the remaining three noodles, 1 cup sauce, and 1 cup Mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish with greased foil to prevent the cheese from sticking.
Baking
  1. Bake the covered lasagna for 40 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes to brown the cheese, or use the broiler to brown the top.
  2. Remove from the oven and allow the lasagna to rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Serving
  1. Top slices with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

Blend the cottage cheese before mixing the filling to create a smoother texture throughout the lasagna.