Spring Lasagna

Are you the type to rush into entertaining a lunch/brunch at the first sign of spring? This recipe is for you! Ideal for Easter, too, it’s warm, comforting, light, bright, and herby. I adapted this recipe from Donna Hay Magazine by adding lemon zest and nutmeg to the ricotta filling for more ‘umph.’ If you have a food processor, this is the recipe to use it on.

Spring Lasagna

adapted from Donna Hay magazine

Ingredients
2 12-oz bags of frozen spinach, thawed and drained (or 850 g/4 bunches fresh, blanched and chopped)
4 cups (1kg) fresh ricotta
1 cup (80g) finely grated parmesan, plus more for the topping (another cup?)
1 cup (56g) chopped fresh mint
1 cup (52g) chopped fresh parsley (Italian, flat leaf)
1-2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (1 large lemon)
1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg or cumin
sea salt and black pepper
lasagna/lasagne noodles, 1-2 packages, depending on how long they are
3-4 zucchini (courgette), thinly sliced
300 g fresh mozzarella, drained and shredded
olive oil, for brushing

Bake temp: 400F/200C
Bake time: 60 minutes

Recipe summary: combine ricotta, herbs, parmesan, zest, drained spinach, nutmeg/cumin, salt, and pepper (ideally a food processor). Slice zucchini (ideally on a mandolin or slicing disc on the food processor). Boil noodles per directions. lightly brush oil on an 8-inch skillet or baking dish and layer noodles, then 1.5 cups of the ricotta mixture, then zucchini, then 1/2 of the mozzarella. Then another layer of noodles, running the opposite direction of the first layer, ricotta, zucchini, and mozzarella. Then a final layer of noodles, ricotta, and zucchini. Brush oil over the zucchini and sprinkle with the extra grated parmesan. Bake at 400F/200C for an hour.