Rosemary Chicken Lasagna

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna with creamy Béchamel Sauce …and a little tip on how to make this lighter and faster when pressed for time! Sub mushrooms for the chicken or a delicious vegetarian version! From feastingathome.com.

Rosemary Chicken Lasagna


Ingredients:

Lasagna Filling:
1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, cut into small bite sized, 1/2 inch pieces (or replace some with mushrooms)
1–2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste (if tolerated)
8 oz sliced mushrooms (optional- or replace with 8 oz more chicken)
1/2 onion- diced (if tolerated)
6 cloves garlic -chopped
1–2 tablespoons fresh rosemary- chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)
1–2 cups packed, chopped fresh spinach (optional)

Bechamel Sauce Ingredients:
4 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
4 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
3 cups whole milk (or use half and half and water)
1 1/4 tsp kosher salt (if tolerated)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (if tolerated)
1/4 tsp white pepper (if tolerated)
Truffle oil– optional but amazing

Lasagna ingredients:
No-boil lasagna noodles, fresh pasta sheets, or use egg roll wrappers for an extra light version! (check for problem ingredients)
12 oz fresh or grated mozzarella, divided -saving 4 oz for béchamel
15 oz whole milk ricotta
3/4 cup Parmesan, grated (if tolerated)
1 tablespoon lemon zest (if tolerated)
Truffle oil– optional but amazing


Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F

2. Make the Filling: (see notes below for vegetarian) Cut chicken into 1/2 inch, bite size pieces and season with 1 teaspoon salt and cracked pepper to taste. Saute in a skillet, on medium heat, with 1-2 tablespoons olive oil until golden brown, and cooked through. Place chicken in a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan and add a little more oil. Add mushrooms and onion and saute until tender, on med heat, about 7 min. Add garlic and rosemary, (before adding the dried rosemary to the food, rub the needles between your fingers and hands or grind them before putting them in the dish. This helps release volatile oils and increases the herb's fragrance and flavor.) and saute 2 more minutes. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and lower heat to med low, and saute until mushrooms release their liquid. Add chopped spinach, stir until wilted and add this to the chicken. Set aside.

3. Make Bechamel Sauce: In a small pot, melt butter on med low heat. Add flour and stir for 2-3 minutes on med heat until flour is golden. Whisk in milk one cup at a time. Add rosemary and bring to a gentle simmer, do not leave unattended, stirring constantly. Add 4 oz. mozzarella and stir until melted and thickened. Add salt, nutmeg and white pepper. Stir until incorporated, set aside.

4. Assemble Lasagna: Use fresh pasta sheets if possible. If not available, substitute large egg roll wrappers or dry lasagna noodles. Butter or grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Pour ¾ cups bechamel sauce in the bottom and spread out. Lay down one layer of pasta (or two layers of egg roll wrappers). Using a teaspoon, place teaspoon sized dollops of ricotta, using up about half the container. Spread out the 1/2 of the chicken mushroom filling, drizzle 1/2 C bechemal, sprinkle 1/4 C Parmesan, and 4 oz of the fresh mozzarella and half of the lemon zest. Repeat, adding another single layer of pasta, or a layer of egg roll wrappers, lightly pressing down. Add dollops of ricotta, the remainder of the chicken mushroom filling, 1/2 C bechamel, the remaining mozzarella, 1/4 C Parmesan and remaining lemon zest. At this point, you could drizzle with a little truffle oil (it’s delicious). Top with the last layer of pasta (or egg roll wrappers) pour the remainder of the bechamel, spreading evenly. Add the final 1/4 C of Parmesan. Sprinkle with a little rosemary.

5. Bake: covered tightly with foil in a 400F oven for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly. Remove foil and bake uncovered until top is golden, about 15 more minutes. Let rest out of the oven 10-15 minutes before cutting, so it sets up.

6. Enjoy!


NOTES
An easy way to do this is to make the filling ahead (and refrigerate), that way, on the day of, you could make simply make the bechemal sauce and assemble. You can also make the whole lasagna ahead.

You can make this vegetarian by subbing mushrooms for the chicken. You will need 1 ½ -2 pounds total. You could also sub other sautéed veggies into the mix, or more spinach. Saute the mushrooms and onion, and when tender, add the garlic and rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Add chopped spinach and wilt.