This recipe for Shortcut Lasagna goes all the way back to my college days, it was one of the first casseroles I ever made. It is a great recipe for a beginning cook and definitely qualifies as an everyday quick and easy dinner. I was trying to decide if I should make it with no boil lasagna noodles when I came across a recipe from Sara Moulton that uses wonton wrappers in place of the sheets of lasagna. How convenient and the perfect way to fit a layer of square pasta into a round oven. Kudos to the the brilliant person who came up with this ingenious idea. The wrappers bake into thin and delicate layers adding a real lightness to the dish. I made this in my 8 inch oven but you could easily double it to feed a crowd. This baked with 8 coals in a ring around the bottom and 14 on top. After 25 minutes or when the sauce is at a steady simmer, top it off with a handful of Mozzarella and let it cook until the cheese has melted and browned. Of course you can switch up this recipe, adding herbs or substituting vegetables in place of the meat. Even if you have your own family favorite lasagna, give the wonton wrappers a try, if you're camping or at home they make your job that much easier and are certainly delicious.
Shortcut Lasagna
12 oz. bulk Italian sausage
18 fresh wonton wrappers
1 beaten egg
1 cup cream style cottage cheese
8 oz. shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1 lb. 8 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
Lightly oil or spray well an 8 inch dutch oven.
Brown sausage over a full compliment of coals or on stovetop in skillet. Drain well.
Combine egg, cottage cheese, Parmesan and browned sausage.
Cover bottom of dutch oven with a layer of sauce.
Place 6 Wonton wrappers in a layer over sauce.
Spoon half of sausage mixture over wrappers. Cover evenly with sauce and half of Mozzarella cheese.
Repeat layers ending with a layer of wrappers covered with sauce.
Bake for 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees. When sauce is bubbling cover top layer with a handful of Mozzarella. Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until cheese is brown and melted.
Let sit for 20 minutes in dutch oven. Makes 4 servings.
 |
Overlap wonton wrappers to form layer of pasta     |
Another interesting way to use wonton wrappers. I also like the idea of it being a lighter meal, especially in summer when the heat lessens your appetite. The lasagna looks awesome and delicious.
ReplyDeleteI have surprised myself with cooking over open fire with my cast iron, but I'm still learning. Do you suppose you could show a picture with the coals in a ring for the bottom of your DO. I'd like to see how it looks on the lid too, if it's not a bother.
Thank you so much for all the pictures and recipes, it has inspired me so. I love all the old timey photos, right up my alley.