Baked Lasagna with Tofu-Spinach Filling

With more vegetables and less fat than traditional lasagna recipes, the following dish features fresh spinach filling that combines tofu and ricotta cheese. The sauce cooks in very little time, although making it a day ahead improves the flavor.

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped finely
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup white wine
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 cups canned Italian-style tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Tofu-spinach filling (recipe below)
Vegetable oil for greasing baking dish
1 package (16 ounces) spinach lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese mixed with 1 /4 cup bread crumbs

Directions:
To prepare lasagna sauce, heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat; add onion, mushrooms, garlic, carrots and celery. Sauté two minutes. Add wine; simmer 15 minutes. Add nutmeg, tomatoes, basil and oregano. Cover and cook over medium heat 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Puree sauce in blender. Set aside.

Prepare filling. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Lightly oil 12 x 9-inch baking dish.

Assemble lasagna by layering filling, sauce and cooked noodles in baking dish. Repeat layers two more times, using all ingredients and ending with noodles on top.

Sprinkle lasagna with Parmesan-bread crumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Let stand five minutes before serving.

Recipe makes six to eight servings.

Tofu-Spinach Filling:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cups sliced onions
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 cup white wine
2 cups chopped spinach leaves
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 cup pressed, crumbled firm tofu
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

Heat oil in saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushroom; sauté three minutes. Add wine; simmer until soft, about ten minutes. Add spinach leaves and salt; cook, covered, one minute. Remove from heat and mix with tofu and ricotta cheese.