Recipe: Asparagus Lasagna (using ricotta and white sauce, make ahead)

ASPARAGUS LASAGNA

FOR THE WHITE SAUCE:
2 tbsp. (1/4 stick) butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 tbsp. all purpose flour
2 cups low fat milk
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
FOR THE ASPARAGUS-RICOTTA FILLING:
3/4 lb. asparagus
1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
FOR THE LASAGNA:
6 to 9 lasagna noodles
1 1/3 cups shredded Swiss cheese (about 5 oz.)
1 cup diced Canadian bacon (about 5 1/2 oz.)
1/2 cup canned tomato sauce
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

TO PREPARE THE WHITE SAUCE:
Melt butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium low heat. Add onion and garlic and saute onion until translucent, about 8 minutes.

Add flour and cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Gradually whisk in milk. Simmer until mixture thickens, stirring constantly, about 2 minutes. Mix in lemon peel and nutmeg. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.

(The White Sauce can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover white sauce and refrigerate.)

TO PREPARE THE ASPARAGUS-RICOTTA FILLING:
Steam asparagus over boiling salted water until just crisp tender, about 6 minutes. Refresh under cold water; drain. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Combine asparagus and ricotta in small bowl.

TO ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNA:
Cook lasagna noodles in large pot of rapidly boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally; drain. Rinse noodles with cold water and drain well.

Grease 8-inch square baking pan. Spread 1/2 of white sauce in bottom of pan. Top with single layer of lasagna noodles, trimming to fit. Cover with 1/2 cup white sauce. Top with 1/2 of asparagus mixture. Top with half each of Swiss cheese and bacon. Top with another layer of noodles. Cover with remaining white sauce. Top with remaining asparagus mixture, Swiss cheese and bacon. Cover with remaining noodles. Drizzle top with tomato sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

(The lasagna be assembled 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.)

WHEN READY TO BAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake lasagna until heated through, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

Makes 6 servings
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