Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna (using ricotta)

Chicken Pot Pie Lasagna

12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup thinly sliced carrots
1/2 cup sliced spring onions
1 cup frozen green peas, thawed and well drained
1 tsp. ground thyme
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups skim milk
1/2 cup dry sherry
1/4 tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)
1 (15-oz.) carton low-fat ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups grated part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
1/2 cup grated reduced-fat Swiss cheese

Prepare pasta according to package directions.

Spray a Dutch oven or large skillet with cooking spray; place over medium-high heat until hot. Add chicken and saute 4 minutes or until cooked through. Drain well and set aside.

Recoat Dutch oven with cooking spray and place over medium-high heat until hot. Add mushrooms, carrots and onions; saute 6 minutes. Set aside.

Place flour in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a wire whisk until blended; stir in sherry. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 5 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in salt and red pepper. Reserve one cup of sauce and set aside.

In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese and Swiss cheese.

Preheat oven to 350F.

Spread 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 13x9x2-inch pan. Arrange 4 pieces of the lasagna (3 lengthwise, 1 widthwise) over the sauce. Top with half of ricotta cheese mixture, half of chicken mixture and half of remaining sauce mixture. Repeat layers, ending with 4 pieces of lasagna. Spread reserved 1 cup of sauce over the last complete layer of lasagna, being sure to cover the lasagna completely.

Cover lasagna with foil and bake 1 hour. Uncover lasagna, sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top and bake an additional 5 minutes uncovered. Re-cover and let stand 15 minutes before serving.

Servings: 10
Source: National Pasta Association