Butternut Squash and Kale Lasagna
 
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 1 (4- to 4½-pound) butternut squash, peeled*
  • 1 (16-ounce) container whole-milk ricotta cheese
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, divided
  • 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1½ teaspoons ground black pepper, divided
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • 2½ cups heavy whipping cream
  • 2 cups Lacinato kale, stemmed and shredded
  • 8 lasagna noodles, cooked according to package instructions
  • Garnish: shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Cut squash crosswise separating neck from the bulbous end. (Save bulbous end for another use.) Slice neck into 32 (¼-inch-thick) rounds. Place rounds on prepared pan.
  3. Bake until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, zest, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, ½ cup Parmesan, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
  5. In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and flour; whisk constantly until garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add wine, cream, and remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer. Whisk until sauce begins to thicken, 15 to 20 minutes. Slowly whisk in remaining 1½ cups Parmesan cheese. Increase heat to medium and add kale; cook until kale is bright green and just softened, 5 to 8 minutes.
  6. Lightly spray 8 (8-ounce) ramekins with cooking spray. Place ramekins on a rimmed baking sheet. Cut each cooked noodle crosswise into 4 equal pieces.
  7. Spoon 2 teaspoons kale sauce into bottom of each ramekin. Layer 1 piece noodle, 2 teaspoons kale sauce, 1 tablespoon ricotta mixture, and a squash round; repeat 3 more times in each ramekin. Top each ramekin with 2 teaspoons kale sauce. Garnish with Parmesan, if desired.
  8. Bake uncovered until lasagna is bubbling and browning on top, 30 to 35 minutes.
Notes
*The neck of the squash should be about 4 inches in diameter.
Recipe by Southern Lady Magazine at https://southernladymagazine.com/butternut-squash-and-kale-lasagna-recipe/