White House Turkey Lasagna with Spinach

By Paul Briand

Who wouldn’t want to eat like the president and his family at the White House?

But we’re not talking the lavishness of an official State Dinner here.

We’re talking about a healthy dinner dish prepared for President Barack Obama and his family by White House Chef Sam Kass.

Kass was on NBC’s “Today Show” a few weeks ago to talk about and demonstrate this recipe for White House Turkey Lasagna with Spinach.

It was a hit in our not-the-White House, as dinner one night with family and as leftovers.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup chopped yellow onion

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 pound fresh ground turkey

1 (28-ounce) can plum tomatoes, crushed

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

16 cooked whole-wheat lasagna noodles

15 ounces low-fat ricotta or low-fat cottage cheese

1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 large egg, beaten

2 cups fresh spinach, washed, but not dried

1 pound low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dried flat-leaf parsley

1 tablespoon chopped fresh or dried basil

Directions

1 .Preheat oven to 400 degrees;

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent;

3. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more;

4. Add ground turkey and cook for about 10 minutes;

5. Add damp spinach, stir until wilted;

6. Add plum tomatoes, tomato paste, and season with salt and pepper; let simmer until thickened, about 20 minutes;

7. Stir in basil and parsley; set aside;

8. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, and egg; season with salt and pepper and set aside;

9. Ladle one-quarter of the turkey mixture into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish; spread to cover;

10. Add 1/4 of lasagna noodles, one-third of the mozzarella, one-third of the ricotta mixture;

11. Repeat process two more times; top with remaining lasagna noodles;

12. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan over top; transfer to oven and bake until bubbly, 25 to 30 minutes;

13. Let stand about 5 minutes before cutting; serve.

Click here for recipe card.