Sausage Butternut Squash Lasagna Roll-Ups
Fall's perfect comfort foods, all rolled into one, in this savory (and stunning) sausage butternut squash lasagna recipe. This centerpiece supper takes some time and uses several pots and pans, but the effort will be worth it. (Pro tip: Save time by making some components in advance.)
Servings: 6 people (2 roll-ups each)
Ingredients
For the Roasted Butternut Squash
- 2 pounds diced butternut squash, fresh or frozen
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
For the Béchamel
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 quart (4 cups) milk
- pinch ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, gently smashed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 large sprig rosemary, with more to garnish (if desired)
For the Filling, and to Assemble and Finish
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion, diced
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
- 8 ounces (about 2 cups) grated Asiago cheese
- 1 pound lasagne noodles (not no-bake)
- 4 cups béchamel sauce, above
Instructions
For the Roasted Butternut Squash
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and line or grease a half-sheet pan.
- Toss the butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on the sheet pan and bake for 30 minutes, or until soft.
For the Béchamel
- While the squash is roasting, make the béchamel. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly for several minutes, until the color turns pale golden.
- Add the milk in two or three quick additions, whisking between each. Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, bay leaves, rosemary and garlic. Stir. Bring just to a boil -- careful; it will foam! Whisking, lower to a simmer and let cook for about five minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Strain and reserve.
For the Filling, and to Assemble and Finish
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch casserole pan.
- Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook the lasagne noodles until al dente. Drain and reserve.
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the sausage and onion in a wide-bottomed skillet with the two tablespoons of olive oil until the onion is translucent and the sausage is fully cooked, about 10 minutes. Be sure to break up the sausage as much as possible as it cooks. Drain on a sheet pan lined with paper towels until slightly cooled.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the drained sausage and onion, the grated asiago cheese, half of the grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and the roasted butternut squash.
- Take a nice stretch or pour yourself a glass of wine. You're getting there! The hardest work is over.
- Spoon about a cup of béchamel onto the bottom of the greased casserole. Working one lasagne noodle at a time: Lay a lasagne noodle flat on a clean surface. (I use the sheet pan.) Spread a spoonful of béchamel on the noodle. Spread some of the sausage-squash-cheese filling over the noodle, then roll it up as tight as feels comfortable. Gently lay it down in the casserole. Repeat until all of the lasagna rolls are settled snugly in the casserole.
- Pour the remaining béchamel over the roll-ups and sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano-Reggiano and a good few twists of black pepper.
- Bake, uncovered, for about 45 minutes, until bubbling. Let rest 10 minutes, tented with foil, before serving. Use an additional rosemary spring as a garnish if you like.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information is provided for courtesy purposes only, and is an estimate not verified by medical or nutrition experts. Read the full nutrition disclaimer.
