-Recipe- Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups

Besides a monthly diy/craft project I also want to do a monthly recipe. I will take pictures along the way so you can have a step by step guide on how to make whatever food I choose.

Today we made Caprese Lasagna Roll Ups. Let me just say these were amazing! And the monster liked them too which is ALWAYS a plus!!

First things first, ingredient list!

This recipe serves 8. Please adjust according to your needs.

• 8 Lasagna noodles, uncooked for now
• 14oz Mozzarella cheese, shredded and divided in half (7oz for filling and 7oz for the top)
• 3/4cup Ricotta cheese
• 1 large egg, white part only
• 1/3cup shredded Parmesan cheese, NOT the kind in the shake container, use FRESH shredded that comes in a tub!
• 4 Roma Tomatoes THINLY sliced (trust me it's hard to roll them if the tomatoes are thick!) You need 32 slices so if you need more than 4 then get more.
• 1 package fresh Basil, chopped
• Marinara sauce (recipe is below this one! I recommend using homemade and not store bought for this recipe!)
• Ground black pepper, season to taste

Okay now that we have our list, time to get cooking! First go ahead and preheat that oven to 350 degrees. Cook your pasta according to the package instructions, you want them al dente so don't over cook!! When you drain the pasta DO NOT rinse it with water. Oh and add salt to the water while they are cooking to minimize the stickiness!

Next lay some parchment or wax paper on the counter or table, wherever you will be working. And align the noodles on the paper in rows. I would do 2 rows of 4.

Now let's make the filling! In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together the Ricotta cheese and egg white until it is well blended.

 I had the monster complete this step. 

Stir in the Parmesan and 7oz of the Mozzarella cheese with a spoon. Season with pepper, don't use salt as there is enough in the cheeses.

Place roughly about 1 tablespoonful of filling over each noodle and spread it out evenly over the noodle. Then align 4 tomato slices over each noodle and sprinkle with fresh chopped basil. Use as much as you personally like.

Snuggly roll the lasagna noodles into a tight little roll. And place in a glass baking dish.  Before placing them in the dish add about half of the marinara sauce to the bottom of the dish. Once you have the rolls in the dish top with the remaining sauce and  7oz of Mozzarella cheese and add extra Parmesan if you wish. Bake for 35 minutes and voila!

Homemade Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

• 2tbsp Olive oil 
• 1 Medium-sized Yellow Onion, finely chopped
• 2 Cloves Garlic, finely minced
• 1 28oz can Crushed Tomatoes
• Salt and Pepper to taste

I made the sauce while making the filling.

In a medium sauce pan heat the Olive oil and add the onion. Saute for 2 minutes or until soft and then add the garlic and continue to saute for an additional minute. Add the can of crushed tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil. Then reduce the heat to a simmer and let it do that for about 30 minutes, in order to reduce the water from the tomatoes and to thicken and make it yummy. Add fresh basil in the last 10 minutes. 

 

And there you go! I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we have!