Introduction: Not the Usual Lasagna

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I really love butternut squash: when it starts to get cold it immediately appears in my kitchen where I tend to use it weekly. In order to try something different, I decided to use it as the main ingredient for the lasagna, that is one of my favourite dishes and a guarantee when guests are over for a meal.

In this not-the-usual version of the lasagna, the butternut squash is replacing the traditional pasta layers, making the meal gluten free. The recipe contains ham, but if that's left out it becomes vegetarian friendly too.

Step 1: Ingredients

Here the ingredients needed to make a lasagna for two people:

  • Half butternut squash
  • 150 g Fontina cheese
  • 100 g ham
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 30 g Parmesan
  • Handful of rosemary
  • 30 g butter flakes

Step 2: Butternut Squash Pretending to Be Pasta-noodle

First of all preheat the fan oven to 180°C. In the meantime half the butternut squash and use a potato peeler to peel it. With the help of a spoon remove the inner seeds and slice both halves into thin slices (make sure slices have the same width: 0.5 cm should be enough).

Cover an over tray with some baking paper and distribute the butternut squash slices on it. Use a kitchen brush for drizzle some olive oil on them, then add chopped rosemary and salt. Make sure each slice is covered by all the ingredients.

The butternut squash is now ready to be baked for 20 minutes until it begins to soften.

Step 3: Composing Your Lasagna

After 20 minutes remove the butternut squash from the oven and start assembling the lasagna.

Choose a bowl that can be put in the oven and start composing the layers: take some slices of butternut squash and create the base of the lasagna, add on top some slices of ham, then create a cheese layer and cover it with Parmesan. The first layer is now completed, ready to be covered by the others, made of the same ingredients put in the same sequence. Continue adding layers until all the ingredients are gone. The top level is made of butternut squash only. In order to get the crispy and delicious crust, spread some butter flakes on top and cover with Parmesan.

Each mono-portion is now ready to be baked in a fan oven for 10 minutes. When that time has passed, serve each portion on a dish, spread each portion with Parmesan, if you like.

The "not usual lasagna" is now ready to be eaten, but be careful, it can be very hot!

Buon appetito :)