Crab and Spinach Lasagna

Now that Autumn is here, we decided to make some comfort food that wasn’t as heavy as some of the things that we make during winter.  We made this with crab claw meat, but you could easily substitute with lobster or a combination of other seafood.  It is pretty simple to make and is quite delicious.  Pairing it with a simple salad made it a perfect and easy weeknight meal.

Crab Lasagna

Ingredients

  • 3 tbsp Unsalted Butter
  • 3 tbsp Flour
  • 2 cups Milk
  • 1 pinch Fresh Nutmeg
  • 3 oz Fresh Spinach – cleaned, stemmed, and chiffonade
  • 4 oz Parmesan Cheese – grated
  • 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp Garlic – minced
  • 8 oz Fresh Mozzarella Cheese – sliced
  • 1 lb Crabmeat – shells removed
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Lasagna Sheets (we used the ready to bake lasagna sheets or cook to package directions)
Butter and Flour Rue
Slowly Add Milk
Fresh Nutmeg

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.  In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour, whisking for 2 minutes in order to make a rue.  Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously.  Add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg.  Continue cooking for 4 to 6 minutes until sauce has thickened.  Remove from heat and add the spinach, crabmeat, and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese.  Set aside.  In a small bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and egg.  Mix well.  Spray a 7″ by 11″ casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray.  Spread some of the sauce mixture across the bottom of the pan and then add a layer of noodles.  Spread the sauce across the noodles, then add 1/3 of the ricotta mixture, and 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese.  Add another layer of noodles and repeat 2 more times.  Add the rest of the parmesan cheese across the final layer, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese starts to brown.  Remove from the oven and let rest for 10-15 minutes.  Cut and serve.

Spinach and Parmesan Cheese
Whisk in Spinach
Stir in Crab Meat
Layer Ingredients
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Tandoori Chicken and Fried Eggplant

During our trip to India, we fell in love with all of the exotic flavors of the food.  We were determined to try and cook more Indian cuisine after we returned, so we picked up a cookbook from the local bookstore called India with Passion by Manju Malhi.  We decided to give Murgh Tandoori (Tandoori Chicken) and Begun Bahja (Fried Eggplant) our best effort.  As always, we take our own little twist on recipes based upon available ingredients or personal preferences.  We were completely pleased with the result.

Tandoori Chicken with Fried Eggplant

Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 6 to 8 lb Whole Chicken
  • 8 tbsp. Plain Yogurt
  • 2 tsp Garam Marsala
  • 8 tbsp Light Cream
  • 4 tbsp Medium-Hot Paprika
  • 1 tsp Hot Chili Powder
  • 1 tsp Medium Chili Powder
  • 2 tsp Ground Cumin
  • 4 tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 4 tbsp Vegetable Oil
  • 2 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Turmeric
  • 2 tbsp Tomato Sauce
  • 8 Garlic Cloves – minced
  • 4 tsp Peeled and Finely Grated Ginger

Instructions

Prick the chicken all over using a fork and cut a few 1-inch long slits into the skin.  Mix the remaining ingredients in a bowl and whisk to a smooth paste to create the marinade.  Generously cover the skin of the chicken with the marinade, cover, and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.  Reserve some of the marinade for basting.

Tandoori Marinade

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.  Place the chicken in a roasting pan, cover with foil, and roast in the center of the oven for about 20 minutes per pound.  Halfway through cooking, uncover and baste with a little of the reserved marinade.  Remove from the oven and let stand for at least 15 to 20 minutes before carving.

Tandoori Chicken

Fried Eggplant

Ingredients

  • 1 Medium Eggplant
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Turmeric
  • 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil

Instructions

Remove the stems form he eggplant and cut lengthwise into four strips and then cut the strips in half for a total of eight pieces.  Rub the cut surfaces of the each piece with salt and turmeric and set aside for 30 minutes.  Heat the oil in a frying pan on low to medium heat and fry the eggplant until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes per side.

Fried Eggplant
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