Lasagna Fagioli (Fazool)

One of my favorite songs is by Dean Martin called That's Amore.

"When the stars make you drool just like pasta fazool, that's amore"

I always wondered what pasta fazool was. Apparently it makes you drool. I made it one day and by golly, it did make us drool. Its an Italian homestyle chili-like stew that has as many different variations as beef stew. So you can't make it wrong. Its all good.

We also love veggie lasagna. I had this brilliant idea to combine the two. I'm sure someone else has already thought of this, but its new to me.

Lasagna Fazool

1/2 lb hot Italian sausage, casings removed (can use mild, spicy is better to use)

1 large onion, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic ( or to taste)

1 teaspoon dried oregano, to taste

1 teaspoon dried thyme

2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained

4 tablespoons tomato paste

2 cups baby spinach leaves

1 diced zucchini

1 diced yellow squash

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or adjust to heat level, can use crushed chili flakes)

1 (15 ounce) can red beans, rinsed and drained

1-2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 lb lasagna noodles

3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

28 oz. cottage cheese

3 eggs

2 tablespoons dried parsley

12 oz grated mozzarella cheese

Cook the lasagna noodles according to package instructions. While they're boiling, in a large fry pan, sauté the sausage, onion, garlic, dried oregano and thyme over med-high heat until the sausage is brown, crumbling with a fork while cooking (about 6-7 minutes).

Add the undrained tomatoes, zucchini, squash, tomato paste and the cayenne pepper; simmer for 8-10 minutes until the vegetables are almost tender. Add the kidney beans and spinach and simmer 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

In another bowl combine the cottage cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese and parsley. 

 Start layering your ingredients:

-Sausage and sauce mixture (just a small amount for the first layer)

-Mozzarella cheese

-Lasagna noodles

-cottage cheese

-Sausage and sauce mixture

-Mozzarella cheese

-Lasagna noodles

-cottage cheese

-Sausage and sauce mixture

Cover with foil and bake 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the foil and cover with more mozzarella cheese and bake 5 more minutes. Let it stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Yum.  That's amore!