Four Cheese Lasagna
6 ounces Gruyère cheese , shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 ounces Parmesan cheese , finely grated (about 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 large egg , lightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves plus an additional 2 teaspoons
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium shallot , minced (about 3 tablespoons)
1 medium clove garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 teaspoon)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups whole milk
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 bay leaf
Pinch cayenne pepper
15 no-boil lasagna noodles
8 ounces fontina cheese , rind removed, shredded (about 2 cups)
3 ounces Gorgonzola cheese , finely crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
-
Place Gruyère and 1/2 cup Parmesan in large heatproof bowl. Combine
ricotta, egg, black pepper, and 2 tablespoons parsley in medium bowl. Set
both bowls aside. -
Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat until foaming; add
shallot and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften,
about 2 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until thoroughly
combined, about 1 1/2 minutes; mixture should not brown. Gradually whisk in
milk and broth; increase heat to medium-high and bring to full boil,
whisking frequently. Add salt, bay leaf and cayenne, reduce heat to
medium-low, and simmer until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon,
about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally with heatproof rubber spatula or
wooden spoon and making sure to scrape bottom and corners of saucepan (you should have about 4 cups). -
Remove saucepan from heat and discard bay leaf. Gradually whisk 1/4 cup
sauce into ricotta mixture. Pour remaining sauce over Gruyère mixture and
stir until smooth; set aside while softening noodles. -
Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
Place noodles in 13 by 9-inch baking dish and cover with very hot tap water;
soak 10 minutes, agitating noodles occasionally to prevent sticking. Remove
noodles from water, place in single layer on kitchen towel, and pat dry.
Wipe out baking dish and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. -
Distribute 1/2 cup sauce in bottom of baking dish. Place 3 noodles in
single layer on top of sauce. Spread 1/2 cup ricotta mixture evenly over
noodles and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 cup fontina. Drizzle 1/2 cup sauce
evenly over cheese. Repeat layering of noodles, ricotta, fontina,
Gorgonzola, and sauce 3 more times. Place final 3 noodles on top and cover
completely with remaining sauce, spreading with rubber spatula and allowing
to spill over noodles. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. -
Spray large sheet foil with nonstick cooking spray and cover lasagna;
bake until edges are just bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes, rotating pan halfway
through baking time. Remove foil and turn oven to broil. Broil until surface
is spotty brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2
teaspoons parsley; cut into pieces and serve.
Cooks Illustrated