basic veggie lasagna question
A good friend just had her baby a bit earlier than planned, and didn't have time to stock the freezer... I'm trying to get a couple of dishes done for her today before she gets home, and I'm starting with a veggie lasagna -
Should I cook the veggies before layering them in the lasagna? (specifically the zucchini and mushrooms?)
And since I'm putting it right in their freezer, should I bake it first, or freeze before baking?
Thank you!!
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8 Comments:
IMO, I would cook the mushrooms to remove the water, otherwise it is released in the lasagna and can make it soggy. I would cook the zucchini (I actually like to cut it into thin strips and grill it) too. When cooking a lasagna you are really just heating it through and uncooked vegies tend not to cook enough. Finally there is no reason to bake prior to freezing....build and freeze. Good luck. It is always nice to have some meals made for you when you have a new baby...one less thing to worry about.
GrimChef at 11:15AM on 09/06/09
that's what i thought - thank you!!
nalega at 11:24AM on 09/06/09
@Grim is right. My only addition is to make sure that there is plenty of sauce. Maybe send a little extra in a container so she can add. You're a good friend.
janaatwg at 11:47AM on 09/06/09
If it's a small family I'd consider cooking and then wrapping pieces in plastic wrap and then foil before freezing. It's always nice to be able to take the right number out and have a quick meal.
But the lasagna doesn't require it, for sure. And yes, I'd cook the veggies.
When I'm making it for myself I don't cook the veggies and I don't cook the (regular) lasagna noodles, just throw it together and cook for a loong time. Then the extra water in the veggies is welcome for soaking into the noodles.
And you are a good friend. About a month from now would be a good time to repeat, don't you think?
lemonfair at 12:49PM on 09/06/09
thanks all :) was actually going to make a few more things later this week... why wait till next month? if anyone has any other good freezable recipes, let me know! (preferable meatless...)
nalega at 2:21PM on 09/06/09
I never cook the veggies for my lasagna, but I also use the no boil noodles so I think they need all the water they can get.
gingercookiewithlime at 9:06PM on 09/06/09
more veggie recipes to freeze: That's a good question. I don't usually make enough extra of veggie recipes to need to freeze.
Vegetable based soups, for sure. Have always frozen soup mixes with the end of the garden vegetables and tomatoes, to add pasta or rice or barley to when I thaw.
Shepherd's pie? Though I'm not ever thrilled with the texture of frozen potatoes when I make stew, but perhaps mashed potatoes freeze better. There's an outstanding mushroom gravy in - I think - Sundays at Moosewood that tastes very rich and beefy that I use when making a vegetarian shepherd's pie - with onions, celery, corn, lima beans, and sometimes carrots. Will look for recipe and post later.
I wonder about vegetarian calzones? The dough would prevent freezer burn of the insides.
lemonfair at 7:24AM on 09/07/09
Mac and cheese freezes really well; mix small pieces of cauliflower in with the noodles (I chuck them in the pot with the noodles for the last 2ish minutes of boiling) and/or greens- spinach, kale, chard. And what about homemade frozen burritos? Obviously no lettuce or tomato, but refried beans, rice, cheese, and some lightly sauteed veggies- zucchini, bell pepper,onion, etc- will all freeze together quite well.
thatgrrl at 10:24AM on 09/07/09