Ravioli Lasagna

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 medium onion, peeled and diced

2 garlic cloves, peeled and minced

1 pound ground Italian sausage

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

28-ounce can crushed roma tomatoes

1 cup prepared pesto sauce, divided

4 ounces fresh baby spinach, stack the leaves and thinly slice (about 2 cups)

15-ounce container ricotta cheese

1 cup grated or shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Two 16 to 18-ounce packages frozen cheese-filled raviloli

3 cups grated Mozzarella cheese

 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add onion and saute until soft, add garlic and cook about 4 minutes longer, transfer to a small plate.
3. Add the sausage to the same skillet and cook, stirring often to break up for about 12 minutes or until sausage is browned.
4. Drain off any grease, then add the onion-garlic mixture back to the pan and season with salt and pepper.
5. In a medium bowl, stir together the crushed tomatoes and 1/2 cup of the pesto sauce.
6. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the sliced spinach and the remaining 1/2 cup pesto sauce.
7. In a third medium bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese and 3/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese (reserve remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan for sprinkling on at the end), stir in the nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.
8. In a 9 x 13-inch baking pan, spread 1/2 cup of the tomato-pesto sauce on the bottom and the pan and lightly coat the sides of the pan with the sauce as well, to prevent the lasagna from sticking after baking.
9. Top with 1/2 of the sausage-onion mixture, then 1/2 of the spinach mixture.
10. Top with 1 package of the ravioli, laying out evenly in a single layer.
11. Dollop 1/2 of the ricotta mixture over ravioli, then top with 1/3 of the mozzarella.
12. Spread with 1/2 of the remaining tomato sauce, top with remaining sausage, then with remaining spinach.
13. Top with second package of ravioli, dollop with remaining ricotta and 1/3 of the mozzarella.
14. Spread on the rest of the sauce.
15. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
16. Remove from oven, discard foil and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and the reserved 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
17. Return to oven and bake another 12 minutes.