Sunday, October 25, 2015

Mexican Lasagna


... "I had to take Wally and Eva to the our vet a couple of weeks ago. Maria Pirita, one of the employees, saw my Mexican Lasagna that I made. She was telling me how I can change up my lasagna to make it more delicious and full of Mexican flavor. Her mom made something called 'Pastel Azteca.' I asked Maria to join me in the kitchen and this is what we decided to make ...

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Mexican Lasagna

INGREDIENTS


12 Dreamfields Lasagna noodles
1/4 pound raw chorizo sausage
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 dried ancho chiles, stemmed, seeded and chopped
1 large (8 ounces) Spanish onion, chopped
2 tablespoons tomato paste
6 large cloves garlic, minced
4 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano
1 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons ground cumin (preferably freshly ground from cumin seeds)
2 teaspoons ground coriander (preferably freshly ground from coriander seeds)
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups unsalted fat-free chicken broth
2 pounds ground pork (85% lean)
8 scallions, sliced (separate white and green portions), divided
1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped, divided
4 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 cups freshly shredded Chihuahua cheese
6 ounces queso fresco, crumbled (3 cups)
1/2 cup freshly grated queso Cojtia
2 large (about 4 ounces each) tomatoes, cored and chopped

DIRECTIONS
 
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Cook pasta according to package directions.

3. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat until shimmering. Add chorizo; cook and stir 1 minute or until it begins to render fat; set aside.

4. Toast chilies in a large skillet over medium heat, shaking pan constantly, 3 to 7 minutes or until fragrant. Transfer toasted chilies into blender container.

5. Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of the oil in large Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion; cook 8 to 10 minutes or until softened, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste; cook 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, salt, pepper, cumin and coriander; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until fragrant, stirring frequently.

6. Sprinkle in flour; cook and stir 1 to 2 minutes or until flour is blended into the onion mixture. Slowly add broth, stirring constantly and scraping any browned bits from bottom of Dutch oven. Continue cooking until sauce is slightly thickened, about 3 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

7. Add sauce to blender with chilies and process until smooth, about 30 to 40 seconds. Return sauce to Dutch oven. Add pork, breaking up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cover; cook pork in sauce over medium to medium-high heat until fully cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in scallion whites, 1/2 cup of the cilantro, and the lime juice. Set aside.

8. Combine Chihuahua cheese and queso fresco in large bowl; set aside.

9. Spread about 1/2 cup of sauce over bottom of 9x13-inch baking dish. Layer 4 lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup of sauce, 1/2 cup cheese mixture. Repeat with 4 more lasagna noodles, 3/4 cup sauce, 1 cup cheese mixture. Top with remaining 4 lasagna noodles, remaining sauce, chorizo, and remaining cheese mixture.

10. Cover baking dish with aluminum foil; bake 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese is melted. Remove aluminum foil; sprinkle with cojita cheese; bake 10 minutes. Remove from oven. Let lasagna stand about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with tomatoes, scallion greens and remaining cilantro.


Makes 10 servings.

Nutrition information (1/10 of recipe): 580 calories; 34 g protein; 37 g carbohydrates; 34 g total fat; 13 g saturated fat; 105 mg cholesterol; 590 mg sodium; 6 g total dietary fiber

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While we were making this, I felt like I was an 'abuela' (grandmother) in my kitchen. The smell of chorizo cooking and the smell of roasted ancho chilies filled the house up. All we needed was some margaritas and some mariachi music to make this meal complete! The funny thing is that James was surprised that Maria was cooking my kitchen - I never let anyone in my kitchen when I'm cooking ... I told him, '[i]f you knew how to cook, I would let you help, but, I would rather feed you anyway." /hands a generous serving of Mexican Lasagna to James and watches him do a fail attempt at the Mexican Jumping Bean dance ...

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Want to win some of your very own Dreamfield’s Pasta? Here’s how ... courtesy of Dreamfields Pasta!

GIVEAWAY:
A family prize pack of Dreamfields Pasta PLUS a $25 gift card to spend as you choose!

TO ENTER:
Leave a comment below letting me know what’s the first dish you’ll be making using ‪#‎Dreamfields‬ Pasta. That’s it!

For additional entries, share this post on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest using the hashtag ‪#‎HealthyPastaMonth‬. Then, leave me a comment BELOW letting me know you did.

RULES:
The contest is open to those 18 years of age or older and that have a valid continental USA mailing address. No purchase necessary. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries. One winner will be randomly chosen on November 7, 2015 and notified via e-mail. The winner has 48 hours to reply or they forfeit prize and an alternate winner will be drawn.
 
¡Buena suerte!




TWITTER - INSTAGRAM - PINTEREST - PERISCOPE: @thepantrypanda
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WEBSITE: http://www.thepantrypanda.com/
BEARS IN THE KITCHEN: http://www.bearsinthekitchenn.com/

49 comments:

  1. I'd make lasagna roll-ups with some turkey meatballs, spinach and ricotta.
    jlammers002 at woh dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I pinned it: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/122371314852703537/.
    jlammers002 at woh dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'll make spaghetti and meatballs.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. pinned--https://www.pinterest.com/pin/400046379379069634/

    ReplyDelete
  5. shared on FB--https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=183291602009238&id=100009851985013&pnref=story

    ReplyDelete
  6. I want to try your recipe, thatwould be a great Football Sunday dish. I've also marked the Spaghetti with Giant Meatball recipe from the #healthypastamonth

    ReplyDelete
  7. https://www.facebook.com/sandy.headtke/posts/1088622574496093?pnref=story
    Shared on Facebook

    ReplyDelete
  8. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/151715081175116525/
    Shared on Pinterest

    ReplyDelete
  9. https://instagram.com/p/9TmeOthfLi/ shared on instgram

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'd make Chicken Cacciatore ‪#‎Dreamfields ‪#‎HealthyPastaMonth‬ Your recipe is really nice, I like the ingredients and hope to try it

    ReplyDelete
  11. I'd make homemade macaroni and cheese

    ReplyDelete
  12. From Dreamfields recipe section lobster pasta..yum.

    ReplyDelete
  13. https://twitter.com/vickievirt/status/658746374213795840
    Thanks
    floridagld at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I would make mac and cheese!
    cricketlady29@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Posted on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/tamara.bennington/posts/10153298891107499

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pinned https://www.pinterest.com/pin/194006696425748233/

    ReplyDelete
  17. The first dish I would make is lasagna!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I shared this post on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/Pam.Krick/posts/10208241687863585?pnref=story

    ReplyDelete
  19. I shared this post on Pinterest. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/321444492133097432/

    ReplyDelete
  20. I would make Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti . kraftmaking at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. PIN https://www.pinterest.com/pin/291115563392914707/

    ReplyDelete
  22. Shared https://www.facebook.com/nikki.p.smith.1/posts/1187185924626798

    ReplyDelete
  23. For #HealthyPastaMonth, I'll be making Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/SusanPertierra/posts/10208150547341289

    ReplyDelete
  25. Pinterest pin: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/216595063306376589/

    ReplyDelete
  26. Instagram post: https://instagram.com/p/9U_CecscAZ/?taken-by=orchidlady01

    ReplyDelete
  27. I will make a pesto pasta salad
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. shared pin https://www.pinterest.com/pin/277675133252838565/
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. FB shared https://www.facebook.com/lisa.brown.50364592/posts/10206465809036632?pnref=story
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would love to make this Mexican Lasagna recipe! My family loves lasagna, and Mexican food, so this would be a great twist!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Shared On Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kgc1232/status/658928984865026048

    ReplyDelete
  32. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  33. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/232639136978798377/

    ReplyDelete
  34. I would be making chicken broccoli alfredo

    ReplyDelete
  35. shared on pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/pin/335518240968839694/

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would have to say that it would be lasagna -
    thefiggtree@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. shared - https://www.pinterest.com/pin/285697170089351217/
    thefiggtree@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I would make a baked ziti.
    kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'd like to make veggie lasagna.

    ReplyDelete
  40. shared https://www.pinterest.com/pin/91901648623796756/

    ReplyDelete
  41. I will be first be making a vegetable lasagna.

    ReplyDelete
  42. My first dish would be Chicken Penne Pasta.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I will be first be making a vegetable lasagna.

    ReplyDelete
  44. tweeted : https://twitter.com/tinawoo21/status/661086559458865152

    ReplyDelete
  45. The first dish that I will make is the Mexican Lasagna. Yum !!

    ReplyDelete