Southwest Lasagna
A fun twist on Italian Lasagna, this Southwest Lasagna is a family pleasing dinner with its creaminess and hint of spice.
Isn’t it fun to have friends who cook? For me, this includes one of our “up north” neighbors–and we always are excited when we get a dinner invitation!
This recipe is based on one she served us, adapted some to use things I needed to use up. And it’s fun to have a more unique lasagna recipe for a change like today’s Southwest Lasagna or this Pierogi Lasagna Casserole. Yum!
Southwest lasagna, closeup
My kids always feel that other people cook “normal” food while at home they are relegated to “hippie” food. Pretty sure that my recent Strawberry Meringue dessert and Steak Diane aren’t “hippie” food, but once you get a reputation…
And the recipe isn’t difficult at all. You prepare the filling.
Then layer with the noodles.
As I was cooking the filling for this, my youngest leaned over the pan and wrinkled up her nose, “that looks like another one of your strange foods.”
“The recipe is from Lolly,” I countered, “you liked it at her house…” She immediately brightened and dinner was gobbled down that night. 
Hmmmm, perhaps I’m on to something.
Southwest Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 T olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 15 oz diced tomatoes canned or 1 qt fresh or frozen tomatoes, thawed, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 c salsa drained
- 3 T tomato paste
- 1 c corn
- ½ t cumin
- ¼ t cayenne pepper
- 1/2 c bell pepper chopped
- 1 lb Chicken Breasts precooked, or Tempe
- 1 c cilantro chopped
- 6 oz whole wheat lasagna noodles to fit pan, will vary by brand
- 15 oz ricotta cheese or vegan ricotta
- 2 c Monterey Jack cheese shredded or vegan cheese
Instructions
- Saute onion and garlic in olive oil, 2 min. Add tomatoes, salsa, tomato paste, corn, cumin and cayenne. Bring to a boil. Cut chicken or tempe into chunks and add to sauce. Simmer 15 min (you may need to simmer longer to thicken if you use fresh or frozen tomatoes), then add cilantro. While sauce is cooking, prepare noodles according to package directions.
- Layer noodles in lasagna pan with ½ sauce mixture, ½ ricotta and ½ hard cheese. Repeat, then top with final layer of noodles.
- Bake at 350 for 30 min.
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hahaha..strange food..sometimes i hear that too in my house. This lasagne certainly looks tasty to me!
I really can’t complain I guess. Since my husband it pretty adventurous (as long as I don’t go too spicy), I only hear those comments from my kids!
Oh yum! What a fun twist on lasagna!
Thanks Annie. It’s kind of fun that blogging always pushes a person to try something new!
Strange foods? Love that comment. There are times that I’m pleased my kids are grown! I’ve experimented more since they left home. But they were exposed to lots of unusual foods…innards of all kinds, we foraged for morels, wild blueberries and any number of strange things, which they considered normal.
Your lasagna is a great SW take on that dish…looks marvelous.
Pleased you discovered the cranberry curd tartlets. It was one of my favorite recipes and I made them for several parties.
Well thanks again for the recipe. A store we go to has the best raspberry curd, so I am excited to go beyond the usual citrus!
Inger I’m sure your kids will be waxing lyrical about your home cooked food – when they leave home 🙂 The lasagne looks lovely and light and bright
Thanks Clare. You know my oldest has reached that point–and she even went to a college with good food. So there is hope I guess 😉
What a gorgeous lasagna, it looks so filling and healthy 😀
Beautiful photos!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks.! You know it was pretty filling–perhaps it will help me take off a couple pounds 😉
This is an interesting change of ingredients. It looks very nutritious and tasty.
I like being able to switch things up once in awhile–keeps life interesting!
Inger, I’ve printed off this recipe. Looks so good. We like lasagna and this one’s a little different.
If you get a chance to try it Freeda, let me know how you like it.
Your kids’ comments made me laugh. In my case I get this from my husband who prefers familiar, simple food and thinks most things I cook are too ‘exotic’.
I like the flavours in this lasagne. Looks delicious!
I smiled at your comment. That sounds like my sister’s husband. Challenges everywhere!