Black Bean Lasagna

Serves 8

• 4 C canned black beans, rinsed and divided
• 5 TBSP olive oil, divided
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 3/4 C dry red wine
• 2 C tomato puree
• 2C canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp sugar
• tsp dried oregano, crumbled
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2C part-skim-milk ricotta
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 C freshly grated Parmesan, divided
• 1 lb. part-skim-milk mozzarella, sliced thin
• 9  dried  lasagna noodles

Sauce

In a saucepan, cook the onion and garlic in 3 TBSP oil over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened. Add the wine and boil the mixture, stirring, until the liquid is almost evaporated. Add the tomato puree, the crushed tomatoes, the sugar, the oregano, the salt, and 3C of the black beans.

Simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. (Do not let the sauce come to a boil.) The sauce may be made in advance and frozen for up to 3 months.

Puree the remaining black beans (1 C) in a food processor with 2 TBSP oil.  In a bowl, combine the ricotta, the egg, and 1/2 C of  the Parmesan.

In a kettle of boiling salted water, cook the noodles for 8 -10 minutes, or until they are al dente. Drain them in a colander, and rinse them under cold water.

Pour a small amount of the sauce into a 9″ x 13″ baking dish, enough to make a thin layer in the bottom of the dish. Arrange 3 of the noodles on top of that sauce and over them spread half of the ricotta mixture and then one third of the tomato bean sauce.  Arrange one third of the mozzarella over the sauce and sprinkle it with one third of the remaining Parmesan. Layer 3 of the remaining noodles over the Parmesan, spread the pureed bean mixture and half of the remaining tomato bean sauce over the noodles, and top the sauce with half of the remaining mozzarella and half of the remaining Parmesan. Arrange the 3 remaining noodles over the cheese, spoon the remaining ricotta mixture and tomato bean sauce over them, and top the sauce with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.

Bakes the lasagna in the middle of a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 – 35 minutes, or until it is bubbling.

Source: Gourmet