Ingredients

  • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 12 sun-dried tomatoes
  • 1 shallot, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 12 cup flour
  • 5 cups milk
  • salt
  • fresh ground black pepper
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 lbs shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and quartered
  • 12 lb spinach, chopped
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons chopped flat leaf parsley
  • 2 tablespoons oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 5 cups whole canned tomatoes, crushed
  • 1 lb lasagna noodle
  • 2 12 cups grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
  • 2 12 cups grated Fontina cheese

Method

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Grease 9x13" baking pan with 1 tbsp.butter.
  • Cover dried tomatoes with 1 cup boiling water; soak for 20 minutes.
  • Drain.
  • Chop.
  • Set aside.
  • Make bechamel sauce: heat 8 tablespoons butter in a 4 quart saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add shallots and carrots; cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add flour; cook two minutes.
  • Whisk in milk; boil.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer, whisking, until thick, 20-25 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Meanwhile, heat olive oil and remaining butter in a 6 quart pot over medium-high heat.
  • Add mushrooms; cook 10 minutes.
  • Add dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, parsley, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and tomato paste; coo 3 minutes.
  • Add canned tomatoes.
  • Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Set sauce aside.
  • Spread 2 cups of tomato sauce in baking dish.
  • Cover with a layer of noodles (uncooked).
  • Spread 1 cup bechamel sauce over top; sprinkle with 1/2 cup of each cheese and 2 cups tomato sauce.
  • Repeat layering 2 more times.
  • Top with remaining noodles, tomato sauce, bechamel, and cheeses.
  • Bake, covered with foil, on a baking sheet for 1 hour.
  • Remove foil; raise oven temp to 500 degrees.
  • Bake until golden, 15 minutes.
  • Allow to stand 15-20 minutes before cutting into servings.