RECIPE: Feeling and fueling the lasagna love with a lighter version

A light mornay sauce replaces the mozzarella in this low-cal lasagna. Speaking of lasagna, a special nonprofit formed during the pandemic. “Lasagna Love is about more than simply providing food to a family. It’s about weaving kindness back into the fabric of our communities, one lasagna at a time,” says Rhiannon Menn, Lasagna Love founder and CEO. (Kellie Hynes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Kellie Hynes

Credit: Kellie Hynes

A light mornay sauce replaces the mozzarella in this low-cal lasagna. Speaking of lasagna, a special nonprofit formed during the pandemic. “Lasagna Love is about more than simply providing food to a family. It’s about weaving kindness back into the fabric of our communities, one lasagna at a time,” says Rhiannon Menn, Lasagna Love founder and CEO. (Kellie Hynes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Lasagna is my gift. If you’re struggling or celebrating, I’m leaving a hot dish at your door. So when I learned about Lasagna Love (lasagnalove.org), a not-for-profit started by Rhiannon Menn at the beginning of the pandemic, I knew I had found my people. The premise is simple. Need a lasagna? Request one. Enjoy making lasagna? Give one. Just a year old, Lasagna Love matches more than 4,000 families every week, and counts 20,000 volunteers among its ranks.

For warmer weather, this lighter lasagna delivers all of the flavor without all of the fat. Dip the noodles in a mornay sauce made from milk, broth and a mere quarter cup of pecorino, and every bite will be tender and creamy. My vegetarian families enjoy the savory mushroom and pea filling; meat lovers can throw in cooked ground turkey for a flourish of lean protein. Whether you’re an eater or a maker, this lasagna will fill your belly and your heart.

Spring Lasagna is great as a vegetarian dish (as shown), but you can add a lean protein such as cooked ground turkey. (Kellie Hynes for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Credit: Kellie Hynes

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Credit: Kellie Hynes