Dungeness Crab Lasagna

Servings: 12 Difficulty: Intermediate
A luxurious Italian-inspired bake featuring sweet crab meat, creamy ricotta, and fresh herbs.
Dungeness Crab Lasagna recipe image

Dungeness Crab Lasagna

Difficulty: Intermediate
Servings: 12 Calories: 108.4

Description

This elegant lasagna transforms sweet Dungeness crab into a comforting, shareable main course. The dish layers tender spinach noodles with a rich mixture of ricotta, sour cream, and fresh parsley, all bound together by a silky garlic bechamel sauce. It offers a delicate balance of briny seafood and creamy cheese, making it perfect for special weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings. The texture is light yet satisfying, with the crab providing a luxurious chew against the soft pasta. While it requires a few premium ingredients, the assembly is straightforward, resulting in a beautiful centerpiece that feels homemade and sophisticated without being overly complex to prepare.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. Generously butter a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, sour cream, minced parsley, picked Dungeness crab meat, salt, 1 teaspoon of minced garlic, and freshly ground black pepper. Mix gently to avoid breaking up the crab lumps too much, then set aside.
  4. Cook the spinach lasagna noodles in rapidly boiling salted water until they are three-quarters cooked (al dente).
  5. Remove the noodles from the water and immediately place them in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain very well before using.
  6. Stir the remaining 2 teaspoons of minced garlic into the bechamel sauce and heat through.
  7. In the prepared baking dish, spread a thin layer of bechamel sauce on the bottom.
  8. Layer the assembly as follows: noodles, bechamel sauce, half of the mozzarella cheese, noodles, bechamel sauce, the crab-ricotta mixture, noodles, bechamel sauce, the remaining mozzarella cheese, and finally the grated Parmesan cheese.
  9. Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  10. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling.
  11. Let the lasagna rest for 10 minutes before slicing to allow the layers to set.
  12. Serve warm. Note: This dish can be assembled ahead of time, refrigerated, and baked later, adding 10-15 minutes to the covered baking time if cold.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12


Amount Per Serving
Calories 108.4kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6.3g10%
Saturated Fat 3.9g20%
Cholesterol 51.1mg18%
Sodium 142.7mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 1.4g1%
Dietary Fiber 0.0g0%
Sugars 1.4g
Protein 11.1g23%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: dungeness crab, seafood lasagna, ricotta cheese, bechamel sauce, spinach noodles, italian dinner, comfort food, party dish, holiday meal, garlic, mozzarella, parmesan, baked pasta, family style, fresh herbs, special occasion
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