Savory Bison Peri-Peri Lasagna: A Delicious Twist on Classic Comfort Food

Ingredients

• A generous portion of ground bison, around 1 ½ pounds
• A moderate amount of lean ground pork, about ½ pound
• One finely diced small sweet onion for flavor
• Approximately 1 ½ teaspoons of minced garlic for a savory touch
• A can of tomato sauce without salt, like Hunt's®, with a volume of 14 ounces
• A can of tomato paste without salt, like Hunt's®, with a volume of 6 ounces
• A cup of low-sodium salsa to enhance the taste
• One cup of water to adjust the consistency
• Two tablespoons of peri-peri chili pepper sauce, such as Nando's®, for a spicy kick
• Two teaspoons of Italian seasoning to elevate the flavor profile
• A package of frozen chopped spinach weighing 10 ounces
• A package of creamed cottage cheese totaling 16 ounces
• A box of oven-ready lasagna noodles, like Italpasta®, with a weight of 12 ounces
• Three cups of shredded Italian cheese blend, such as Black Diamond®, for a gooey finish

Step 1

Begin by heating a large skillet over medium-high heat to prepare the bison and pork, stirring occasionally until they turn a rich brown and crumble easily, which usually takes about 5 to 7 minutes. Next, add in the onion and garlic, cooking until they become tender and fragrant, approximately 3 minutes. Time to introduce a burst of flavors by mixing in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, salsa, water, peri-peri sauce, and Italian seasoning. Lower the heat and let the meat sauce simmer slowly, stirring every now and then, until it thickens and the flavors meld beautifully, which typically takes about an hour.

Step 2

While the sauce simmers, preheat your oven to a toasty 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Step 3

For the spinach, place the frozen greens in a microwave-safe bowl and heat until they steam and all excess water evaporates, usually around 5 to 7 minutes. After they cool down a bit, gently fold in the creamy cottage cheese for a delightful twist.

Step 4

To assemble the dish, start by spreading a delicate layer of the meat sauce at the base of a 9x13-inch baking pan. Proceed with a layer of noodles, another layer of the savory meat sauce, and a second layer of noodles. Top it off with the entire spinach-cheese mixture, followed by another layer of noodles, the rest of the meat sauce, and a generous topping of the shredded Italian cheese blend. Cover the pan snugly with aluminum foil.

Step 5

Slide the pan into the preheated oven and let it bake for about 40 minutes. Once the timer beeps, uncover the dish and allow it to bake a bit longer until the cheese turns a golden brown and starts to bubble, which usually takes an additional 15 minutes. Before diving in, let the dish rest for about 20 minutes to set before serving.