It is my firmly held belief that butternut squash is one of the most enjoyable ingredients available in the autumn – it is simply delightful. Its name seems almost too perfect; when cooked to perfection it has a buttery quality and a sweet, nutty flavour. Moreover, its colour is so vibrant and so quintessentially autumnal that it really couldn’t belong to any other season. Happily, beyond these qualities it also works very well in many of the different types of food eaten at this time of year – soups, casseroles and rustic bakes. I already have so many recipes that make use of this fruit; it’s almost embarrassing that I should upload another! For a few more ideas, please see these delightfully frugal posts: butternut squash and sage risotto and butternut squash and leek soup
The one way to beat quantity is with quality and this is my best butternut squash recipe to date. When you combine the roasted squash with sweet roasted onions, garlicky spinach and a subtly infused béchamel sauce, it’s difficult not to come out on top! In terms of flavour, I highly recommend making your own sheets of lasagne. If you need help with this, follow the detailed instructions here. However, instead of making tagliatelle, cut each sheet to the required size.
Quite a few of you have been asking about my lighting situation and a proper update will soon be had by all. However, I’ll shed a little light on my current solution – it involves my girlfriend, Katherine, standing by with white pillows which are used to reflect light back onto my food… poor girl. Yet more evidence that slavery isn’t quite dead in Britain.
Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
Serves 4-6 with side salad
Ingredients:
• 1 medium sized butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 600ml semi-skimmed milk
• 3 bay leaves
• 5-6 peppercorns
• A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
• 140g fresh spinach
• 1 garlic cloves, mashed
• A little olive oil
• 25g butter
• 2 tbsp plain flour
• 6-7 sheets of fresh lasagne, dry will do
• 50g very mature cheddar cheese
• Seasoning
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C and roast the squash and onion with a little oil, salt and pepper until just brown and soft. Infuse your milk with the bay leaves, peppercorns and nutmeg by heating them very gently – do not allow to boil. Once the milk has infused (30 mins – 1 hour) strain it and set aside.
2. Melt some butter in a pan and whisk in the flour, cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, season and allow to thicken. At the same time wilt the spinach in some oil along with the garlic. Squeeze as much liquid as possible from your spinach. Start layering your lasagane – the first layer should be all of the squash. Top this with a layer of pasta, then tip on 1/3 of the sauce followed by all of the spinach.
3. Cover this with another layer of pasta, followed by the rest of the sauce. Top with cheese, a sprinkling of olive oil and a little grated cheese. Add a twist of black pepper and cook for 30-40 minutes until brown. Serve with a side salad.
Cost: Since this contains only a little cheese and absolutely no meat, the price will be far lower than a traditional lasagne. Indeed, the entire meal, which can feed up to six people, should set one back no more than £3!
252 replies on “Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagne”
Oh you devil! Not only did you beat me to the punchline, you had to top me by adding spinach and your own stinking homemade pasta sheets. Seriously scrapping my draft for butternut lasagna that was scheduled for next week. Nice job, way to make me feel like a loser 😉 (Seriously awesome lasagna Nick)!
Haha – sorry, Somer! Please post it! Don’t deprive us!
I think I’ll do butternut enchiladas soon instead….
Good idea!
Your chopping board has a heart shaped handle.. 😛 So so cool that you have a pasta roller. I have always thought homemade pasta absolutely MAKES a good lasagna but have never achieved thin enough pasta from rolling by hand. Yours looks perfect!
It does indeed! Get a roller, they are pretty cheap and make REALLY great pasta. I think it achieves a smoother pasta too.
what a great recipe – thanks for sharing…awesome for fall 🙂
Thanks! It really is perfect for this season.
Oh, this lasagna looks mouthwatering! I share the same love for the butternut squash – just amazingly delicious food!
Thanks, Sibella! It really is brilliant, isn’t it?
I wholeheartedly agree!
I am glad, Sibella 😀
Butternut squash is one of my favourite ingredients too … love this recipe of yours, great combination flavours.
Awesome! Thanks, Kay 😀
Wow.. just.. wow.. I can see why this is your favorite butternut squash recipe yet.. It’s pretty and the addition of a bechamel sauce with lasagne sheets.. just fantastic! I love everything in this post:) (well, except the slavery of your poor girl!)
Thanks! Yes, it was deeeelish :). She doesn’t mind really 😀
I would just like that roasted squash please.
That probably was the best part, Rosemary 😀
i like your lighting situation description 🙂
Haha – she is rather useful.
I’ll be trying that one out
Let me know if you like it!
Will do, were going to try it at the weekend
Fantastic – you’ll love it 🙂
I love Butternut squash, my kids, not so much. Maybe I can make this as a side dish so they can try it but it is not the main meal.
Oh no! Perhaps this will help them to love it! Good idea.
This looks delicious not just because of the ingredients used, but because of your photography. What talents!
Thanks! Don’t go too over the top, you’ll make me blush.
Phenomenal! What a perfect way to enjoy squash…
Thanks! It was the perfect way – the most perfect way I’ve found so far anyway.
I love butternut squash, and this looks amazing!
Yay! Thanks – it was lovely!
Looks delicious!!! Plus I saw ur post right when I was going to start cook something!
Thanks! I hope you changed your mind 😀
Well I wanted to, but did not have the ingredients at home! Next time for sure 🙂
Fair enough – yes do 🙂
Lovely lasagna! And with fresh pasta no less. Thank you for the reminder about butternut squash – I have also been meaning to give your risotto recipe a try!
Thanks, Amanda! No less! Oh yes, that’s a really nice recipe 🙂
This looks amazing! I have a butternut squash staring at me from the kitchen that’s in need of some love. This might be just the ticket!
Thanks! I think it definitely is the ticket 😀
Brilliant! Are you sure you didn’t go to culinary school? You are such a natural at putting together such glorious flavors Frugal. If I owned a publishing company… you’d be my first book!
Thanks – I’m quite sure. Well, feel free to buy one and offer me that. I’d love to write a cook book.
I’d buy your cookbook!
I want to write one! Thanks, Karista 😀
This looks delicious! I’ve been a huge butternut squash kick lately, but this has to be made some time in the next couple of weeks!
Yes! Go for it – it was yummy.
Nick this sounds so fantastic! Thanks for the lighting tip – although I don’t have a girlfriend standing by with white pillows, I had forgotten all about the reflecting technique 😉
Thanks, Korena! I’m glad you think so. Reflecting is SO useful!
With the plethora of amazing melty vegan cheeze recipes out there I am sure that this delicious concoction isn’t far from my reach (cheers Somer 😉 ). I love butternut pumpkin and any new way to include it in something scrumptious is my idea of food heaven. Cheers for yet another delectable post…where do you keep pulling them from?! I am starting to think that you might just be the Dutch Nigel Slater! You have to love Nige 🙂
Indeed not, isn’t Somer great?!
I have no idea, they just keep coming… I’m definitely not Dutch though, plus he annoys me 😀
Oops…mixed you up again! Darned Rss feed reader misleading me! At least I mixed you up with another worthy blog poster ;). Yeh…I love Somer and as a vegan she always delivers spot on…much as you do. Steve loves everything that I make from your posts. Thats what made me think of good old Nige… hopefully you don’t fondle your food like he does (at least in public 😉 )
We all make mistakes sometimes :D. No, I don’t tend to fondle my food… though perhaps I ought to start… Thanks 😀
lol food fondling Nige Slater 101…I can see a new book Nigel! 😉 Probably aimed at a most “interesting” market and would sell well in Japan methinks 😉
Haha – I like the title 😀
Gorgeous!!
Thanks, Sarah!
Lovely colors!!
Thanks – the squash is so pretty isn’t it?
Lovely colors!
Thanks! IT was very aesthetically pleasing!
You’ve done it again – created a fabulous dish and entertained with your lovely way with words. It’s always a pleasure reading your posts!
Haha – thanks, Cathy! More soon!
I love butternut squash! This looks amazing!!!
Thanks! It really was 🙂
What a nice mix of flavors and color.
Thanks – it was delicious!
Beautiful pictures and this recipe has all my favorite ingredients. Can’t wait to try.
Thanks! It was delicious, I can’t wait to make it again.
Kudos to Katherine!!
This is a perfect lasagna; love it!
Indeed – the unsung heroine of frugalfeeding!
I have two 6-pound butternut squashes just looking for a good recipe; thank you! Love the image of your girlfriend holding pillows to reflect light for your photography. The things we crazed bloggers put our significant others through for the sake of our art!
Amazing! This blog was made for it :D. I am definitely a crazed blogger! I’m sure you could! I never use kitchen lighting, but I don’t really want a light box either. I need to source some nice linens too.
This looks divine! I am heading out to the store tomorrow to get the ingredients for this for sure. As always your recipes inspire 🙂
Thanks! Yes, do make it – it’s lovely.
I make a similar dish and it is always a winner, even with my cannot-live-without-meat husband. Great pics!
Fantastic! It just works so well.
This is right up my street, I’ve never made a butternut lasagne but this has all my favourite things in one dish and it has just stared to rain here so I am feeling like something autumnal and comforting! Lovely image of your poor girlfrind holding up pillows,will have to tell The Washer Up when he starts moaning about always eating cold food because I have to photograph everything before we eat! At least we have natural light most of the time! Not today though…. 🙁
Awesome! You should give it a go! She’s the washer up too :D. I’m not a bad person. I’m getting a better reflective source soon.
What a great fall recipe. Katherine did some fine pillow holding here.
Haha – they’re both called Katherine too 😀
Oh I didn’t mean here. I meant there. That came out the wrong way!
Ahha – indeed!
I’m a fan of butternut squash and always on the lookout for new ways to enjoy it. This looks fabulous!
Thanks – I adore the stuff. It has such a great taste.
Hey just to let you know I love your blog and I have nominated you for the liebstar award. Check out the link to my blog for the rules to accept xxxx
http://afatgirlsfoodguide.wordpress.com/2012/10/25/liebstar-award/
Thanks so much!
Definitely on my short list of foods to try out
You’ll love it, I’m sure.
Lovely autumnal recipe. 🙂
Thanks – it was lovely 🙂
Love it! Looks like life is good in Bristol 🙂
And your girlfriend is a real trooper!
She is indeed. It is very good, Daisy! Hope your life is equally pleasing at the moment!
You have amazing lasagna cutting skills. That is a neat slice!
haha, thanks! New sharp knives 😀
This lasagna looks fantastic! What a delicious combination of ingredients!
Thanks! Yes, it all worked so well!
What a gorgeous vegetarian dish. I’m coming over now.
Thanks! I’m afraid it’s all gone 😀
This looks beautiful! Bravo!!
Yes, I was very pleased with the way it looked 😀
Absolutely beautiful. Can’t think of a better fall dinner on a chilly night. I’m smitten with the notion of leaving the squash chunks whole rather than mashing them into a puree like so many other recipes suggest. Genius!
Thanks, Bobbi! Yes, sometimes it’s easy to lose the real essence of something if you puree it!
wow! this looks amazing! 🙂
Thanks – it was just that.
What an absolutely gorgeous dish!!! (Btw, I love how you mention the cost of your meals. Is so handy — thanks! :))
Thanks! Well, that’s the idea :D. It is rather handy, even for me 🙂
Love butternut squash in almost anything. This is gorgeous!
Thanks – me too, it’s wonderful!
If this is your best butternut squash recipe then it must be tried.
Oh yes, Karen, it must!
This looks amazing it will be a great gluten free must try with a few tweeks 🙂
Yes! It could very easily be made gluten free!
Wow looks delish (& v seasonal)!!
Thanks! Yes, it’s best to eat seasonably!
Wow, this looks great!
Thanks, Laurie!
I love this; simple, delicious using onmy a very few sparkling ingredients and the lasagne sheets are inspired.. very nice. c
Thanks, Cecilia! It was really lovely.
I am definitely going to try it. c
That makes me very happy, Ceci 😀
hi this looks delicious, I can smell it from here! 🙂 thanks for stopping by and liking my Ribollita recipe. Hope to see you around and I will check out some more of your recipes. ciao
Thanks and no problem! I see that you liked my other stuff 🙂
yes I have marked your blog as “follow” as your recipes sound delicious, your intro is very unusual, and the photos are better than those in cookery books!
Haha – thanks very much. In what way is it unusual? 😀
Unusual in the sense that you were a student wanting to eat healthily but trying to do it within a budget, and this blog came about. I think we all have this idea of university students living off take-away pizzas or pot-noodle and not having the faintest idea how to cook (nor worrying about what they eat, as long as there is a beer to go with it).
Ahha – thanks for the insight :D. It’s dangerous to generalise 😀
Butternut Squash is my favourite lasagne filling! This looks great!
It’s quickly becoming mine! Thanks.
Just arguing with my better half if we can make the kids eat it! A move away from the beloved traditional may be too much to bear for them.
This looks fab 😀
Haha – I’m sure you’ll be able to 🙂 Thanks.
I made this on Friday night. Brilliant dish I will definitely be making this again. Spinach works really well with the sweetness of the squash.
Awesome, Matt! Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it.
Yum! I made this last night and it was sooo good! Think I might use the same principles and turn it into a white sauce pizza.
awesome! so glad you thought so!
I used your infused milk method on the macaroni cheese you featured recently and it was absolutely delicious. Can only imagine how much flavor it adds to this authentic (made with bechamel sauce) lasagna! I expect Katherine doesn’t mind holding pillows when you cook meals like this to share with your lighting assistant. 🙂
Fantastic! doesn’t it work well? She doesn’t 😀
It looks I am late to the party on this one but – wow! Incredible looking pasta! I agree with many of the others here that butternut squash is amazing in anything! Mouth is watering… 😉
Only a little, Shira! I’m glad you like it 🙂
This sounds like a great intro to fall dish. (We’ve managed to cling to upper 70’s temps here in CA, but autumn is slowly showing its face.) I particularly loved scrolling through the visuals in this post, too — especially moving from the verdant spinach layer to the glossy, bubbling cheese snapshot. This dish seems the epitome of all things in moderation. 🙂
It really was! I’m glad you like the photography 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and liking my most recent post. This looks so delicious!
No problem! Thanks 🙂
yumm! I love the flavors of winter squash, this looks so elegant. I will definitely add it to my list after this darned sensitivity diet -a nice gluten reward LOL! Have you tried squash gnocchi?
Thanks! Please do! I have not, perhaps I shall next weekend!
Just made this tonight ! It is wonderful . Congratulations on scrummy recipe. I did think that I had misjudged my measurements with the flour and butter as it seemed not to thicken as much as I would normally expect BUT it was perfect being slightly let’s say viscious lol … and a great success.
One very happy bunny 🙂
Amazing! Flour always behaves differently from bag to bag – it’s a judgement call really. I’m glad you loved it so.
oops LESS *viscious or in other words a bit less thick in consistency !
We had this for dinner last night – simple, gorgeous and an absolute taste of autumn! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Fantastic – I’m so happy that you tried it.
Definitely trying the recipe this weekend!!!! Thanks 🙂
Awesome! Enjoy!
This looks delicious!
Thanks so much 🙂
Man, that looks absolutely delicious! I’ll have to try it soon. It seems like the perfect warm, fall inspired meal!
Thanks so much 🙂 It was!
I would feel sorry for your girlfriend having to help with the pillow for lighting yet it appears you feed her very well!
Haha – I do indeed!
this looks absolutely AMAZING, i really want to try this recipe this weekend!
Thanks so much – I hope you do, it was really delicious.
Thanks for sharing. Definitely trying this next time I have a butternut! 🙂
No problem! I hope you do!
Definitely trying this next time I’ve a butternut! 🙂
Fantastic – I hope you like it.
nice, will try this next week. last night we had sweet potato and mushroom lasagne which was also v. yum!
Awesome – I hope you like it :). That sounds great!
Thanks for checking out my blog! My mouth is watering right now reading this post. Butternut squash is my favorite. Just printed this recipe!
No problem! Enjoy!
Looks Great!!!!
Thanks, Shelley!
I would like to share it on my FB page https://www.facebook.com/TheTexasFoodNetwork, and my blog @ http://blog.shelleypogue.com too if you don’t mind? @ Looks like a great recipe…. I will have to try it.
Thanks,
Chef Shelley Pogue, C.C.
Go ahead, of course! Make sure I’m linked though 🙂 Thanks!
Oh yum! My favorite flavor combo and you added cheese! I think this might be dinner!
amazing! Yes, cheese is a must for me 🙂
This looks delicious! I’ve been meaning to try a butternut lasagna…and wow, making your own pasta, that’s something I haven’t accomplished yet. So much to learn!
You must – it was great! Give it a go, it’s really very simple.
Oh, YUM! Yum, yum, yum! I must try this soon!
You should, it was mightily delicious.
I must try this! Thank you for the recipes for butternut squash. It is a great veggie to grow, but not that frequently done.
Thanks! IT should be used more.
Looks awesome! I am looking for some yummy veggie dishes for this week and I can never get enough of the fall and winter vegetables! Butternut squash runs right up there as one of my faves. Thanks for sparking my imagination for tonight.
Thanks! If you make it, you’ll not regret it 😀
My mom used to do wonderful things with zucchini. I hated zucchini. Then as I aged so did my palette. Now I love zucchini. My deceased wife Barbara made a butternut squash to die for. It was simply baked with butter. Hmmm. Thanks for sharing.
Delicious – I’ll to give the buttered squash a go.
I am posting a Meatless monday peice and my family really liked this recipe- can i share the link to this recipe to your site-it was so yummy.? can’t wait to see more vegan recipes coming from you 🙂
Of course! I’m glad you liked it so much! More vegan recipes coming very soon.
Yum! Gonna make this. Great photos, too!
Please do! Thanks 😀
[…] winner with a recipe from one of my newest favorite food sites Frugal Feeding. The recipe was for Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna. It was definitely a pleaser with all of us. I am really excited to see what new Vegan recipes […]
pics look awesome – I just wish the whole thing would be vegan!
Thanks! Sorry 🙂
it’s not your fault – but I’ll find a way sometime to make it vegan – because it just looks sooooo good!
You’ll do it!
Oh. My. Gosh. Outstanding, beautiful, and sounding so perfectly delicious. I applaud you for the cooking, and your dear girlfriend for the pillow holding 😉
Thanks! IT really was a great lasagne. She’s wonderful 🙂
love the recipe…got to try this…xoxoxoxox
Please do – it’s wonderful.
What a terrific recipe! Can’t wait to try it. I also loved your step-by-step photos. Well done!
Thanks so much – it was a really great lasagne.
Wow, it looks like you have a lot of fans of either you or your lasagna!! It does look delicious and I’m definitely going to try it out. The combination of sweet butternut squash with the sharpness of cheddar would be great together. Have you ever thought of using ricotta cheese in this recipe? Ricotta and spinach together are wonderful and the addition of the squash would be perfect.
Both, I hope! I honestly prefer to have spinach on its own most of the time – ricotta can detract from its flavour a little. But they do combine well!
WOW YUM!!
You hit to proverbial nail on the head there.
I am drawn in by the picture and then I can’t believe you handmade the lasagna…too thin to believe that! :::bow bow bow:::
My girlfriend actually did it 😀 – glad you like it.
Okay you have convinced me that I should give butternut squash a try!
You absolutely must!
Yum! Nice recipe.
Thanks – it went down very well!
Love this recipe, can’t wait to try it.
Thanks so much – you’ll love it!
Thank you for stopping by my blog! Your recipes look wonderful (especially this butternut squash lasagna) and your pictures are lovely. I can’t wait to read more and try a few recipes.
No problem! I’m glad you like my stuff!
I’ve got a question for you. If you’re not a fan of spinach what would be a good substitute? The taste of cooked spinach just doesn’t do much for me.
Umm…. I’m not really sure – any greens to be honest, kale, chard etc…
Thanks for stopping by . I like your recipes. I think I’ll do some of them. So you will see me in your blog a lot.
No problem! Please do!
Oh, thanks for liking my post on http://pureveg.wordpress.com! I am delighted as it brought me to yours… can’t wait to have a good look at some of fabulous dishes you have made. Great work!
No problem! I’m glad you like my recipes 😀
WOW this is a great idea for thanksgiving! :3 nomnomnom…
IT is indeed 😀 Glad you think so.
Oom nom nom nom. Sounds delicious!
It was, it was!
Thanks for following me and giving me the opportunity to see this recipe that sounds amazing.
I’ll be growing butternut myself next year and can’t wait to try these recipes! I’ll have to post some of my yard-scrounged favorites!
No problem! I’m glad you like it! Great idea! I hope it grows well 🙂
So glad you liked my page so I could find yours! This looks delicious and I love fall recipes, my favorite!
No problem 🙂 – I’m glad you like my recipe 🙂
This is fantastic. And now…I’m hungry. =)
Thanks! I kinda want it again too 😀
Butternut squash is one of my fav veggies!!! Gonna have to try this!
Please do – it’s one of mine too 🙂
You’re hilarious. But genius! White pillow instead of fancy gadgets is the way to go, my kinda thing. I would need to recruit my “intern” soon. This lasagne looks so good. Reckon sweet potatoes would work? maybe pureed.
Haha – thanks! It works well :D. Yes, get an intern!
Yum! It looks delicious! 🙂
Thanks, Alex!
Hey FF, thanks for visiting my blog – can I use some of your recipes to feed my Exceedingly Senior citizens?
Leon
Hey Leon, of course you may!
Reblogged this on B.Y. and commented:
This I have to try…
Thanks for liking my Pink Cupcake post– love this squash idea. Agree- butternut squash one of the best foods ever!
No problem! Thanks 😀
Thanks for the like 🙂
This looks amazing. I might just try it out!
No problem! Thanks a lot, Linda!
This looks great. A couple of questions: do you think adding mushrooms into the mix would ruin it? Also, wondering what size pan your ingredients went into and if I should double it if I want to use a large casserole dish (16×13).
Nope, go ahead! Umm, it’s quite large… 15cm by 30 perhaps?
[…] Inspired by Frugal Feeding […]
Great photos of appetizing food.
Thanks very much!
[…] 4. Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagne | Frugal Feeding […]
“Quite a few of you have been asking about my lighting situation and a proper update will soon be had by all. However, I’ll shed a little light on my current solution – it involves my girlfriend, Katherine, standing by with white pillows which are used to reflect light back onto my food… poor girl. Yet more evidence that slavery isn’t quite dead in Britain.”
You cracked me up. Well done.
[…] Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagne […]
[…] this lovely Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagne is especially nice. We both gave this recipe an enthusiastic thumbs up. We were practically licking […]
This was fabulous. It’s officially one of the best butternut squash recipes I’ve tried. After two great hits, I’m looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
[…] Butternut squash and spinach lasagna. (via Cabled Sheep) […]