Rania's Recipes: Halloween Dinner
If you're looking for some ideas for dinner on Halloween, be sure to check out these two recipes from Rania Harris!
Caprese Salad
- 3 vine-ripe tomatoes, 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1 pound fresh mozzarella, 1/4-inch thick slices
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- Coarse salt and pepper
- 1 bunch fresh basil – stems removed – leaves julienned
Directions:
Layer alternating slices of tomatoes and mozzarella on a large, shallow platter. Drizzle the salad with extra-virgin olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Scatter julienned basil generously over the salad and serve.
Serves: 4 - 6
Chicken Lasagna
Tomato sauce:
- 6 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion - diced
- 8 garlic cloves minced
- 1-32 ounce can diced tomatoes in puree
- 2 teaspoons diced jalapeno pepper
- Leaves from 6 sprigs of thyme
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- Fresh sheets of pasta dough to line pan
- 2 pounds spinach leaves - stemmed and cleaned – blanched and drained well
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- 4 cups bite size pieces of cooked boneless and skinless breast of chicken
- 8 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 8 ounces mascarpone cheese
- 12 ounces grated Mozzarella cheese
- Salt and pepper
Directions:
Sauce: in a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium - high heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, jalapeno, thyme, and basil. Lower the heat and cook until the sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Cut 4 pasta sheets to fit a 9 x 13-inch pan.
For filling:
Coarsely chopped the blanched (and drained) spinach. In a small skillet, heat 4 tablespoons olive oil. Add the garlic and sauté the spinach. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl.
Combine the chicken with 6 tablespoons of the tomato sauce and 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
Spoon enough sauce to cover the bottom of an oiled 9" x 13" pan. Place down 1 sheet of the pasta. Cover with mascarpone and spinach. Top with 1 sheet of pasta. Top with chicken mixture. Top with 1 more sheet of pasta. Spoon enough tomato sauce over to cover. Top with 1 sheet pasta and cover with Mozzarella and Parmesan.
Bake 40 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven - or until bubbly and golden.
Serves: 8
