Black Bean Lasagna Meal

One planning meeting we made the suggestion to include Black Bean Lasagna for one of our freezer meals the next month. It was voted down real fast. About 6 months later, one of the members (L) wasn't going to return the following month & she was one of them that voted it down so we decided to make 1 pan of it and give it a try. In the meantime, L decided to stay with the group. Well, she loved it! We all love it!

Here is the recipe:

9 lasagna noodles
2- 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed & drained
Nonstick cooking spray
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green sweet pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2- 15 oz can low-sodium tomato sauce or tomato sauce with seasonings
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
1- 12 oz container low-fat cottage cheese
1- 8 oz package reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel)
1/4 cup light dairy sour cream
Tomato slices (optional)
Fresh cilantro (optional)

Directions:
1. Cook noodles according to package directions; drain. Mash one can of beans; set aside. (I used the no cook noodles.)

2. Lightly coat a large skillet with cooking spray: add onion, green pepper, and garlic. Cook and stir over medium heat until tender but not brown. Add mashed beans; unmashed beans, tomato sauce, and snipped cilantro; heat through.

3. In a large bowl combine cottage cheese, cream cheese, and sour cream; set aside. Spray a 3-quart rectangular baking dish with nonstick coating. Arrange 3 of the noodles in the dish. Top with one-third of the bean mixture. Spread with one-third of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice; ending with the bean mixture. Reserved the remaining cheese mixture. If freezing, dollop with reserved cheese mixture and garnish with tomato slices and cilantro, if desired.

4. Thaw. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes or until heated through. Let stand for 10 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

It is very filling. We had it for dinner this evening along with a fresh cucumbers, tomatoes & onions salad. What was even better is that it didn't take me any time to prepare dinner after a long day working in the garage!

-misti