Ok for those of you who are good cooks - a stupid question from someone who isn't!

[TheMNPeacekeepingForce]

Following on from my veggie lasagna thread (cooking it for 12 people tomorrow), I've bought ingredients loosely based on a recipe and plan to improvise a bit but need to know which of the following need to be either fried up or boiled before going in the lasagna (ok even i manage to know the garlic and onion need to be!):

• mushrooms
• asparagus spears
• peppers
• courgettes
• spinach leaves

Was planning on doing the following:

• fry up chopped onion and minced garlic
• add tinned chopped tomatoes
• other veg - see above - should they be fried first?
• cook on hob for how long?

After that I'm fine - make up lasagna including above tomato and veg sauce and white sauce etc

Yes I would fry everything first, definitely (they taste better when fried first, imo) - but only lightly.

I think in a separate pan, frying the spinach is a good idea as it loses a lot of water and you don't necessarily want that in your lasagne - best to get rid of it first.

I think I would fry them before adding the tinned tomatoes. I would add them in the order of the hardest first, leaving a few minutes in between each vegetable.

I think it's crucial to fry the onion nice and slowly until it is really soft but not coloured. This ALWAYS takes longer than 5 minutes that they tell you in cookery books.

Time depends on how the vegetables look. Most of your veg is quite soft, so I'd say 10-12 minutes from adding the hardest vegetable (asparagus). Maybe a bit longer. Spinach will only need a minute or two.

I'm so impressed - thanks. I wish I knew this stuff!

order to fry
onion slow till golden, more than 5 mins
add chopped garlic for 1 min and keep stiring
then
courgettes, sliced and halved
peppers chopped smallish
asparagus
Last mushrooms chopped

then add tin toms, oregano herbs, tom puree (small amount to thicken stock), salt & pepper - this is when I would add the spinich leaves (not fried)

bring to high heat, then simmer on low heat for 5- 10 mins

don't forget you will be cooking it again in the oven when layered with pasta and you dont' want a mushy stew!

You could always add some tin carrots or frozen peas to veggi lasage.

you've made too much washing up wabbit!

It does sound nice though

ooh I'm hungry just thinking about it. You are all FAB! Thank you!

Ooo! Lapin goes the gourmet way .... I'm a bit lazier than that