A Delightful Vegetarian Pesach Meal

Passover can be delightful or dreadful. It is all about cooking delicious dishes to get you through the eight days. Here are some quick ideas that my dinner guests loved (ShopRite Kosher Experience has almost all of the ingredients):


Matzah Lasagna (vegetarian)

Ingredients: onion, garlic, one bag of fresh spinach, mushrooms, 16 oz. container of ricotta cheese, one bag of shredded mozzarella, marinara, matzah (wheat or regular) (rosemary, oregano, and basil can be added to ricotta-veggie mixture to taste), mixing bowl, lasagna pan

Prep:
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop and saute: onion, mushrooms, garlic (and any additional veggies)
3. Soak the matzah in warm water for a minute (soft but holding shape)
4. Chop the spinach and mix with a 16 oz tub of ricotta (can substitute with skim/low-fat ricotta)
5. Mix the sauteed veggies into the ricotta-spinach mixture (add spices)
6. Place a layer of soaked matzah on the bottom of a greased lasagna pan
7. Spread a layer of the ricotta-veggie mix on top of the matzah
8. Spread a layer of marinara sauce on the mixture
9. Place a thin layer of mozzarella on top of the sauce
10. Repeat steps 6-9
11. Place a layer of soaked matzah on top. Cover with marinara and a layer of mozzarella cheese.
12. Place in the oven for 40-45 minutes.
13. Let cool and serve.


Strawberry Meringue Pie (pareve)
A great substitute for ice-cream and regular pies!

Ingredients: one container of chocolate macaroons, one bag of frozen strawberries, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2 egg whites, potato masher, electric or hand-crank egg-beater, pie tin, mixing bowl

Prep:
1. Using hands, mash macaroons onto the bottom of the pie tin, forming a pie crust
2. Beat 2 egg whites in a mixing bowl until the whites become firm and form points when you pull the beater out of the mix (should look almost like thick cream).
3. Beat the 1/2 cup of sugar into the beaten egg whites.
4. Mash the frozen strawberries with potato masher until they are small chunks.
5. Beat the mashed strawberries into the sugar-egg mixture.
6. Pour the mixture over the macaroon pie crust.
7. Place in freezer for 2 hours or until hardened.
8. Serve. Store in freezer.

My friends raved that this was one the best pesach meals they have eaten in years! The recipes are easy to make and vegetarian-friendly. Enjoy!