Delicious Chicken Florentine Lasagna

Here's a different take on the traditional lasagna that everyone loves.   A Florentine lasagna is made with a white sauce instead of the traditional tomato sauce. 

 The creamy chicken filling with spinach and mozzarella makes it an elegant entree that you can serve for a special occasion.  I served this one  green beans,  a salad, and  for everyone else french bread.   
This recipe is from my church Come & Dine cookbook, and it comes from a great cook.

Chicken Florentine Lasagna

1.  Prepare vegetables:
(1)  Chop up 1 medium onion.
(2)  Chop up 10-15 oz of fresh spinach (or use frozen)/
(3)  Mince 2- 4 cloves of garlic.
(4)  Chop up 1 cup of mushrooms.

2. Prepare chicken:  Chop  up  2 cups of chicken breast and poach in 1 cup of water until tender.  Reserve the liquid for the cream sauce. 

3.   Cook 9 gluten free lasagna noodles (I prefer Tinkyada)

4.  Grate 3 cups of mozzarella cheese.

5.  Prepare the creamy cheese sauce - In a large skillet put:
(1)  1/2 cup of butter and let melt.
(2)  Add the onions and let cook for 2 minutes.  Then add the mushrooms and the garlic and sauté for about 2 more minutes. 
(3)  Stir in 1/4 cup of white rice flour and whisk for about  30 seconds.  Then slowly add 2 cups of chicken broth (I made mine with adding enough water to the reserved chicken liquid to make 2 cups.  I added 2 tsp. Chicken Better than Bouillon.)
(4)  Then whisk an additional 1/4 cup of white rice four into 2 cups of milk.  Then gradually whisk that into the pan stirring continually.  Bring to a boil and stir it for just one minute.  
(5)  Now add 2 cups of the grated mozzarella into the sauce with 1 tsp. basil, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 3/4 tsp.  black pepper.  Cook over low heat until the cheese is melted.  
(6)  Make any adjustments--more milk, more seasonings?

6.  Assemble lasagna:
(1)  Put 1 1/2 cups of the sauce into the bottom of an ungreased  9  x 13 pan.
(2)  Top with 3 or 4 lasagna noodles.  
(3)  Spread 1 cup of cottage cheese over the noodles.  (You may need a tiny bit more than this)
(4)  Spoon 1 1/2  cups of the cream sauce over the cottage cheese.
(5)  Top with 3 or 4 more lasagna noodles.
(6)  Spread 1 cup of cottage cheese over these noodles.  
(7)  Top with the spinach and chicken.
(8)  Spoon 2 to 2 1/2  more cups over the spinach and chicken layer.  (You should make sure you have enough to put over the last layer of noodles.)
(9) Top with the last 3 lasagna noodles.
(10)  Grate additional mozzarella over the top and sprinkle 1/2 cup more Parmesan on top.  

7.  Bake uncovered at 350 for 45-50 minutes.   Let stand 10 minutes before serving.  (I usually lay a piece of foil over it to help it not cool down too fast.)

Other Italian & Greek Pasta Recipes on This Blog:

Italian & Greek Chicken:
Incredible Gluten Free Chicken Souvlaki   (My son-in-law's marinade recipe)
Chicken Cacciatore with Peppers & Mushrooms  (My mother-in-law)
You've Got to Try This Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan!  (From my church cook book, Come & Dine)

Pasta Cassroles:
The Best Gluten Free Lasagna   (From my church Come & Dine cookbook)
Delicious Gluten Free Chicken Tetrazzini     (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Jan's Classic  Baked Spaghetti Casserole

 Classic Pastas:
My Mom's Splendiferous Gluten Free Spaghetti  (My mother's amazing sauce!)
Ginger's Family Favorite Gluten Free Beef Stroganoff   (From my friend Ginger)
Gluten Free Pasta Aioli - Sausage & Vegetable Penne  (From my daughter and son-in-law)
Incredible Gluten Free Pasta Primavera     (Combination of two Internet searches)
Fantastic Gluten Free Salmon Fettucine 
Easy to Make Gluten Free Shrimp Linguini   (From my Syre School Cookbook)

Mac & Cheeses
Fantastic Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese  (Modified from Heritage & Internet search)
Gluten Free Comfort Food - Downright Delicious Gluten Free Tuna Noodle Casserole  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Northwest Crab Mac & Cheese  - From a 5th grade friend's recipe project
Whidbey Island Crab & Noodle Bake - A classy crab mac & cheese recipe from my mother-in-law

Pizza
Judi's Gluten Free Crazy Crust Pizza -  Spinach, Artichoke & Feta Pizza (From a friend)

Soups:
This is the Best Minestrone Soup!  (From my son's Internet search and tweaking)
Mouth Watering Italian Turkey Sausage Soup   (This is  my friend Debbie's recipe)

Salads:
Tasty Gluten Free Pasta Salad   (I've been making this salad for over 20 years!)
Jeremy D's Sensational Greek Salad  (From my son-in-law who is half Italian)
Michelle's Greek Quinoa Salad   (My daughter came up with this way to use quinoa)