Zucchini Lasagna (Lasagne) - Low Carb
Great for anyone going low carb OR who has so many zucchini, they dont know what to do We found the sauce to be very mild. I think it would be better with twice as much garlic. I boiled my zucchini slices for about 3 minutes so they were partially cooked. I wanted to make sure they were soft in the finished dish or I knew the kids wouldnt eat them. The cottage cheese provides a slightly tangy note. I think we would have preferred ricotta, but that is personal taste. I use my 11x7 baking dish and got 6 pieces the size of what you see in my photos. Both of the guys ate two so it fed 4 of us, and I double the meat. Adjust the recipe accordingly for your family.
Great for anyone going low carb OR who has so many zucchini, they dont know what to do We found the sauce to be very mild. I think it would be better with twice as much garlic. I boiled my zucchini slices for about 3 minutes so they were partially cooked. I wanted to make sure they were soft in the finished dish or I knew the kids wouldnt eat them. The cottage cheese provides a slightly tangy note. I think we would have preferred ricotta, but that is personal taste. I use my 11x7 baking dish and got 6 pieces the size of what you see in my photos. Both of the guys ate two so it fed 4 of us, and I double the meat. Adjust the recipe accordingly for your family.
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 egg
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 cup onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon flour
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 small tomatoes cut up
- 2 1/2 cups zucchini sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick (about 2 medium)
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef (i use 1 lb.)
- 3/4 cup low fat cottage cheese (or low fat or fat free r
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (i use 8 oz. divided)
- Carbohydrate 64.7665422826526 g
- Cholesterol 164.304000138894 mg
- Fat 43.0558295191778 g
- Fiber 3.18420462365256 g
- Protein 44.3699744999508 g
- Saturated Fat 26.0922685291904 g
- Serving Size 1 1 serving(s) (764g)
- Sodium 761.504976561977 mg
- Sugar 61.582337659 g
- Trans Fat 2.32350354752455 g
- Calories 807 calories
Step-by-step
- Cook zucchini until tender, drain and set aside.
- Fry meat and onions until meat is brown and onions are tender; drain fat.
- Add next 8 ingredients and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered 10 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups.
- In small bowl slightly beat egg.
- Add cottage cheese, half of shredded cheese and flour.
- In (1 1/2-qt.) baking-roasting pan arrange half of the meat mixture.
- Top with half of the zucchini and all the cottage cheese mixture.
- Top with remaining meat and zucchini.
- Bake uncovered at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
- Bake 10 minutes longer.
- Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
My Low-Carb Zucchini Lasagna Adventure: A Family-Friendly Recipe
As a busy mom, finding quick, healthy, and delicious meals that please everyone in my family is always a challenge. Between school activities, work, and everything else life throws at us, there's never enough time in the day. This is where this Zucchini Lasagna came to the rescue. I stumbled upon this recipe when my garden was overflowing with zucchini, and I needed a creative way to use them up before they went bad. This turned out to be a happy accident because we discovered a new family favorite.
The original recipe called for a mild sauce, which was fine, but I personally preferred a more robust flavor. Next time, I'll definitely double, maybe even triple, the garlic! To ensure the zucchini was perfectly tender (my kids are notoriously picky eaters!), I pre-boiled the slices for about three minutes. This little extra step made all the difference in making a dish that appealed to even the most discerning palates in my family. One of the most surprising things was the cottage cheese addition. The slightly tangy note adds a unique complexity to the flavor profile and works extremely well with the savory meat sauce. While some might prefer ricotta, the cottage cheese worked beautifully for us. It's all about personal preference.
I adapted the recipe slightly to suit my family's needs. My husband and two sons have healthy appetites, so I doubled the ground beef portion, resulting in a hearty and satisfying dish. The original recipe yielded six servings, which was perfect for the four of us, but that depends on how much each member of your family eats. I used a standard 11x7 inch baking dish. As for the cooking process, it was surprisingly straightforward. The initial steps of prepping the zucchini and the meat sauce were easy enough. The layering was simple; meat, zucchini, cheese mixture, meat, zucchini, and then topped with more cheese. The baking time was about 40 minutes, which is really manageable for a weeknight dinner. The end result? A delicious and satisfying meal that everyone enjoyed.
Tips and Variations
Here are a few things I've learned while making this recipe over several times:
- Don't be afraid to experiment with the spices. If you like a spicier dish, add some red pepper flakes or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the meat sauce.
- Substitute different cheeses. Ricotta, as I mentioned, is a popular choice, or try a blend of cheeses for a more complex flavor.
- Add vegetables. Mushrooms, spinach, or bell peppers would be great additions to the meat sauce.
- Make it vegetarian. Replace the ground beef with lentils or mushrooms for a vegetarian option.
This Zucchini Lasagna recipe isn't just a simple weeknight dinner; it's a testament to the resourcefulness of a busy mom trying to make the most of what she has. It's a journey of adaptation and experimentation, a culinary adventure that resulted in a meal that my family absolutely loves. From the initial abundance of zucchini in my garden to the satisfying smiles on my family's faces at dinner, this recipe is more than just a meal—it's a story. I'm always open to experimenting with new recipes, but this is one that has become a staple in our home, and I'm excited to share it with you.
I highly recommend you give it a try. Let me know in the comments below how yours turned out!
