Ingredients:
For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (or ground turkey)
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes (no added sugar)
- 1 cup tomato sauce (no added sugar)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
For the Cheese Layer:
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the “Noodles”:
- 3 large zucchini, sliced lengthwise into thin strips
- 1 tbsp salt (for sweating the zucchini)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Zucchini “Noodles”:
- Slice the zucchini into thin strips, about ⅛ inch thick.
- Lay the zucchini slices on a paper towel-lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle salt on both sides of the zucchini slices and let them sit for 15-20 minutes to draw out moisture.
- After sweating, pat the zucchini dry with more paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Cook the Meat Sauce:
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef (or turkey) to the skillet and cook until browned. Break up any large chunks.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer the sauce for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.
3. Prepare the Cheese Layer:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, ½ cup of the shredded mozzarella, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, dried parsley, salt, and pepper.
- Mix well until all ingredients are thoroughly combined.
4. Assemble the Lasagna:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, spread a thin layer of the meat sauce at the bottom.
- Add a layer of zucchini slices on top of the sauce.
- Spread a layer of the cheese mixture over the zucchini slices.
- Repeat the layers (meat sauce, zucchini, cheese) until all the ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of meat sauce on top.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top layer of meat sauce.
5. Bake the Lasagna:
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbly and golden brown.
- Allow the lasagna to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Nutrition (per serving):
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 25g
- Protein: 25g
- Carbs: 7g
- Fiber: 2g
- Net Carbs: 5g
