Italian Style Zucchini Lasagna Recipes

CLASSIC ITALIAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bechamel sauce:
• In a 2-quart pot, melt 5 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. When butter has completely melted, add the flour and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Gradually add the milk, whisking constantly to prevent any lumps from forming. Continue to simmer and whisk over medium heat until the sauce is thick, smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of wooden spoon. Remove from heat and add the nutmeg and tomato sauce. Stir until well combined and check for seasoning. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a saute pan, heat extra-virgin olive oil. When almost smoking, add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat, breaking any large lumps, until it is no longer pink. Remove from heat and drain any excess fat. Set aside and allow to cool completely.
• In a medium sized bowl, thoroughly mix the ricotta and eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Into the bottom of a 13 by 9-inch baking dish, spread 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the pasta sheets side by side, covering the bottom of the baking dish. Evenly spread a layer of all the ricotta mixture and then a layer of all the spinach. Arrange another layer of pasta sheets and spread all the ground beef on top. Sprinkle 1/2 the mozzarella cheese on top of the beef. Spread another 1/3 of the bechamel sauce. Arrange the final layer of pasta sheets and top with remaining bechamel, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter into 1/4-inch cubes and top lasagna.
• Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place lasagna dish on top, cover and put on the middle rack of the oven and bake until top is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Remove cover and continue to bake for about 15 minutes.
• In a large casserole pot or Dutch over, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
• Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.
• If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.

LASAGNA WITH SPINACH AND ROASTED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Toss the zucchini with the olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and top with the slices of zucchini. Place in the oven and roast 8 minutes. Remove from the oven, close the oven door and, using tongs, flip the zucchini slices over. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a knife and browned in spots. Remove from the oven and reduce the heat to 350 degrees.
• Steam the spinach for 2 to 3 minutes above an inch of boiling water, just until it wilts. Rinse briefly with cold water, squeeze out excess water and chop coarsely.
• Blend the ricotta cheese with the egg, water, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Set aside.
• Lightly oil a rectangular baking pan. Spread a small spoonful of tomato sauce to cover the bottom of the pan. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Top the noodles with a thin layer of ricotta, then a layer of zucchini and spinach, a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat the layers, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Uncover and, if you wish, bake another 10 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN-STYLE ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray an 8x12-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook ground beef and onion until meat is brown and onions begin to soften, approximately 10 minutes. Drain grease. Add minced garlic, canned tomatoes, Diamond Crystal® Fine Sea Salt, and Italian seasoning to the skillet. Simmer until thickened, about 30 minutes.
• Drain or blot moisture from the zucchini noodles; place evenly over the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with 1/3 of the sauce, half the cottage cheese, all the baby spinach, and 1/3 of the mozzarella.
• Make another layer of 1/3 of the sauce, the rest of the cottage cheese, 1/3 of the mozzarella.
• Top with the rest of the sauce, the rest of the mozzarella, and the Parmesan cheese.
• Bake until the cheese is slightly browned, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Cut the ends off of the zucchini, and cut in half, lengthwise.
• Using a vegetable peeler, peel long strips of zucchini (these will be your "noodles") and set on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
• Dab zucchini strips with a paper towel to absorb the excess moisture.
• In a large pot, add olive oil, onions, and garlic. Cook until translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
• Add ground turkey, and cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until the turkey has browned slightly.
• Pour in crushed tomatoes, basil, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper, tomato paste, and a bay leaf. Cover and let simmer for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg, parsley, parmesan, salt, and pepper. Mix until well combined.
• Using a baking dish, layer turkey sauce, zucchini strips, ricotta mixture, and parmesan. Repeat until there are 3 layers total, ending with the turkey sauce and topping that with parmesan cheese.
• Bake for 50 minutes (times and temperatures may vary depending on the oven).
• Let rest for at least 20 minutes.
• Enjoy!

ITALIAN ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Steps:

• Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions or until tender but still firm.
• Drain, keep warm.
• Meanwhile, to make lasagna sauce, saute ground beef, garlic and onion is a large heavy skillet or cast iron frying pan until beef is done.
• Add sauce, mushrooms, oregano, thyme, basil, wine or 1/4 cup water, touch of pepper and mix well.
• Simmer 45-50 minutes .
• To prepare Zucchini for this recipe, cut in half or cook whole in a large covered pot with 1-2 inches of water.
• Boil gently for about 5 minutes, drain and cut lengthwise into 1/4 inch slices.
• Grease a 9" x 13" or larger, baking pan.
• Arrange a first layer of noodles so the ends hang over both sides of the pan.
• These will be folded back-over the top on the final layer.
• Next, add a layer of the cooked zucchini, a layer of lasagna sauce, a layer of mozzarella cheese.
• Repeat.
• For the top layer, fold the ends of the pasta from the first layer over the top and add more sauce.
• Top with parmesan cheese and cover with foil.
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 35-40 minutes , uncover and bake until brown, approximately 10 minutes.
• Serve this Italian food with french bread and have additional parmesan cheese at the table.

ZUCCHINI AND MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; add flour and reduce heat to low, stirring to form a roux.
• Stir in milk gradually, blending so that sauce is smooth.
• Mix in onion powder, garlic, basil, parsley, oregano, and Parmesan cheese; stir and cook until mixture thickens; season to taste with salt and pepper, then keep warm over low heat, stirring occasionally, while you prepare lasagna.
• In lasagna pan or 13 x 9 inch baking pan, spray with non-stick cooking spray or wipe with a little oil and a paper towel.
• Spread 3 lasagna noodles across bottom, making sure entire bottom is covered; spread 1/3 of ricotta over noodles.
• Place a layer of mushrooms, tomatoes and zucchini over ricotta, and spoon 1/4 of the sauce over the vegetables.
• Repeat the layers 2 more times, topping the last cheese/vegetable layer with noodles (there may be a few noodles left over) and the remaining sauce.
• Cover and bake for 40 minutes; uncover, sprinkle the top with mozzarella cheese and bake 10-12 minutes more, or until cheese is just starting to turn golden and lasagna is bubbly.
• Allow to sit 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA

Steps:

• Sprinkle the zucchini and eggplant with 3 teaspoons of the salt. Set aside to drain in a colander for 30 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine zucchini, eggplant and thyme in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook until barely tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Add basil and mint. Set aside.
• Combine the ricotta, egg, remaining salt and pepper. Set aside. Place 2 cups of the roasted tomato sauce in the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch baking dish. Place five uncooked lasagna noodles over the sauce. Top with a layer of the ricotta mixture, and finish with a layer of zucchini. Repeat twice, ending with a layer of sauce. Cover with foil and bake until tender, about 45 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes.