How to Make a Lasagna Using Zucchini Instead of Pasta

With the rising number of people trying to reduce or eliminate carbohydrates from their diet, more new low carb recipes are emerging. One way to have your lasagna and eat it too is to substitute the pasta for strips of roasted zucchini. Roasted zucchini holds up nicely in a lasagna dish without the carbs and sugar generated from the pasta noodles, plus it adds wonderful flavor. Additionally, you can chalk up one more vegetable to your daily intake, even if you want to add ground beef or turkey to your lasagna.

Ingredients

2 large zucchini
1 tablespoon kosher salt (or vegetable, sea or Himalayan salt)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 small green bell pepper, diced
1 diced onion
2 cans whole crushed tomatoes
3 cloves of diced garlic
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
1 beaten egg
1 (15 ounce) container low-fat ricotta cheese
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
8 ounces grated Parmesan cheese

Steps

1
Preheat oven to 325ºF/170ºC. While the oven is heating, lightly spray a 9x13 inch (22cm x 28cm) baking pan with non stick olive oil cooking spray.
2
Wash the zucchini, cut the ends off and cut lengthwise into thin slices. Be careful as the knife can slip on the shiny surface of the zucchini; work on a solid, unmoving surface. Sprinkle each side with salt and freshly ground pepper. Place seasoned slices on a clean plate.

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3
Warm a large skillet on the stove top at medium-high heat. Coat evenly with olive oil and allow oil to heat for one to two minutes.
4
Place slices of zucchini in the pan––do not overlap. Cook each side of the zucchini thoroughly until browned and then turn over and roast the other side. Transfer pieces back to the clean plate once both sides have been roasted.
5
Create the tomato sauce. Coat a large saucepan with olive oil and add the diced garlic, green pepper and onion. Place on the stove top at medium-high heat.
- Add two cans of whole peeled tomatoes and allow the garlic, green pepper, onion, olive oil and tomatoes to simmer at medium-high heat for approximately five minutes.
- Add oregano and basil and a dash of salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, cover sauce and simmer for an hour.
6
Mix the egg and container of ricotta cheese together in a bowl until it is well combined.
7
Remove the cooked sauce from the heat and allow it to cool for half an hour once it’s fully cooked. Transfer the sauce to a blender and blend on high until smooth and velvety.
8
Assemble the lasagna the same way you would build a lasagna made from noodles.
- Spread half of the sauce across the bottom of the pre-greased pan. Add one layer of roasted zucchini (using approximately half of the slices), cover well with the ricotta cheese mixture (about half the mixture), followed by 4 ounces (113g) of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the above step beginning with zucchini, ricotta cheese mixture and top with mozzarella cheese.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover with aluminum foil.
9
Bake the covered lasagna for 45 minutes. To avoid having the sauce and cheese spill over onto the oven, bake on a cookie sheet.
10
Remove the aluminum foil after 45 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 350ºF/180ºC and continue baking for 15 minutes.
11
Allow the lasagna to stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serve with a fresh salad of your choice.
12
Serve and enjoy!

Community Q&A

Question

What is the initial oven temperature that should be used in Step 9?

Community Answer

It's mentioned in Step 1; 325 degrees F/170 degrees C.
Question

Do I need to cook the zucchini before the baking process, or can it be used as it is?

Community Answer

Cook it. The zucchini will water down your sauce, as it releases a lot of liquid during the cooking process. If you cook it first, you eliminate this problem.

Warnings

Avoid allowing the tomato sauce stay in contact with the aluminum foil, especially when storing. The aluminum will eventually erode from the acid and migrate into the food.

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If you plan on using meat in your recipe, always brown or cook meat before adding it to the sauce or dish to ensure it is fully cooked.

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