Thursday, August 4, 2011

Roasted Garden Vegetable Lasagna




If your garden is producing a few extra-large zucchini, then this recipe is for you!  Using those big veggies for good, this roasted garden vegetable lasagna turns zucchini into noodles. 



And, there are 9 vegetables in this lasagna.

But who’s counting. 



Roasted Garden Vegetable Lasagna

Ingredients
  • 1 –2 extra large zucchini*
  • 1 medium green bell pepper
  • 1 medium red bell pepper
  • 8 oz. baby bella mushrooms
  • 3-4 C fresh spinach
  • 1 (14oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
  • 2 C baby carrots
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 head garlic
  • 1 (8oz) can tomato paste
  • 1 (8oz) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 T olive oil
  • 1 tsp. basil
  • 1 tsp. oregano
  • 24 oz. cottage cheese
  • 2 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 2 oz. Monterrey jack cheese, shredded
  • Sea salt and pepper, to taste
Directions

Begin by slicing your zucchini the long way into long thin layers – about 1/4 inch thick.

Place these zucchini strips into a 9x13 glass baking dish. Sprinkle with sea salt and allow the zucchini and salt to sit together for about 20 minutes. 

This salting phase removes much of the liquid in the zucchini – and you’ll be thankful for that later.  Rinse the zucchini after 20 minutes, and pat each slice dry.

Then, place the zucchini strips onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Spray the zucchini lightly with olive oil and the season with a few shakes of Italian seasoning. 

Place the zucchini in an oven heated to 450 degrees.



Allow the zucchini to roast – about 10 minutes, and then flip them over to roast the other side.  If any of your zucchini slices are thinner than others, check on the roasting zucchini to make sure they don’t get overdone.  If they do, just nibble on those! 



In a large baking dish, toss the diced up bell peppers, quartered mushrooms, quartered onion with 1 T olive oil.  Season with Italian seasoning and pepper. 

Add in 1 large garlic clove {slice the top off} and make sure that is coated with oil too.

Place these veggies in the oven with the zucchini and roast for about 15 minutes.



Meanwhile, lightly steam the 2 C of carrots; you don’t want them mushy, but it’s better if they aren’t super hard either.  Then, using a food processor, finely chop the carrots.  Alternatively, you can chop them first and then steam them; just pour off any water before using them. 

In a large saucepan, combine drained tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, carrots, basil and oregano.  {if you don’t have onion, or prefer onion flakes, add those here}



Bring the dish to a simmer and cook for about 10-15 minutes until bubbly and thick.  You want this sauce to have as little water as possible!



When the veggies and zucchini are roasted, remove these from the oven and decrease the oven temperature to 400.



Allow the zucchini to cool enough that they can be handled. 

Carefully remove the roasted garlic clove from the veggie mixture, and carefully {they will be HOT!} pop the garlic out of the skins and add these all into the tomato mixture.  Stir to combine.
 
Then, remove the tomato mix from the heat.   



At this point, gather up the cottage cheese, fresh washed spinach, and shredded cheeses.  You’re just about ready to assemble! 

To begin, lightly grease a lasagna (or 9x13) pan.

Using a ladle, cover the bottom of the pan with the tomato carrot mixture. 

Then, layer the zucchini as “noodles” over the sauce. 



Top that with 1/3 of the cottage cheese, 1/3 of the spinach and 1/3 of the roasted veggies. 



Then, add more tomato-carrot sauce, zucchini “noodles”, and the next 1/3 of the cottage cheese, spinach and the roasted veggies. 



Repeat the layers one more time. 

If you still have zucchini left, add those at this point over the top of the roasted veggies.  If not, just add the final layer of sauce over the top. 

Sprinkle with cheese. 



Place in the oven, uncovered, and bake at 400 for 30-45 minutes until bubbly and cheese is lightly browned.
 


Allow the lasagna to sit for 15 minutes before slicing to serve.  Use a good knife to cut the slices because the zucchini is “harder” to cut through than typical lasagna noodles. 



*You’ll want enough zucchini slices to act as noodles – three layers worth.  Plan accordingly. 

Linked to: melt in your mouth monday, mangia monday, recipe sharing monday, slightly indulgent tuesday, kitchen tip tuesday, what’s on your plate? URS, works for me wednesday, these chicks cook, ingredient spotlight x2

22 comments:

  1. This is super ideal for using up those zukes! What a great recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a clever idea to use the zucchini for noodles! This looks so yummy!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds absolutely delicious. I just made a zucchini and squash skillet lasagna last nigth, but I will be trying this soon.

    ReplyDelete
  4. geniusss, our garden is just starting to churn out the goods now and this looks like one of the most gorgeously comforting veggie lasagna recipes ive seen for sure. Definitely getting a big fat save :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow. Healthy, hearty, and so delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Looks amazing! I think I'll try this tonight!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Just found your blog! you have some amazing recipes! This one in particular looks so scrumptious!! can't wait to browse around and bookmark :)
    -mini baker

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have made lasagna with broccoli spears, but never zucchini. It sounds wonderful...especially roasted first.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice lasagna! I love the pictures! Oh come on, you couldn't have come up with one more veggie to make it an even 10? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. That looks really yummy and full of veggies!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great for low-carbers. This is how I make my lasagna now. I never thought to roast the zucchini first. That would be extra yummy.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like this ingredient list. The lasagna sounds delicious. I'm enjoying your blog tonight. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is so beautiful. I love roasting a big pan of veggies like you did, but I've never made veggie lasagna with it. I'll be bookmarking this and making it when the weather cools down just a bit. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great for our grain-free lifestyle! Looks a little labor intensive but I am sure it would be worth it. I am bookmarking this for use later this week! Love your header, by the way!

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a GREAT recipe! I would love it if you came over to Cast Party Wednesday tomorrow and shared this and other recipes with us! :)
    Thanks,
    I hope to see you there!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you so much for sharing this at Recipe Sharing Monday. I hope to see you back tomorrow :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yummm!

    Stop by and link up at What’s Cooking Wednesday!

    http://www.extremepersonalmeasures.com/2011/08/whats-your-favorite-cookbook.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Yum! We made something a while back that was very similar! LOVE your picture instructions!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Looks yummy! I made a zucchini lasagna a few months ago...really yumm!

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a healthful and yet satisfying dish. I love comfort food like this. Comforting and won't weight you down. Thanks for sharing.

    My blog turns 1 today and I'm hosting a giveaway on my blog as a way to say thank you for your supports in the past year. Please come over to check it out if you're interested. http://utry.it

    ReplyDelete
  21. I've been hoping to make lasagna for about a week, this may be just the inspiration that I need to tip the scales towards it actually happening.

    ReplyDelete
  22. This is a brilliant recipe which actually is great for people who are crossfitters or just want to diet but still enjoy eating lasagna. I always have a thing for lasagna. I love the cheese, the sauce and the overall taste. Thanks for sharing this. I'll definitely make this at home.

    Haley
    Food Safety Training

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear from you; especially how you're finding JOY in your kitchen.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...