Vegetable Cottage Cheese Lasagna

This can be a high-protein, wholesome vegetable lasagna recipe with cottage cheese, ricotta, spinach, butternut squash, zucchini and mushrooms. There are a number of easy prep steps concerned however total that is a straightforward lasagna with out bechamel sauce and you should utilize a store-bought tomato sauce for additional comfort. I do know lasagna recipes usually overwhelm folks however my how-to pictures and video will aid you alongside the way in which. Everybody will probably be asking you for the recipe!

In This Publish:

Why I Love This Vegetable Cottage Cheese Lasagna

That is one in every of my favorite vegetarian recipes to make for the household or when we’ve visitors coming over. I believe it’s the perfect vegetable lasagna and I’ll let you know why.

• Numerous veggies: We’re speaking roasted butternut squash, grilled zucchini and mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes (within the sauce).
• Excessive in protein: Many vegetarian pasta dishes lack protein which implies that you must eat much more of it to really feel actually satiating. I needed to create a vegetarian lasagna that was not simply filled with veggies however was additionally filling. By utilizing protein-rich cottage cheese along with ricotta, grated cheese and pasta sheets, I used to be in a position to get fairly first rate macros on this dish – about 30 grams per serving if the lasagna is lower in 8 slices.
• Flavour: There may be a lot deliciousness on this dish and it comes from doing that additional step of pre-grilling and pre-roasting the greens, which reinforces their flavour. Plus loads of garlic, cheeses, and basil tomato sauce – all create a good looking mixture.
• Make-ahead pleasant: You possibly can put together a lot of the parts forward of time and retailer them within the fridge in a single day and even 2 days. You possibly can even assemble the entire lasagna dish and retailer it within the fridge till you’re able to bake.
• If you need wholesome and scrumptious consolation meals, this vegetarian lasagna recipe is IT!

👉 In the event you’re on the lookout for extra vegetarian dinner recipes, be sure to attempt my lentil and mushroom Stroganoff, the baked Italian eggplant Parmigiana, or the quinoa-stuffed peppers. Yow will discover all of my vegetarian recipes right here.

Elements

Here’s what you’ll need for this scrumptious vegetable lasagna recipe:

• Greens: butternut squash (or one other kind of winter squash/pumpkin), mushrooms, child spinach (you would additionally use defrosted spinach), zucchini, garlic.
• Pasta: You should use recent lasagna sheets or dry pasta sheets. When utilizing dry pasta sheets, I personally wish to par-boil them for 1-2 minutes every because it makes them simple to layer within the dish.
• Cheeses: cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, grated Mozzarella and Cheddar. There is no such thing as a bechamel sauce on this lasagna and the white sauce is changed with a cottage cheese and spinach combination.
• Tomato pasta sauce: You may make your individual tomato pasta sauce however I purchase good high quality pre-made tomato sauce (aka marinara) and for this recipe, I really like basil tomato sauce by Mutti model (no affiliation). You should use no matter you favor right here. Utilizing a store-bought sauce saves time, which I’m all about as of late.
• You’ll need a big, deep rectangular baking dish, a baking tray and some frying pans. There’s a little little bit of prep concerned so allocate an hour or so.

How To Make Vegetable Cottage Cheese Lasagna

Discover the total listing of components, dietary data, and directions within the recipe card under. Listed here are some step-by-step photos to information you alongside.

Pre-Cook dinner Butternut Squash

• Lower butternut squash into half-moon disks. Season and rub with just a little oil. Roast at 200 C /400 F for 20 minutes, till simply tender. You may also use an Air Fryer for 10-Quarter-hour. Whereas the butternut squash is cooking, put together different fillings.

Saute Onions & Spinach

• In one other giant frying pan, saute onions with just a little oil and salt, for 4-5 minutes, till golden and mushy. Switch to a big mixing bowl.
• Add child spinach leaves and a splash of water to the identical pan. Cowl with a lid and cook dinner for two minutes or two till wilted. Stir a number of instances. As soon as finished, switch the spinach to a chopping board and chop it finely with a knife. Switch the chopped spinach to the bowl with the onions.

Make Cottage Cheese Combination

• To the bowl with the onions and spinach, add the cottage cheese, clean ricotta, minced garlic, black pepper and one other pinch of salt. Combine by way of and put aside.

Cook dinner Mushrooms & Zucchini

• Slice zucchini lengthwise or into elongated items. Sprinkle all items with just a little salt and put aside.
• In a single frying pan, saute the mushrooms with just a little oil and salt for 7-8 minutes, stirring a number of instances, till browned. Switch to a bowl.
• Utilizing one or two frying pans, pan-fry or grill the zucchini over medium-high warmth for two minutes or so on all sides, till golden brown and barely charred. Take away and put aside.

Precook lasagna sheets (if utilizing dry pasta)

• Pre-cooking dry lasagna sheets makes it simpler to layer them within the baking dishes and ends in a extra saucy lasagna because the sheets don’t take in as a lot liquid. Plus, this quickens the baking time. Pre-cooking is non-obligatory, you too can use recent lasagna sheets offered within the refrigerated part, by which case the baking time will probably be just a little bit shorter.
• Boil sufficient water to fill half of a big pot. Place on a range and produce again to boil. Add lasagna sheets, 1-2 at a time and cook dinner for two minutes. Take away onto a plate or tray and proceed till you could have two layers value of pasta sheets. You possibly can then begin layering the lasagna whereas persevering with to cook dinner the remaining pasta sheets.

How To Layer Vegetable Lasagna

• Make certain to preheat the oven again to 180 C / 355 F forward of time.
• Unfold 1/2 cup of the tomato pasta sauce on the underside of the baking dish. Layer 2-3 lasagna sheets (my dish suits 2.5). You should use scissors or a knife to chop one of many sheets in halves. It’s a little bit of a Tetris recreation, actually.
• Unfold a skinny layer of tomato sauce and cottage cheese filling on high of the pasta layer, about 1.5 cups and sprinkle all the pre-cooked mushrooms on high.

• Place one other layer of lasagna sheets and unfold one other ½ to 1 cup of pasta sauce. Place butternut squash items on high. They might have shrunk so you may tear them into items to cowl the sheets evenly. It’s okay to have a number of gaps.
• Place extra lasagna sheets and extra sauce. Unfold one other cup or two of the cottage cheese and layer the pre-cooked zucchini slices.

• Add the ultimate layer of pasta sheets, unfold one other cup or two of sauce, and ensure to unfold all the way in which to the corners. Unfold the remaining cottage cheese combination on high. Sprinkle Mozzarella and Cheddar cheese excessive evenly.
• Place within the oven for 25-Half-hour. As soon as finished, take away the lasagna and let it sit for 5-10 minutes so it settles and finishes cooking. It would additionally settle down barely because it’s extremely scorching straight out of the oven.
• Slice into 6-8 slices and serve. Take pleasure in my vegetable cottage cheese lasagna!

Watch How To Make It

Veggie Lasagna Variations

• You should use various kinds of pumpkin/winter squash right here. Sliced candy potato may also work.
• Gluten-free lasagna sheets can be utilized for this dish.
• You possibly can add a layer of canned, strained lentils for additional protein and fibre.
• Grilled eggplant is one other pretty addition to a vegetarian lasagna.
• One other method to enhance protein even greater is to combine in grated agency tofu into the cottage cheese combine or add a layer of grated cottage cheese in between lasagna sheets.

What To Serve With Vegetable Lasagna

• This dish is a well-balanced meal in itself so that you don’t really want so as to add any sides however if you wish to freshen it up, I like to recommend a easy facet salad with zesty French dressing or shredded slaw with olive oil based mostly dressing (no mayo or cream because the lasagna is already fairly wealthy).
• Another choice is an easy facet of steamed or stir-fried inexperienced beans and/or lemon garlic broccoli for additional greens on the desk.
• In the event you’re serving a crowd or a desk of ravenous youngsters, a facet of garlic bread would possibly go nicely with this lasagna.

Storage Ideas

Storing vegetarian lasagna correctly is crucial to take care of its freshness and flavour. Listed here are some ideas:

• Permit the lasagna to chill to room temperature earlier than storing it. This prevents condensation and retains it from turning into soggy.
• Slice into particular person servings or parts. This makes it simpler to reheat solely what you want, decreasing waste.
• Place the lasagna parts in an hermetic container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and aluminium foil. Make certain there’s minimal air publicity to stop freezer burn or drying out within the fridge.
• Refrigeration: In the event you plan to devour it inside 3-4 days, retailer the lasagna within the fridge. It’s greatest to devour it inside this timeframe for the perfect style and texture.
• Freezing: If you wish to retailer it for an extended interval, freeze it. Place the wrapped or containerized lasagna within the freezer. Correctly saved, it could possibly final 2-3 months.
• Thawing: When able to eat frozen lasagna, switch it to the fridge to thaw in a single day. Keep away from thawing at room temperature to stop bacterial development.
• Reheating: Reheat within the oven for greatest outcomes. Preheat to round 350°F (175°C), cowl the lasagna with foil to stop extreme drying, and bake till heated by way of (often 20-Half-hour). Alternatively, microwave particular person parts for a faster meal.
• Freshen Up: Sprinkle just a little water or sauce on high earlier than reheating to stop extreme dryness.

Extra Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

Full Recipe 

Discover the total listing of components, directions, and a dietary breakdown under. When you’ve got questions or cook dinner this recipe, please let me know within the feedback, and ensure to charge this recipe so it’s simple for others to search out.

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