Scrumptious vegetarian Cottage Cheese Lasagna is made with layers of lasagna noodles crammed with veggies, cottage cheese, marinara, and naturally mozzarella cheese. Cottage cheese is a wholesome different to ricotta cheese and you will by no means know the distinction!
If there’s one factor it’s best to find out about me, it is that I like selfmade lasagna. Correction: I like cottage cheese lasagna.
If you happen to could not inform, I am on an enormous cottage cheese kick. You’ll be able to simply take pleasure in it very first thing within the morning within the type of a cottage cheese breakfast bowl, or within the afternoon as cottage cheese dip. Each are scrumptious, simple and protein-packed!
This recipe is a hearty vegetarian dinner that is excellent for serving a crowd, and it’d pair completely with my braised greens, maple roasted carrots and even this sautéed asparagus.
Recipe options
- Much like your favourite vegetarian lasagna, however with cottage cheese as an alternative of ricotta, which has a really related texture and taste.
- Made with no meat and is as an alternative crammed with greens like carrots, onion, zucchini, and spinach.
- The proper recipe for serving a crowd, and you may prep the filling forward of time to make it even sooner.
- Cottage cheese has many well being advantages, together with excessive in protein and calcium.
Substances
Noodles – I choose utilizing longer lasagna noodles, vs. the quick, fatter ones, as a result of I feel they’re simpler to layer. However, that is only a private desire.
Greens – A mix of carrots, onion, zucchini, spinach, and garlic works nicely. Be at liberty to make substitutions, particularly for the zucchini and spinach, if you happen to’re not a fan.
Cottage cheese – Small curd and full fats works greatest; you need it to resemble ricotta as a lot as potential.
Parmesan cheese – Non-compulsory; I like stirring the grated parmesan and cottage collectively, however you do not have to make use of it.
Marinara sauce – Use your favourite pasta sauce! I usually go for arrabbiata as a result of I like a spicy sauce.
Mozzarella cheese – Shredded.
Directions
Step 1: Cook dinner the greens. Pulse the carrots, onion and zucchini in your meals processor a number of instances, then switch them to a big skillet. Sauté with a little bit of olive oil over medium warmth till gentle, about 5-8 minutes, then add the spinach and garlic and cook dinner for 1-2 extra minutes.
Step 2: Cook dinner the noodles. Whereas the greens are cooking, carry a big pot of water to a boil and cook dinner the noodles till they’re al dente; drain and run chilly water overtop so they do not stick collectively. NOTE: do not overcook the noodles! In any other case, they will be too gentle to work with.
Step 3: Make the filling. Switch the cooked veggies to a big bowl, then add the cottage cheese, parmesan, salt, and pepper and stir every thing collectively.
Step 4: Assemble. See the recipe card under for the total directions. Basically, you may layer noodles, topped with cottage cheese combination, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese in a big baking dish.
Step 5: Bake. Cowl the baking dish with aluminum foil, then place it within the oven and bake the lasagna for quarter-hour. Take away the foil, then proceed baking for 10-12 minutes till the cheese is melted. Sprinkle recent parsley or basil on prime, slice and revel in!
Ideas and methods
- Complete milk/full fats cottage cheese goes to resemble ricotta essentially the most, so that is what you may wish to use on this recipe.
- Do not over-mix the greens! While you pulse them in your meals processor, you wish to pulse them not more than 8 instances. Or, you’ll be able to chop them by hand.
- Remember to add salt and pepper to style to the cottage cheese combination.
- Be sure to spray the baking dish with cooking spray! In any other case, the edges of the noodles might stick.
- Substitutions:
- Zucchini – Can omit, or use yellow squash or diced tomatoes
- Spinach – Attempt kale as an alternative (simply make certain to take away the stems)
- Vegetable combination – Meat can be utilized as an alternative of greens; see under within the Q&A bit for a way to take action
- Parmesan – Omit, or strive asiago cheese
Tips on how to appropriately layer lasagna?
You will wish to layer the lasagna on this order: Marinara sauce on the underside of the pan, three lasagna noodles, HALF of the cottage cheese/veggie combination, 1 cup marinara, ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Then repeat this course of another time. The ultimate layer will probably be: three lasagna noodles, 1 cup marinara sauce and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
Can I exploit cottage cheese instead of ricotta cheese?
Positive can! That is why I created this recipe. I virtually all the time have cottage cheese in my fridge, however not often have ricotta. Cottage cheese is a protein-packed different to ricotta, and I doubt you can inform the distinction.
Can I add meat to cottage cheese lasagna?
Positive! If you happen to’d choose one thing just like conventional lasagna, you’ll be able to add 1 lb. floor beef, floor turkey and even Italian sausage to the filling. To do that, cook dinner the meat first, then set it apart. Omit the zucchini and spinach; in any other case, there will probably be an excessive amount of filling.
Storage
Fridge: Cowl the baking dish with a lid, then retailer leftovers within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Freezer: Lasagna is a wonderful freezer meal! Merely cook dinner it, then cowl it with aluminum foil and place your entire baking dish in a freezer-safe bag (or, switch the lasagna itself to a small container). You’ll be able to freeze lasagna for as much as 3 months.
Reheating: If you happen to’re reheating from frozen, it’s best to thaw the cottage cheese lasagna within the fridge in a single day. Then, reheat it within the oven at 375° till it is warmed by.
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Cottage Cheese Lasagna
Scrumptious vegetarian Cottage Cheese Lasagna is made with layers of lasagna noodles crammed with veggies, cottage cheese, marinara, and naturally mozzarella cheese. Cottage cheese is a wholesome different to ricotta cheese and you will by no means know the distinction!
Servings: 12 items
Substances
for the cottage cheese combination:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 carrots chopped
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 1 zucchini chopped
- 5 oz. spinach chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 16 oz. full fats cottage cheese small curd
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese shredded
- salt and pepper to style
for the lasagna:
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 2 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- recent basil for garnish
Directions
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Begin by chopping the carrots, onion and zucchini and place them in a bowl. Then, chop the spinach and mince the garlic and place them in a separate bowl. Now, preheat the oven to 400°.
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Warmth olive oil over medium warmth in a big skillet, then add the carrot/onion/zucchini combination and sauté till gentle, about 8 minutes. Then add the spinach and garlic and sauté for two minutes. Switch the cooked veggies to a big bowl.
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Whereas the veggies are cooking, carry a big pot of salted water to a boil, then cook dinner the lasagna noodles till they’re al dente — watch out to not over-cook or they will be too gentle to work with and disintegrate.
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Add the cottage cheese and parmesan to the bowl with the veggies and stir to mix. Add salt and pepper to style.
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Subsequent, assemble the lasagna: unfold ½ cup marinara sauce on the underside of a 9×13 baking dish, then place 3 lasagna noodles on prime. Unfold HALF of the cottage cheese combination on prime, then 1 cup of the marinara sauce, then ½ cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat this identical course of, beginning with 3 lasagna noodles for the second layer. For the ultimate layer, add the final 3 lasagna noodles, then prime them with 1 cup of marinara sauce and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.
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Cowl the dish with aluminum foil, then place it within the oven and bake it for quarter-hour. Take away the foil, then bake for an extra 10-12 minutes or till the cheese is melted.
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Prime the lasagna with chopped recent parsley or basil, then slice it into 12 items. Get pleasure from!
Notes
*Ensure to make use of full fats/entire milk and small curd cottage cheese in order that it intently resembles ricotta cheese
*Storage:
- Fridge: retailer in a lined baking dish within the fridge for as much as 5 days
- Freezer: Or, retailer in a lined dish within the freezer for as much as 3 months
- Reheating: thaw lasagna within the fridge in a single day, then reheat within the oven at 375° till it is warmed by
Diet
Energy: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 13g | Fats: 8g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 3g | Ldl cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 534mg | Potassium: 422mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 4105IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 1mg
