Foodie Blogroll

Monday, August 2, 2010

Zucchini Lasagna - Martha Monday

This week was my choice for Martha Monday's. I wanted something easy and healthy and made good use of the seasonal vegetables. The Martha Stewart recipe I chose was Zucchini Lasagna that was published in her Everyday Food magazine. Unlike so many of her recipes this one was fairly easy! Using the no-boil lasagna noodle really help with the ease of this recipe! I had a box on hand and I wanted to use them, so another good reason to choose it. I just don't make regular lasagna much, because it makes so much and my daughter isn't that big on the red sauce.

It turned out good and we really enjoyed it, but of course I made a few...tiny adjustments. She calls for low fat cheese which is fine. I didn't use all the cream cheese because I used regular cream cheese and I used more mozzarella in the layers. I added more garlic, Herbs de Provence, and some red pepper flakes. It was nice it called for an 8x8 dish, a good size for my family. I did add some eggplant that I needed to use up before it went bad.

Ingredients
Serves 4.

Olive oil, for baking dish
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature
1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 medium zucchini, (8 ounces each) halved lengthwise, then sliced thinly crosswise (I used some eggplant too)
1 garlic clove, minced (I used 3)
2 teaspoons dried oregano (I used marjoram, and some herb blend)
6 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 ounces shredded (1/2 cup) part-skim mozzarella cheese (I used more and added to the layers)


Directions
1.Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly oil an 8-inch square baking dish; set aside.
2.In a medium bowl, stir together cream cheese and ricotta; season with salt and pepper. In another medium bowl, combine zucchini, garlic, and oregano; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.
3.Spread 1/3 zucchini mixture in prepared baking dish; top with two lasagna noodles, then 1/3 ricotta mixture. Repeat twice with remaining zucchini mixture, noodles, and ricotta mixture, finishing with the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella.
4.Cover baking dish with aluminum foil; bake until bubbly and noodles are tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove foil; bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
From Everyday Food, September 2006
It is nice and creamy, and I probably should of used all the cream cheese!

It filled the dish above the top, so I had some food pick I put in the center so the cheese would stick to the foil.

The foil comes off and a final toasting in the oven. I knew it would settle a little when it cooked.

I liked the texture of the zucchini, I sliced it pretty thin, but it didn't come out mushy at all. I also like the different texture that the eggplant gave it. There was less eggplant than zucchini, and that worked out nice. It was so good and creamy. I was worried that there wouldn't be enough sauce, but there was just enough sauce.


The nice thing about this recipe it works well with any changes that you want to give it, or not. I was thinking maybe some toasted walnuts to give a little crunch, but then regular lasagna doesn't crunch....just a thought!
If you would like to see how others did on this recipe check out Brette's blog Martha and Me for a list of those that like to participate in...

Please feel free to join us...you can cook along with us, or do a craft! It's all in fun! You can join the fun check here at Martha and Me !

27 comments:

  1. Lyndsey, I'm glad I'm not the only one who loved your pick. Wasn't it delicious!! I'm jealous, your pictures are WAY better than mine. I wasn't able to get any good pics at all. I should have waited and used yours, lol! Again, excellent pick!!!

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  2. Lyndz~ thiis reminds me of Gardfield! haha.... Your version sounds much simple and and healthy.

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  3. Thanks for choosing this. We enjoyed it a lot - I modified it to add red sauce. It sounds like it was good without it though. I agree that the no boil noodles really makes this easy to make.

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  4. So creamy and cheesy, its tempting enough to try soon.

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  5. zucchini lasagna sounds delicious! you did a great job with this meatless Monday entrée!

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  6. mmm. sounds really good. i'll have to try it. :)

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  7. I just bookmarked this one. It looks wonderful! Thanks!

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  8. This is like healthy comfort food. I'll really have to try this.

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  9. never thought of zucchini lasagna, but why not! looks delicious.. i like red sauce better than white so i might substitute to red again :)

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  10. Wonderful recipe with nice presentation Lyndsey.
    Love to giv a try immediately.

    Plz collect your Award from my blog.

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  11. For something made out of veggies, this looks unbelievably good! lol! I think even my kids wouldn't mind the zucchini part, as long as it's this pretty. :) They actually love lasagna, although I make usually meat lasagna specifically beef. ;)
    I would definitely give this a go, thanks for sharing by the way.

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  12. Oh good another way to use up my surplus courgettes. Diane

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  13. Lyndsey...you certainly succeeded in the seasonal as well as the healthy part of the equation. At first view...your lasagna looked like it had a creamy bechamel sauce...then to my surprise it was lower fat cheeses. Very well done. It's not even breakfast yet for me...and you've got me thinking...hmm, lasagna tonight?

    Ciao for now and have a great day,
    Claudia

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  14. Looks like cheesy goodness! Yum!

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  15. I am a BIG fan of lasagna and yours looks delightful. Perfect finish on the cheese.

    Bravo

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  16. Zucchini lasagna, one of my favorites!! Great!!

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  17. This looks like a much lighter version. Looks very tasty!

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  18. I'm sorry I am so late in leaving a comment (haven't bee well). Although it wasn't the greatest success in our house, I am blaming the lasagne sheets. I will be making this again with some more additions, like more onion and chilli flakes and maybe more of a bechamel sauce which might help.

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  19. Oh MY! I can't wait to makek that!!!

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  20. This is one healthy looking dish. We love lasagna and yours sounds delicious!

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  21. Healthy decadence--really beautiful pictures, my favorite is the last with fresh herb garnish and golden melting lasagne slice, divine!

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  22. Brenda, thanks! We liked it. It was plenty moist and creamy! We'll make it again!

    Kristy! Thanks!

    Brette - we didn't need to add too much, it was good!

    Sanjeeta kk - thanks

    Bo - I know, yum comfort food!

    Jay - thanks, and thank you for the award! You're great!



    Chef Dennis -Thank you, we seem to do a lot of meatless meals.

    Susan B - thank you

    Debbi - I think you will enjoy it!

    lasagna recipes - wow with a name like yours that's a nice compliment!

    Claudia - thanks, and I must admit it is pretty easy to do too!

    TKW - thank you
    Sarah - thanks
    Lazaro - Thank you!
    Rebecca - thanks!
    Zia Elle - thank you
    3 Hungry Tummies - thanks so much!
    Pru - I sure hope you are feeling better!
    Ricepatty - hope you like it!
    Pam - thank you!
    Jenn - that's nice of you to say thanks!

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  23. It looks great, and the art of transforming people's recipes and making them ours is half the fun of cooking. Well done

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  24. Ah, so here is that lasagna everyone was talking about - it really does look delicious, definitely going on the must try list! :-)

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