Spaghetti
Squash Lasagna
Ingredients -- Ovo-Lacto Vegeterian (optional
meat)
Here's a keto-ish lasagna
that avoids semolina flour pasta. The idea is to use
thin-sliced keto vegetables instead. Cooked spaghetti
squash can be part of the "filling". Cooked spaghetti
squash is a good "natural" keto substitute for pasta.
Many
store-bought pasta alternatives are available
today. "Palmini" imitation pasta is made from
hearts of palm and is healthy, but very stiff and
fibrous. It's a good alternative for lasagna
sheets, but should be boiled thoroughly to soften before
assembling the lasagna, and then cooked again along with
the lasagna.
To make your own lasagna sheets, you
will need an 8"x8" baking dish and a "Mandolenne" (device that
slices large vegetables very thin). Be careful, those
things are sharp.
- If meat is desired, pan-fry 1 lb. ground
Italian sausage until mostly cooked.
- 1 large Zucchini and/or 1 small
Eggplant. "Palmiri" lasagna noodles made from hearts of
palm can substitute here.
- 1/2 of a cooked Spaghetti Squash
- 4 oz diced Mushrooms
- 1/2 white Onion, diced fine
- 2 cans fire-roasted Tomatoes
- handful of Spinach leaves, washed, stems
removed, roughly chopped
- Olive oil for various purposes
- Seasonings to taste: salt, black pepper,
oregano, basil, generous amounts of garlic
Peel the zucchini and/or the eggplant. Slice
diagonally with a Mandolenne to get long, thin slices. Place
on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper, and place in the
oven at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. This helps to dry them
out a bit.
While your zucchini/eggplant is baking, place your sausage (if
used) and the diced onions in a large skillet with a little
olive oil over med-high heat. Cook until sausage & onions
are browned, then add in your mushrooms and cook a couple more
minutes.
By
this time your zucchini should be done and you can start
layering the pan. First add a little olive oil to coat
the bottom and sides to ensure nothing sticks. Then
place half your zucchini and/or eggplant "noodles" on
the bottom of your 8×8 baking dish.
Drain the canned tomatoes very well
so that no water remains. In a separate bowl, place the
spaghetti squash along with the tomatoes, and stir vigorously
until they mush together somewhat and the tomatoes aren't
intact. Add the seasonings here. If it seems like
too thick a mush for you to stir & spread easily, add
additional canned tomatoes or tomato sauce.
Spread half your meat and mushroom mixture over the
zucchini/eggplant "noodles" in the baking dish, then half the
tomato mixture. Spread the tomato layer evenly, then top
with a thin layer of spinach. (You can also add a layer of
cheese on top of the spinach if you want extra cheese, but I
just add it to the top)
Then add another layer of the rest of the zucchini, then the
meat/veggie mix, then top with the other half of the squash
& tomatoes, spinach leaves and cheese on top.
Bake at 450 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes, or until cheese
is browned and zucchini noodles are cooked through. Let sit
for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.