This Mediterranean Zucchini & Ham Lasagna has a light and soft texture. We prepare this cheesy lasagna with fresh zucchini slices, cooked ham, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, olive oil, garlic, and Mediterranean herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme. This cheesy lasagna has around 320 calories and 22 grams of protein. We bake this cheesy lasagna in about 40 minutes. This Mediterranean Zucchini & Ham Lasagna is ideal for family meals, healthy comfort food cravings, Mediterranean diet plans, light lunch options, and balanced high-protein diets. We can refrigerate this cheesy lasagna for nearly four days and freeze it for nearly two months, so you can prepare it earlier. You can serve this cheesy lasagna with Greek salad, roasted vegetables, garlic bread alternatives, lemon herb quinoa, or Mediterranean yogurt dip.
STATS:
- Cuisine: Italian
- Prep Duration: 20 minutes
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Diet: Mediterranean
- Course: Main Dish
- Cook Duration: 40 minutes
- Serving size: 1 square slice
- Cooking Method: Baking
- Overall Yields: 6
- Level of Difficulty: Medium
- Overall Duration: 1 hour
TOOLS:
- Baking dish
- Knife
- Bowls
- Skillet
- Spatula
- Oven
- Paper towels
INGREDIENTS:
- 3 zucchinis
- 2 cups cooked ham
- Two cups of ricotta cheese
- Mozzarella cheese, 1 ½ cups
- Half a cup of Parmesan cheese
- Two cups of marinara sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 pieces of garlic
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp basil
- ½ tsp thyme
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 egg
INGREDIENT NOTES AND THEIR SUBSTITUTIONS:
ZUCCHINI:
- It forms the pasta layers and keeps the lasagna light, fresh, and low-carb. You can also use eggplant slices, thin sweet potatoes, or gluten-free lasagna sheets.
HAM:
- It adds a smoky, savory flavor and boosts protein content in the dish. As a substitute, you can use turkey slices or grilled chicken.
RICOTTA CHEESE:
- It creates a creamy and soft layer inside the lasagna. Instead, you may use cottage cheese, mascarpone, or blended tofu.
MOZZARELLA CHEESE:
- It provides a melty, stretchy texture and rich, cheesy flavor. As another choice, you could use provolone, cheddar, or dairy-free cheese.
MARINARA SAUCE:
- It gives moisture, tanginess, and rich tomato flavor to the dish. Alternatively, you can use fresh tomato puree or roasted red pepper sauce.
INSTRUCTIONS:
- First, warm the oven to 375°F and slice the zucchini lengthwise.
- Salt the slices and place them aside for ten minutes.
- Dry the zuccchini and remove extra moisture.
- Then, warm olive oil in the pan and cook the garlic.
- Simmer the marinara sauce, oregano, pepper, basil, thyme, and salt for seven minutes.
- Mix ricotta cheese with egg and half of Parmesan cheese in a bowl.
- Grease the dish and spread the sauce in a thin layer at the bottom.
- Make layers by putting zucchini slices, ricotta mixture, ham, marinara sauce, and mozzarella.
- Repeat layers and finish with mozzarella & parmesan on the surface.
- Cover the pan to bake for almost twenty-five minutes.
- Then remove foil and again bake for fifteen minutes.
- Lastly, cool the dish for ten minutes.
TIPS:
- Leave this cheesy lasagna to sit for some time and then make clean layers.
- We utilize freshly grated cheese to get a perfect melty texture and flavor.
- Completely strain out the additional water content from the zucchini, so the lasagna is not soggy.
STORAGE INFORMATION:
FRIDGE:
- Put this cheesy lasagna in a tight box and stock it for not less than four days.
FREEZER:
- Store these portions separately for just sixty days.
FAQs:
Might I prepare this cheesy lasagna earlier?
- Sure, you can prepare this cheesy lasagna nearly a day beforehand.
Could we prepare this cheesy lasagna vegetarian?
- Yes, you can use grilled vegetables, mushrooms, or spinach.
Will we utilize packaged sauce?
- Yes, you can use store-bought sauce, although use low-sugar marinara for the perfect texture.
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:
Proteins: 22 g
Caloric Content: 320 kcal
Fiber: 3 g
Sodium: 780 mg
Net carbs: 10 g
Sugar: 6 g
Fats: 20 g
Portion Size: 1 slice
Total carbs: 13 g