Easy Vegetable Lasagna

By Caroline Anderson May 2, 2023 35 mins read 104 Views

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Do not be intimidated by the weight of vegetable lasagna. It doesn't mean that you can't put it together. Prepare your appetite and follow this simple recipe. Spread some garlic butter on crusty bread.

Table of Contents

I grew up eating only lasagnas with ground beef. Please don't misunderstand me, I am not complaining.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

We want to eat a classic dish, like lasagna. But we also want it to be healthier. This lasagna has a lot of healthy ingredients, including carrots, zucchinis, mushrooms and baby spinach.
Oranges add just the right amount sweetness. This adds a little spritz to the dish, and keeps your palate guessing.
This is a great way to use all of the vegetables that you have in your refrigerator. The recipe has a lot of ingredients, but you can find most of them in your pantry or fridge.

Is this healthy?

Surprise, surprise! Eating vegetables is good for you. It's even better to eat a dish with a variety of vegetables. These foods are rich in nutrients, but low in calories and fat. Carrots and spinach in particular contain fiber which keeps you fuller for longer. Fiber keeps you regular which is important for those of us who have digestive problems.
Ricotta and skimmilk are a healthier alternative to the bechamel sauce that is typically used to make lasagna.

Ingredients

All those vegetables must come from somewhere. It's time to head for the supermarket. Good news: you can find most of these products in the produce aisle.

Vegetables

2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 carrots
Three small oranges or one large orange
Red bell pepper
6-8 button mushrooms
5 small zucchini
1/4 teaspoon salt
5-6 oz baby spinach
8 lasagna sheets

The tomato sauce:

2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 can diced tomatoes
Fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped to 1/4 cup
Half a teaspoon of salt

The topping:

2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
Black pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Instrucciones

Prep

Pre-heat the oven to 350degF. Chop the vegetables.

Fry

Add the garlic, onions and olive oil to a pan and cook for 5 minutes on MEDIUM. Add the remaining vegetables, salt and cook, stirring every few minutes, until soft. Put it aside while you finish the other ingredients.

All the ingredients for the sauce should be added to a pot. Simmer on LOW heat for 10 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. The lasagna will not cook if the sauce is thick. Set it aside once it's cooked.

In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta with the milk, pepper, and salt.

Layer

Build the layers. Layer the lasagna on top of the half-vegetable layer. Then, add half of the tomato sauce. It's fine to use more or less sheets. Repeat the layers. Spread the mozzarella on top of your ricotta mixture.

Bake

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until the cheese browns and bubbles.

Variations

If you're pressed for time, buy a pre-made marinara instead of making it yourself.
Ricotta can be substituted with cottage cheese.
Use any vegetables that you want for the lasagna.

FAQs

How can I prevent my lasagna sheets from becoming a bit hard after cooking them?

Like boiled pasta, the lasagna sheets still require some liquid for cooking. Make sure to keep your tomato sauce liquid and that your vegetables are not too dried out.

What if I want to add meat?

You can certainly add meat. You can use ground beef, chicken, or turkey.

Can I make it vegan?

You can substitute vegan cream cheese for ricotta and use soymilk instead of egg-free pasta.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, you can. You can also make a double batch and add more layers to your lasagna. Or, you can use a single batch and use a smaller pan to create extra layers.

How to store Easy Vegetable Lasagna

Allow the lasagna to cool down until it reaches room temperature. Cover the lasagna with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. The lasagna should be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days. For reheating, place the lasagna into a 350degF over for about 25-30 minutes. For optimum results, you can microwave the lasagna. You can freeze the lasagna up to three months if you plan to use it later. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating as directed above.

Easy Vegetable Lasagna

Do not be intimidated by the weight of lasagna. It doesn't mean that you can't put it together. Prepare your appetite and follow this simple recipe. Spread some garlic butter on crusty bread.

Prep time 10 15 minutes

Cook Time forty minutes

Servings servings

Calories 228 Kcal

Author Health and Fitness

Ingredients

The Vegetables

2 tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion
2 cloves garlic crushed
3 carrots
3 small oranges (or 1 large orange)
1 Red bell pepper
6-8 button mushrooms
5 small zucchini
1/4 tsp salt
5-6 oz baby spinach
8 lasagna sheets

The Tomato Sauce

2 tbsp olive oil
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 can tomatoes diced
1/4 cup fresh basil roughly chopped
1/2 tsp salt

The Topping

2 cups low-fat ricotta cheese
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese grated

Instructions

Pre-heat the oven to 350degF
Chop the vegetables.
Add the garlic, onions and olive oil to a frying pan and cook for 5 minutes. Add the remaining vegetables, salt and cook, stirring every few minutes, until soft. Put it aside while you finish the other ingredients.
All the ingredients for the sauce should be added to a pot. Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. The lasagna will not cook if the sauce is thick. Set it aside once it's cooked.
In a large bowl, whisk together the ricotta with the milk, pepper, and salt.
Build the layers. Layer the bottom with half of the vegetables, half of the tomato sauce and then four pieces of lasagna. You can break up the sheets to fit. It's fine to use more or less sheets. Repeat the layers. Spread the mozzarella on top of your ricotta mixture.
Bake the cheese in the oven for 30 minutes, or until it bubbles up and turns brown.

Notes

Remember that if your lasagna sheets still seem a little rigid, they need liquid to cook, just like boiled pasta. Make sure your tomato sauce has enough liquid to cook the pasta and prevent your vegetables from drying up.

Nutrition

Carbohydrates: 38g

Easy Vegetable Lasagna first appeared on Food Faith Fitness.

References:

By: Foodfaithfitness
Title: Easy Vegetable Lasagna
Sourced From: www.foodfaithfitness.com/easy-vegetable-lasagna/
Published Date: Tue, 02 May 2023 13:50:18 +0000

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some things I should look out for when purchasing organic goods?

USDA-certified organic labels should be sought. This guarantee that the product has met specific standards set forth by USDA. You will find the USDA Organic seal on all boxes, cartons and cans.

When buying meat, make sure it is from organically fed cows. Cattle are ruminants which means that they chew the cud. Ruminant cattle have 4 stomach compartments: Rumen, reticulum and omasum. All parts of an animal must be organically fed if the cow is going to be labelled '100% organic.'

When buying chicken, make sure it comes only from chickens fed 100% organic feed and never given antibiotics. Omnivore chickens can eat both plants as well as animals. Omnivorous chickens have a digestive system that includes a crop (proventriculus), gizzard and small intestine.

It is important to ensure that dairy products are from cows that were fed 100% organic feed. Just like ruminants have four stomachs, dairy cows have four. The fourth stomach, or the udder is where you get milk.

Check the label when purchasing livestock of any other type to find out what percentage was used in the animal's diet. A label for pork might say "95% organic", which means that 95% of the feed used by the pork came from organic sources.

What are organic food products?

Organic produce is produced without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. No growth hormones or animal testing are done. These crops can naturally grow, so no chemicals are used by farmers to combat pests or weeds.

Organic farming practices can also preserve soil quality by reducing erosion, and conserving water resources. Organic foods are healthier than conventional foods because they have more nutrients. Organic products tend to be higher in fiber and lower fat than conventionally produced foods.

How can I determine if my produce was organic?

These are the labels you should look for to ensure you are purchasing organic produce

USDA Organic Certified: Produces certified by USDA as 100% organic.

Certified Naturally Grown – Produce that meets strict organic standards but has not received USDA certification.

Pastured/Free Range – Produced from animals that live outdoors and graze on grasses or herbs.

These labels indicate that the product meets certain criteria.

No pesticides nor synthetic fertilizers
There are no genetically modified organisms
Animals are never given antibiotics
Animals never receive hormones
No growth-promoting drug
No feed additives
No artificial ingredients
No irradiation
No sewage sludge
GMOs are not allowed
Never was an antibiotic given
No hormones ever given
No growth-promoting medications
No feed-additives
No artificial ingredients
No sewage solids (if it's not GMO).
No irradiation

I hope you found this article helpful.

What is the difference between organic food and inorganic?

Organic food does not contain pesticides, chemical fertilisers, sewage waste, irradiation, genetic modification. Organic farming practices contribute to soil health, water purity, and animal welfare.

Inorganic foods can be grown using pesticides, chemical fertilizers and sewage sludge. Radiated foods are those that have been exposed to radiation. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are created using biological engineering techniques.

Sometimes, the term "natural", is used interchangeably with "organic." Natural does not always mean organic. There are also products labelled "natural" which may contain synthetic ingredients.

Organic produce is often more nutritious than conventional produce, as the soil has fewer pesticides and harmful chemicals. In addition, organic farmers do not use artificial fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides.

What are the health benefits of organic foods?

Some organic foods may not prove to be good for you. But for those who eat them regularly, there are definite health benefits.

Organic food is free from artificial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides as well as hormones, antibiotics and genetic engineering. This means that organic produce is grown without harmful chemicals that could harm human health.

Additionally, organic products are less likely to contain additives during processing. Organic products are likely to be healthier than nonorganic.

Studies have shown that organic fruits and vegetables contain more nutrients than those grown conventionally.

While organic farming is more expensive than traditional farming, it often produces better results. Organic farming increases soil fertility and biodiversity.

This helps conserve water resources and protects against erosion. Organic farms don't use toxic chemicals and require less fuel and energy.

Some people worry that organic foods are more expensive than conventional ones. However, prices can vary depending upon where you live. Organic apples, on the other hand, tend to be more expensive that conventional apples.

If you take a look at the cost of a basket containing both types of fruits, you will see that organic is less expensive.

Do you really need to buy organic?

It all depends on who you are. If you don't like the taste of organic food, then you probably shouldn't bother.

Organic food is available if you are a fan of good food. Organic foods are safer as most commercial growers use chemical fertilisers, pesticides, or genetically modified species (GMOs) to produce their crops.

Organic agriculture helps to protect the environment by conserving natural resources, and promoting biodiversity.

Statistics

To provide the highest quality products and services to every customer, with a dedicated workforce that puts the customer first and takes the extra step to achieve 100% customer satisfaction and loyalty. (hollinsorganic.com)
Popular clothing brands, like Patagonia, are labelled as organic by using 100 percent organic cotton for many of their styles. (en.wikipedia.org)
When packaged products indicate they are “made with organic [specific ingredient or food group],” they contain at least 70% organically produced ingredients. (usda.gov)
Nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids were up to 50 percent higher in organic meats and milk than in conventionally raised products.[3] (en.wikipedia.org)

External Links

How To

5 Reasons to Buy Organic Products

Organic foods do not use pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. They contain no genetically modified or irradiated food ingredients. Their production processes do not include sewage or industrial solvents. During the growth process, food is kept clean from any contamination. It does not contain artificial preservatives or additives. There are no hormones and antibiotics used. They are also produced in conditions that enable them to preserve their nutritional value, freshness, and quality for longer periods.

Health benefits. Nonorganic produce has more chemicals than organic. Organic produce is healthier. This makes it less likely to cause allergies or sensitivities. This means you're also consuming less toxic and carcinogens.
Eco-friendliness. Produce grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizer needs very little water. Organic farms are typically located far away form areas of high pollution and where conventional growth is difficult because it requires so much effort. This helps to reduce air pollution.
Sustainability. Organic farming relies less on chemical fertilizers and more on soil fertility. This results with healthier soils with greater organic matter. Soil health improves when farmers rotate crops and leave land fallow periodically. Farm animals develop strong immune systems when they eat only grasses/grains raised without adding hormones or antibiotics.
Taste. Traditional fruits and vegetables are often bland due to the fact that they are picked at peak ripeness and shipped long distances for grocery stores. Organic produce is sweeter and richer because it was harvested at the peak of its ripeness.
Nutrition. GMOs and BPA are common in processed foods. Avoid these harmful chemicals by eating whole foods, such as meat, eggs and fish, seeds, legumes, fruits, vegetables, herbs, and beans.