We have made a classic comforting Italian dish a little bit lighter by using courgette (zucchini) instead of lasagna sheets. Still all the delicious lasagna flavour from the sauce and cheese, but lower in carbs. This Low Carb Lasagna is a lighter dish, packed with veggies, that the whole family can enjoy. Its under 350 calories a portion too.
This low carb lasagna has the classic delicious rich meat sauce that you know and love from a lasagna, but layered in between slices of courgette (zucchini) instead of pasta sheets. The slices of courgette are still thick enough to hold the lasagna together, but not only make it lower in carb, but add some extra veggies too.
If you are looking for some other lasagna recipes to try, then why not try our Seafood Lasagna, Easy Skillet Lasagna or Roasted Vegetable Lasagna?[feast_advanced_jump_to]
Spiralised vegetables make healthy pasta noodle replacement and strips of aubergine and courgettes can be layered as a pasta sheets.
Butternut squash is yukky! Not true! I make lasagne with thinly sliced butternut squash instead of pasta as Im gluten-free – it is delicious.
Banoona that sounds like (Melanzane alla Parmigiana) One of Italys great dishes. I love it and so do DC but DH wont eat aubergines unless very well disguised hence I use the spinach. Youve made me feel hungry!
Rice pasta lasagna sheets, though the consistency is similar. Also sliced aubergine or large squash slices, overlapping,works. Cant recall if you have to part cook the aubergine first.
Crepes are delicious filled with bolognaise sauce, topped with cheese sauce and mozzarella then baked. Not quite lasagne but similar.
Thank you everybody I made lasagne this evening for my DH, DS and me it was lovely. It had onions, aubergines, courgettes, celery, carrots & tomatoes in there … plus I made my own white sauce because we didnt have a jar and it was such a lovely lasagne. I will defo be making my own white sauce much better then the jars.
How to make low carb lasagna – Step by step
One: Put all of the courgette strips on a baking sheet and in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F/Gas 6 and cook for 4 minutes each side and then set aside.
Two: Chop the onion and mushrooms and crush the garlic
Three: In a large pan, heat a little oil and then add the onion, mushrooms and garlic and gently cook for 3-4 minutes.
Four: Add the turkey mince and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Five: Add the pasta sauce and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
Six: Mix together the spinach and Greek yogurt.
Seven: Using a lasagna dish that is as long as (or longer than) the courgette strips are, add the meat sauce to the bottom of the dish.
Eight: Add a layer of courgette.
Nine: Add a layer of the meat sauce and a layer of the spinach mix.
Ten: Add another layer of courgette, some more meat sauce and some more spinach mixture and finish by topping with the remaining courgette. Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar on top and put in the oven at 220°C/420°F/Gas 7.
Eleven: Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the cheese has browned.
Courgettes are very low in calories and they have a high water content. They are also super nutritious as they are a great source of vitamins A and C, potassium and fibre.
Make sure to include the skin of the courgette in the lasagna, as that is where most of the fibre comes from.
Even carb lovers will love this lasagna, as it still has all the flavours you know and love – with some lighter swaps. This is a great way to get people to eat more vegetables, as it is pretty much hidden. My family didnt even know it was low carb the first time he ate it.
I have also added a creamy spinach layer to this dish, in replace of a white sauce. So there is no flour or butter in it either and the cheese on top is just enough. We didnt skimp on the cheese either, as that would make for a bit of a sad lasagna. You could use less if you wanted to though.
You could use aubergine instead of courgette/zucchini, or use a mix of both. They have a really meaty texture too, so its a good thing to include in a vegetable lasagna. They key to making sure the lasagna doesnt get soggy with using vegetables rather than pasta is to pre-cook the vegetable strips first.
To save yourself some time, you could make the “lasagna sheets” ahead of time and then just layer the lasagna when you are ready to put it in the oven.
Do you have to boil lasagna noodles before baking?
FAQ
What is a good substitute for lasagna sheets?
Can I use parchment paper when making lasagna?
Can I use dry pasta instead of lasagne sheets?
Can I use fettuccine instead of lasagna sheets?
If you’re making a lasagna recipe and want to use fettuccine to replace lasagna sheets, follow all the steps as usual. But, simply replace the cooked lasagna noodles with cooked fettuccine pasta instead. Farfalle or bow tie pasta can also be used in place of lasagna noodles in a pinch.
What are healthier alternatives for pasta?
Regular pasta is made with refined wheat flour, leaving these noodles with scant levels of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Here are six pasta alternatives to traditional pasta which can be enjoyed with out sacrificing vitamins, minerals, proteins and carbs. They are, Zucchini noodles, Squash noodles, Quinoa pasta, Rice pasta, Black bean pasta, Shirataki noodles. Spaghetti squash is an excellent pasta substitute. Spiralized vegetables is an healthier substitute to pasta.
Can you use courgette instead of lasagna sheets?
We have made a classic comforting Italian dish a little bit lighter by using courgette (zucchini) instead of lasagna sheets. Still all the delicious lasagna flavour from the sauce and cheese, but lower in carbs. This Low Carb Lasagna is a lighter dish, packed with veggies, that the whole family can enjoy. It’s under 350 calories a portion too.
What can I substitute for lasagna noodles?
If you have them or prefer them, egg noodles are another great way to substitute lasagna noodles. They’re made with wheat flour and eggs, so basically, the same ingredients that are used to make lasagna noodle sheets. This is why they’re a great replacement. Out of lasagna noodles. Deli meat cuts like prosciutto can make an ideal alternative.