Zucchini Turkey Lasagna (Printable Version)
# What You'll Need:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
3 medium-sized zucchinis
02 -
1 tablespoon of olive oil (extra virgin)
03 -
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
04 -
1 pound lean ground turkey (93% lean)
→ Cheese Toppings
05 -
1 1/2 cups of cottage cheese (full fat)
06 -
1/2 cup grated parmesan, plus another 2 tablespoons set aside
07 -
1 large egg
08 -
1 3/4 cups shredded mozzarella
→ Herbs & Marinara
09 -
1 teaspoon dried parsley
10 -
1 teaspoon of fine salt, split up
11 -
24-ounce jar marinara sauce (high quality, like Rao's)
12 -
1/3 cup freshly chopped basil leaves
13 -
Black pepper, freshly ground, to your taste
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
Heat up your oven to 375°F. Use a sieve to drain water from the cottage cheese. Thinly slice zucchini (about 1/8 inch) and spread on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scatter 1/4 teaspoon of salt over slices, bake for 10 minutes, and then use a towel to dry off any extra liquid.
02 -
Heat olive oil in a pan over medium. Toss in garlic and cook until its smell fills the air. Add in the ground turkey with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook it through—about 8 minutes. Drain well, then mix in the marinara sauce.
03 -
Combine the drained cottage cheese with parmesan (save 2 tablespoons for later), the egg, parsley, and a bit of black pepper in one bowl.
04 -
Spoon 1 cup of the meat sauce onto a 9x13 pan to kick things off. Add half the zucchini on top, then a cup of meat sauce, half the cheese mix, 3/4 cup mozzarella, and some chopped basil. Repeat these steps, and finish by adding the rest of the sauce, 1/4 cup mozzarella, and the parmesan you saved earlier.
05 -
Cook in the oven for 35 minutes. Let it cool for 15 minutes before sprinkling on fresh basil and serving. Heads-up: it'll release some liquid because of the zucchini, and that’s totally normal!
# Additional Tips:
01 -
You can skip the turkey to make this vegetarian.
02 -
Draining the meat and cottage cheese cuts down on extra moisture.
03 -
Giving it time to rest before you cut it keeps the slices neater.
04 -
Go vegan with plant-based cheese substitutes and dairy-free ricotta.