Lasagna Zucchini Boats Recipe 465 Recipes

LASAGNA ZUCCHINI BOATS RECIPE - (4.6/5)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a spoon, scoop centers from zucchini while leaving a 1/4-inch rim to create boats. Set aside. In a mixing bowl stir together ricotta cheese, egg and 1 1/2 Tbsp of the parsley. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup of the mozzarella cheese and the parmesan cheese. Set aside. Heat 2 tsp of the olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble beef into pan, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up beef when stirring, until browned (there shouldn't be any excess fat but if you happened to use a fattier beef then just drain excess rendered fat). Stir in marinara sauce and 1 Tbsp of the basil, remove from heat. To assemble boats, brush both sides of of zucchini lightly with remaining 2 tsp olive oil and place in two baking pans (I used a 13 by 9 and a 9 by 9). Divide cheese mixture among zucchini spooning about 2 1/2 Tbsp into each, then spread cheese mixture into and even layer. Divide sauce among zucchini adding a few heaping spoonfuls to each. Cover baking dishes with foil and place in oven side by side and bake in preheated oven 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle tops with remaining 3/4 cup mozzarella, return to oven and bake until cheese has melted and zucchini is tender, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle tops with with fresh basil and parsley and serve warm. *Look for zucchini that is wider and more uniform in width. The skinnier zucchini won't fit much filling.

ZUCCHINI LASAGNA ROLLS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a 12x18-inch half sheet pan with foil and brush with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
• Wash, dry, and trim the ends of the zucchini. Carefully slice each zucchini lengthwise into seven 1/8-inch thick slices using a mandolin or sharp knife. Place zucchini slices on the prepared pan and sprinkle with salt. Toss slices to distribute salt.
• Cook in the preheated oven until zucchini slices are soft and pliable, about 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and place on several layers of paper towels to absorb any excess liquid. Set zucchini aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and season with Italian seasoning blend, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir ground beef until brown and crumbly, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in minced garlic and cook until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Stir together ricotta, beaten egg, grated Parmesan cheese, minced parsley, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
• Combine marinara sauce and tomato paste in a separate bowl, stirring well.
• Spray a 9x11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 of the tomato mixture over the bottom of the baking dish.
• When the zucchini is cool enough to handle, blot with paper towels. Line up 6 or 7 slices of cooled zucchini on the sheet pan.
• Spread each slice of zucchini with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the ricotta mixture. Sprinkle 1 1/2 tablespoons of the meat mixture over the slices. Setting 1 cup of grated mozzarella aside, sprinkle each zucchini slice with 1 tablespoon grated mozzarella.
• Beginning with the end nearest you, roll up each zucchini slice over the filling, jelly roll-fashion, and place in the prepared baking dish. Repeat until there are 4 rows of 7 zucchini rolls.
• Pour reserved marinara mixture over the zucchini rolls and sprinkle with reserved grated mozzarella.
• Bake in the preheated oven until zucchini rolls are heated through, the sauce is bubbly, and the cheese is melted, about 30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool about 20 minutes. Garnish with minced fresh basil, if desired.