Recipe Review: 4 Cheese Veggie Lasagna

For under 300 calories, this lasagna, though a bit more time intensive then my prefered 30 minute or under prep time, is super tasty and a great way to get in 3-4 servings of veggies in one meal!! Here's the recipe from Cooking Light with an E.H. Fitness twist...some easy and even more healthy substitutions!


Serves 9

• 3 zucchini's sliced thin for "noodles"
• Cooking spray
• 3 cups chopped broccoli
• 1 1/2 cups thinly sliced carrot
• 1 cup sliced green onions
• 1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 cups skim milk
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 (16-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, and squeezed dry
• 2 cups fat free cottage cheese
• 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded reduced fat part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Swiss cheese
• Freshly ground pepper (optional)

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°.

Heat a large pan coated with cooking spray over medium heat until hot. Add broccoli and next 4 ingredients (broccoli through garlic), and sauté 7 minutes. Set aside.

Place flour in a medium saucepan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 5 minutes or until thick, stirring constantly. Add 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in spinach. Reserve 1/2 cup spinach mixture for top layer of casserole, and set aside.

Combine cottage cheese, mozzarella, and Swiss cheese; stir well. Spread 1/2 cup spinach mixture in bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Arrange 1/3 of the zucchini slices over spinach mixture in dish; top with half of cottage cheese mixture, half of broccoli mixture, and half of remaining spinach mixture. Repeat layers, ending with zucchini. Spread reserved 1/2 cup spinach mixture over noodles; sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 375° for 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with pepper, if desired.