Quinoa Lasagna

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This healthy quinoa lasagna recipe has a layer of quinoa (rather than noodles) along with vegetables, cheese and herbs. Though it tastes like comfort food, don't worry, this quinoa lasagna recipe is not too heavy--you'll still have room for dessert. To save time, use your favorite jarred tomato sauce in this vegetarian lasagna. (Adapted from “Quinoa Revolution” by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming; Pintail Books, 2012.)

Cook Time:
45 mins
Additional Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups water

  • 1 cup quinoa

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil or olive oil

  • 1 cup chopped onion

  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 cups tomato sauce or prepared pasta sauce

  • 2 cups no-salt-added low-fat cottage cheese

  • 1 large egg, beaten

  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried

  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano

  • 2 cups sliced zucchini

  • 2 cups packed fresh spinach, tough stems removed

  • 1 ½ cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

  1. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Combine water and quinoa in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Evenly spread the quinoa in the prepared dish.

  2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

  3. Wipe out the saucepan, then add oil and heat over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring frequently, until transparent and starting to brown, 5 to 6 minutes. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are softened and very little moisture is left in the pan, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and sauce. Stir until hot. Remove from heat.

  4. Combine cottage cheese and egg in a medium bowl; mix well. Stir in Parmesan, basil and oregano.

  5. Spread one-third of the sauce over the quinoa. Make a layer of all the zucchini, then all the cottage cheese mixture, then half the remaining sauce, then all the spinach. Finish with the remaining sauce and spread mozzarella on top.

  6. Bake the lasagna until it is hot and the cheese is melted, bubbling and slightly browned around the edges, 35 to 40 minutes. Let stand for about 10 minutes before serving.

    Quinoa Lasagna

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

266 Calories
11g Fat
24g Carbs
19g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 266
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 24g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 19g 37%
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 4g 19%
Cholesterol 41mg 14%
Vitamin A 1237IU 25%
Vitamin C 12mg 14%
Folate 83mcg 21%
Sodium 507mg 22%
Calcium 257mg 20%
Iron 2mg 13%
Magnesium 77mg 18%
Potassium 566mg 12%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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