This Hearty Vegetable Lasagna is pure bliss! A variety of vegetables are layered with rich red sauce, creamy cheese, and tender lasagne. It’s total comfort!
A Comfort Classic Lightened Up
So many of the recipes that I share here on So Happy You Liked It are inspired by or replicas of the recipes I grew up with. This vegetable lasagna is a perfect example of just that! While the standard meat lasagna was on a pretty consistent rotation in our household, when my mom made her vegetable lasagna it was a special night. Tender vegetables are layered between toothsome lasagna noodles, pockets of pillowy cheese, and thick red sauce. Absolute magic!
Read on to learn the details about my Mom’s Hearty Vegetable Lasagna!
What's In Hearty Vegetable Lasagna
As its title aptly illustrates, this Vegetable Lasagna features a number of tender vegetables! The components of the dish are reminiscent of traditional lasagna, with red sauce and a creamy cheesy filling. My favorite combination of vegetables for this lasagna (and those that my Mom uses!) is zucchini, carrots, spinach, and mushrooms. The zucchini and carrots need a quick boil to tenderize them before being added to the dish, but the spinach and the mushrooms go into the dish raw. It all cooks together resulting in a savory and tender bite each time!
How To Make Hearty Vegetable Lasagna
Lasagna is a layered dish of lasagna noodles, sauce, cheese, and a filling. It’s actually a therapeutic task to put together lasagna, in my opinion.
I start with a layer of noodles, followed by the sauce, the vegetables, and finally the cheese mixture. This process is repeated until the pan is filled, at which point The lasagna is topped with shredded mozzarella and oregano. It’s then baked until bubbling golden brown!
What To Serve With Hearty Vegetable Lasagna
In my opinion, the perfect meal includes the following components with this delicious lasagna:
- Wine. A red sauced Italian dish demands a big red wine. I’d opt for a Sangiovese or Cabernet Sauvignon.
- A delicious and lightly dressed salad. Mary’s Tossed Dinner Salad is an excellent option!
- Bread
- Something sweet but not overpowering, like this Three-Ingredient Chocolate Mousse, or honestly a square of super dark chocolate!
Tried this recipe and loved it? Use the hashtag #sohappyyoulikedit and tag @sohappyyoulikedit on social media so I can see your creations!
Let’s be friends! Find me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Don’t forget to check out my YouTube Channel!
Hearty Vegetable Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 zucchini, cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 2-3 cups fresh spinach
- 2 24 oz jars marinara, or your favorite pasta sauce
- 1 package Lasagna Noodles, oven ready or pre-boil
- 16 oz cottage cheese
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Set a large pot of water over high heat. Once simmering add zucchini and carrot. Boil for 5 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Mix together cottage cheese and parmesan. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Add about 1 cup of marinara to the bottom of a 13 inch baking dish. Layer lasagna noodles to cover, followed by par boiled zucchini and carrots. Spoon on half of the cottage cheese mixture, then repeat layers, adding the spinach and mushrooms when you get to the vegetable layer. End with a layer of marinara.
- Top lasagna with torn fresh mozzarella and shredded mozzarella. Cover with tin foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove tin foil from pan and cook an additional 15 minutes.
- Allow to cool slightly before slicing and serving.
You don’t mention the spinach and the mushrooms in the instructions. Are they just added raw after the cooked veggies?
Thanks for the question, Anne. I can see the recipe isn’t clear! I’ll update it, but after you layer the par-boiled vegetables and continue layering, you add the spinach and mushrooms, which do not need any cooking before going in to the lasagna. They’ll soften in the oven! Enjoy!