High Protein Vegetarian Lasagna

This high-protein vegetarian lasagna recipe is a delicious twist on the classic dish, incorporating cottage cheese for a creamy texture and fresh pasta noodles for an authentic taste. Packed with protein and bursting with flavour, it's the perfect comforting meal for any occasion.

For an extra protein boost, you can add cooked lean ground turkey, chicken, or beef to the sauce layers. Simply brown the meat in the skillet before assembling the lasagna. Don't worry if you can't find fresh lasagna noodles; you can use oven-ready or dried lasagna noodles instead. Just follow the package instructions for cooking or layering.

High Protein Vegetarian Lasagna

Ingredients

• 2 cups low-fat cottage cheese

• 2 cups frozen broccoli

• 1/2 cup egg whites

• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 cups Nonna's Tomato sauce

• 1 medium onion, finely chopped

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried basil

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.

2. In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, broccoli, egg whites, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Blend well until smooth.

3. Spread a thin layer of Nonna's Tomato sauce on the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

4. Place a layer of fresh lasagna noodles over the sauce, slightly overlapping to cover the bottom of the dish.

5. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture evenly over the noodles.

6. Pour half of the remaining tomato sauce on top with shredded cheese.

7. Repeat the layers: fresh lasagna noodles, remaining cottage cheese mixture, remaining tomato sauce and cheese.

8. Sprinkle the remaining shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the top layer.

9. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

10. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges are golden brown.

11. Once done, remove the lasagna from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing.

12. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, if desired, before serving.

This recipe makes approximately 8 servings, making it perfect for a family dinner or meal prep. Feel free to customize the ingredients to suit your taste preferences, adding extra herbs or vegetables for an even more nutritious meal. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage. Simply reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven until heated through.