1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil + extra for garnish
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic mined
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups ricotta divided
1/4 tsp salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
9 no-boil lasagna noodles
2 cups freshly grated part skim mozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 F
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
Add the carrots, bell pepper, zucchini, onion and salt. Stir, cooking until the veggies are slightly golden, about 8 - 10 minutes.
Add handfuls of the spinach, stirring until wilted, about 3 minutes.
Remove from heat
If not using two prepared cups of marinara sauce:
Pour the tomatoes into a fresh sieve and drain excess juice. Add to a food processor and pulse, adding the basil, olive oil, garlice, salt and red pepper flakes.
Pour this mixture into a bowl.
Add one cup ricotta to the cleaned food process and pulse until smooth. Transfer to a bowl.
Transfer the veggies to the food processor. Pulse until just finely chopped not pureed. Scrape down sides as needed. Transfer to the bowl of ricotta.
Add the remaining cup of ricotta, add 1/4-1/2 tsp salt and ground pepper to taste. Stir to mix completely.
Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce over bottom of 9'x9' baking dish. Layer 3 lasagna noodles (snap to fit). Spread half the cottage cheese mixture over. Top with 3/4 cup tomato sauce, then 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese.
Top with 3 more noodles, then remaining cottage cheese (no tomato sauce), then 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella.
Finish with 3 more noodles, 3/4 cup tomato sauce, cover with 1 cup shredded mozarella.
Wrap foil over the lasagna,not touching the cheese.
Bake for 18 minutes covered.
Remove the foil, rotate by 180 and bake 10-12 more minutes until the top is slightly browned.
Remove from oven and let cool for 15-20 minutes until set.
Sprinkle additional fresh basil over top, then slice to serve
Recipe by Just a Smidgen at https://justasmidgen.com/2025/10/03/hiking-the-ghost-healthy-veg-lasagna/