Zucchini or Summer Squash and Turkey Lasagna
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to participate in Joelen’s Tasty Tools blogging event, and it’s good to be back! I got some ground turkey at the farmer’s market from a local turkey farmer during Color Week. I got a pound out this morning and thought about what to make with the turkey. I always make turkey burgers or pasta with ground turkey but I wanted something different. I didn’t want to make chili because we have a bunch in the freezer. I went to my Google Reader and sure enough I found something that had been starred not too long ago.
I’ve been trying to cut carbs recently so this lasagna with zucchini instead of noodles fit the bill perfectly. I set off to the farmer’s market to get some zucchini. Apparently we must be past the season because no one there had any. Instead I grabbed two big summer squashes. This substitution worked out great. The lasagna was so tasty. I used all dairy-free cheeses in mine so that I could eat it. I doubled the recipe and it just barely fit in my purple 8×8 Pyrex pan.
Zucchini and Turkey Lasagna – from A Good Appetite – I doubled this recipe for 8-9 servings
1/2 lb ground turkey
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
salt
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced – I used 6 for my double batch
1 large zucchini – I used 2 large summer squash for my double batch
15-oz tomato sauce (about 2 cups) – I just used one large jar of sauce for my double batch
3/4 c grated mozzarella – I used Veggie Shreds Mozzarella
freshly grated Parmesan – I used Veggie Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a skillet cook the turkey, red pepper flakes, salt to taste, onion & garlic until the turkey is cooked through & the onions are translucent. I cooked the garlic and onions for a bit first then added the turkey.
Using a peeler or a mandolin, slice the zucchini lengthwise into thin ribbons. The only peeler I could find was on the side of my box cheese grater. It wasn’t very pretty or clean, but it did the job. I didn’t get long continuous ribbons but it was fine.
Spoon just enough tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 5″ x 6″ (8×8 for double batch) baking dish to coat it. Lay 1/3 of the zucchini slices on top of the sauce overlapping as you go.
Spoon 1/2 of the turkey mixture on top of the zucchini. Then top with 1/3 of the remaining tomato sauce & sprinkle with 1/4 c of mozzarella. Add another layer of zucchini slices, using 1/2 of what you have left) then the rest of the meat, 1/2 the remaining sauce & 1/4 c mozzarella. Use the last of the zucchini slices to make one more layer. Top with the remaining tomato sauce & mozzarella & then some grated Parmesan.
Bake for 45 – 60 minutes until the cheese is melted & brown & the sauce is bubbly. Allow to sit for about 15 minutes before slicing & serving.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Caramelized onions. I would always snarl at them until I actually tried them and realized they are delicious!
Love Fish Taco’s! We like ours with: fish fingers, cabbage and ranch sauce w/ taco seasoning…ummm..
Try the true Mexican way: with shredded, crispy cabbage, it’s so good.
I tried something I thought I wouldn’t like (that’s a very small percentage of the foods in the world!) and I was right, I totally disliked it – and that’s octopus!
Brussel sprouts. I split them in half, and saute them with olive oil, butter, and garlic. They’re my new favorite vegetable, and my wife and I make them once a week.
On a fish taco note, I had always wanted to try them, finally did, and they were terrible. Turns out I tried them at a bad Mexican restaurant, even though the place was always packed. It was sort of a tourist trap, and eventually went out of business. I’d never thought to try them home, that sounds like a great idea.
I just had to comment…I was the same way with fish tacos and then i tried them and LOVED them. I can’t get enough! Glad I’m not the only one
Oh boy fish tacos… when I first heard of them I thought the concept was a terrible idea. I finally let my husband convince me to try them and I of course loved them. Like Nancy said, we eat them the Mexican/Baja way with cabbage. So good!
Now have you tried shrimp tacos?!
I have not tried shrimp tacos. I will have to look into that.
So true!! I always giggle about them too lol. I had this sandwich that sounded so gross I wanted nothing to do with it, then a friend ordered it and made me try it… it was AMAZING!
roasted corn seasoned, mashed and mixed with diced red bell pepper, topped with cheddar, apricotjam and mixed greens, on wheat
The use of sprouts in your tacos is a great idea! I’m going to have to try that!
I’m not a big fan of fish but these look very delicious:) I used to turn my nose up to deep fried pickles but then I finally tried them…they are delicious!!!
I was skeptical of fish tacos until I tried them. Now they are probably one of my top 5 foods. I love mine with cabbage, lime, and pico de gallo
Also used to turned my nose up at fish tacos! Had them again tonight, this time with swordfish nuggets (Hey the bits and pieces were only 4.99 per lb!) DELISH 🙂
Jen, I too was a fish taco “snob” Couldn’t imagine whoever would think to do such a thing. You actually opened my mind up to trying them. I made salmon with taco seasoning ones and we really loved them, thanks to you. I told a friend whose husband goes to Alaska fishing and always brings home lots of salmon and halibut. They are coming over tonight and guess what we are having? SALMON TACOS!! Thanks.
So glad to hear it!