Low-Carb Gluten-Free Lasagna

We’re having fun with gluten-free these days. Several restless nights with a belly ache and a pending endoscopy of the gut has motivated Shane to take his Celiac Disease a bit more seriously. I’ve experimented with gluten-free pasta on several occasions and it never lives up to the real deal. So instead of opting for gluten alternatives, I prefer to cook meals that are naturally gluten-free.

This is my variation of a recipe I found online several years ago and it’s perfect for a lazy winter’s night.

2 lbs of minced (ground) beef, turkey or chicken
2 garlic gloves, minced
1 medium brown onion, chopped
1-2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
8 oz tomato sauce*
2 zucchini
15 oz ricotta
2 eggs
8 oz shredded mozzarella
½ c shredded parmesan

brown meat with garlic and onion
add tomato sauce and Italian seasoning to meat
in a seperate bowl, beat ricotta and eggs together
cut each zucchini in half then slice lengthwise about 1/8 inch thick without peeling

grease 9x13 inch baking dish and layer as follows:

1/3 of the zucchini
1/2 of the meat sauce
1/3 of the zucchini
all the ricotta mix
1/2 the mozzarella and parmesan
1/3 of the zucchini
rest of the meat sauce
remainder of the mozzarella and parmesan

Bake at 325 for 45 minutes. Serves 6-8.

As an alternative to store bought tomato sauce, I make my own. Boil 7-8 small tomatoes until the skin cracks. Allow to cool slightly in a strainer and then peel skins and return naked tomatoes to an empty pot. Smash tomatoes with a potato masher, add olive oil to your liking and leave to simmer. The longer the better. I also typically add 3-5 oz of tomato paste (no salt added) at the end to thicken.

When it comes to cheese, we mostly purchase block cheese and do our own shredding. There are mystery ingredients added to shredded cheese to keep it from clumping and although you might lose a bit on time, you’ll save a few pennies buying block and avoid mystery ingredients. Shane is the expert shredder in this house.

nothing but fresh tomatoes and olive oil

 

into the oven

onto the plate

in my belly

something sweet to top it off

 

everybody's happy