Slow-Cooker Vegetarian Lasagna

By pattie_d

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 1 15- to 16-ounce container part-skim ricotta
• 1 5-ounce package baby spinach, coarsely chopped
• 3 large or 4 small portobello mushroom caps, gills removed (see Tip), halved and thinly sliced
• 1 small zucchini, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• Pinch of crushed red pepper (optional)
• 15 whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 12 ounces), uncooked
• 3 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella, divided

Details

Servings 8
Preparation time 30mins
Adapted from eatingwell.com

Preparation

Step 1

Total Time: 2 hours on High or 4 hours on Low

Combine egg, ricotta, spinach, mushrooms and zucchini in a large bowl.
Combine crushed and diced tomatoes and their juice, garlic and crushed red pepper (if using) in a medium bowl.

Generously coat a 6-quart or larger slow cooker with cooking spray. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the tomato mixture in the slow cooker. Arrange 5 noodles over the sauce, overlapping them slightly and breaking into pieces to cover as much of the sauce as possible.

Spread half of the ricotta-vegetable mixture over the noodles and firmly pat down, then spoon on 1 1/2 cups sauce and sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella. Repeat the layering one more time, starting with noodles. Top with a third layer of noodles. Evenly spread the remaining tomato sauce over the noodles. Set aside the remaining 1 cup mozzarella in the refrigerator.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on High for 2 hours or on Low for 4 hours. Turn off the slow cooker, sprinkle the reserved mozzarella on the lasagna, cover and let stand for 10 minutes to melt the cheese.

TIPS & NOTES
Make Ahead Tip: Equipment: 6-quart (or larger) slow cooker

Tip: The dark gills found on the underside of a Portobello mushroom cap (page 34) are edible, but can turn a dish an unappealing gray color. If you like, gently scrape the gills off with a spoon.

NUTRITION
Per serving: 414 calories; 14 g fat ( 8 g sat , 4 g mono ); 63 mg cholesterol; 48 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 28 g protein; 7 g fiber; 641 mg sodium; 829 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Calcium & Vitamin A (56% daily value), Vitamin C (39% dv), Iron & Magnesium (26% dv), Zinc (25% dv), Potassium (24% dv), Folate (18% dv).

Carbohydrate Servings: 3

Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 vegetable, 2 1/2 medium-fat meat

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