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2.86 from 7 votes

Easy Zucchini Lasagna USDA Recipe for Child Care Centers

This lasagna is a delicious summer version of a popular comfort food that made its debut in Italy during the Middle Ages. Zucchini, also called "green Italian squash," is a highly anticipated spring vegetable in Italy and they have incorporated it into numerous recipes. It is often chopped or diced and added to pizzas, pasta dishes, soups, and salads.
CACFP CREDITING INFORMATION
1 piece provides 1 oz equivalent meat alternate, ½ cup vegetable, and ½ oz equivalent grains.
SOURCE
Team Nutrition CACFP Multicultural Recipe Project.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Child Care Centers, CACFP
Age Group: Ages 3-5
Serving Size: 25-50
Program Type: CACFP
Program Meal Type: Lunch, Supper
Conventional Meal Category: Vegetarian, Main Dish (Entrée)
Program Meal Component: Grains, Vegetables, Meat Alternates
Vegetable Subgroup: Other Vegetables
Meal Service Temperature: Hot
Cooking Method: Bake
Season: Summer
Multicultural Region: Europe
25 Servings
Calories: 171

Ingredients

25 Servings

    Weight

    • 10½ oz Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
    • 2 lb 2 oz Cottage cheese, non-fat
    • 7½ oz Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
    • 2 lb 4 oz Tomato sauce, canned
    • - - Oregano leaves, dried
    • - - Basil leaves, dried
    • 11 oz *Onion, fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
    • - - *Garlic, fresh, minced
    • - - Pepper black, ground
    • 1 lb 15 oz *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
    • 15 oz Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
    • - - Nonstick cooking spray
    • 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded

    Measure

    • 2½ cup 2 Tbsp Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
    • 1 qt ¼ cup Cottage cheese, non-fat
    • ¾ cup Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
    • 1 qt 2 Tbsp Tomato sauce, canned
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Oregano leaves, dried
    • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Basil leaves, dried
    • 2¼ cup *Onion,fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
    • 8 cloves OR 1 Tbsp 1 tsp *Garlic, fresh, minced
    • 1 tsp Pepper black, ground
    • 1 qt 2½ cup *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
    • 25 sheets Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
    • 1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese,shredded

    50 Servings

      Weight

      • 1 lb 5 oz Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
      • 4 lb 4 oz Cottage cheese, non-fat
      • 15 oz Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
      • 4 lb 8 oz Tomato sauce, canned
      • - - Oregano leaves, dried
      • - - Basil leaves, dried
      • 1 lb 6 oz *Onion, fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
      • - - *Garlic, fresh, minced
      • - - Pepper black, ground
      • 3 lb 14 oz *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
      • 1 lb 14 oz Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
      • - - Nonstick cooking spray
      • 2 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded

      Measure

      • 1 qt 1¼ cup Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
      • 2 qt ½ cup Cottage cheese, non-fat
      • 1½ cup Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
      • 2 qt ¼ cup Tomato sauce, canned
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Oregano leaves, dried
      • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Basil leaves, dried
      • 1 qt ½ cup *Onion fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
      • 16 cloves OR 2 Tbsp 2 tsp *Garlic, fresh, minced
      • 2 tsp Pepper black, ground
      • 3 qt 1 cup *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
      • 50 sheets Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
      • 2 sprays Nonstick cooking spray
      • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

      -

      25 Servings

        Weight

        • 10½ oz Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
        • 2 lb 2 oz Cottage cheese, non-fat
        • 7½ oz Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
        • 2 lb 4 oz Tomato sauce, canned
        • - - Oregano leaves, dried
        • - - Basil leaves, dried
        • 11 oz *Onion, fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
        • - - *Garlic, fresh, minced
        • - - Pepper black, ground
        • 1 lb 15 oz *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
        • 15 oz Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
        • - - Nonstick cooking spray
        • 1 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded

        Measure

        • 2½ cup 2 Tbsp Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
        • 1 qt ¼ cup Cottage cheese, non-fat
        • ¾ cup Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
        • 1 qt 2 Tbsp Tomato sauce, canned
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Oregano leaves, dried
        • 1 Tbsp 1 tsp Basil leaves, dried
        • 2¼ cup *Onion,fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
        • 8 cloves OR 1 Tbsp 1 tsp *Garlic, fresh, minced
        • 1 tsp Pepper black, ground
        • 1 qt 2½ cup *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
        • 25 sheets Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
        • 1 spray Nonstick cooking spray
        • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese,shredded

        50 Servings

          Weight

          • 1 lb 5 oz Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
          • 4 lb 4 oz Cottage cheese, non-fat
          • 15 oz Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
          • 4 lb 8 oz Tomato sauce, canned
          • - - Oregano leaves, dried
          • - - Basil leaves, dried
          • 1 lb 6 oz *Onion, fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
          • - - *Garlic, fresh, minced
          • - - Pepper black, ground
          • 3 lb 14 oz *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
          • 1 lb 14 oz Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
          • - - Nonstick cooking spray
          • 2 oz Parmesan cheese, shredded

          Measure

          • 1 qt 1¼ cup Mozzarella cheese, low-fat, shredded
          • 2 qt ½ cup Cottage cheese, non-fat
          • 1½ cup Tomato paste, canned, no added salt
          • 2 qt ¼ cup Tomato sauce, canned
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Oregano leaves, dried
          • 2 Tbsp 2 tsp Basil leaves, dried
          • 1 qt ½ cup *Onion fresh, peeled, ¼" diced
          • 16 cloves OR 2 Tbsp 2 tsp *Garlic, fresh, minced
          • 2 tsp Pepper black, ground
          • 3 qt 1 cup *Zucchini, unpeeled, thinly sliced
          • 50 sheets Lasagna noodles, enriched, oven-ready
          • 2 sprays Nonstick cooking spray
          • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded

          Instructions

          • Preheat oven to 350 °F.
          • Reserve some of the mozzarella cheese and set aside.
            For 25 servings, reserve 1⅓ cups.
            For 50 servings, reserve 2⅔ cups.
          • To make cheesy-tomato sauce: combine remaining mozzarella cheese, cottage cheese, tomato paste, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, onions, garlic, and black pepper in a large bowl.
          • Divide zucchini evenly into two parts.
            For 25 servings, two parts of 3¼ cups or 15½ oz each.
            For 50 servings, two parts of 6½ cups or 1 lb 15 oz each.
          • Assembly: Lightly coat steam table pan (12″ x 20" x 2½") with pan release spray.
            For 25 servings, use 1 pan.
            For 50 servings, use 2 pans.
          • First layer: Spread 3½ cups of cheesy-tomato sauce evenly on the bottom of each steam table pan. Cover sauce with 12 sheets of oven-ready lasagna noodles. Then, cover noodles with 3½ cups of zucchini slices.
          • Second layer: Repeat first layer.
          • Third layer: Top layers 1 and 2 with the remaining cheesy-tomato sauce (about 3½ cups) and then finish by sprinkling on the reserved shredded mozzarella cheese (1⅓ cups) and the Parmesan cheese (¼ cup).
          • Cover tightly with foil and bake until zucchini is tender, 350 °F for 45 minutes.
          • Remove from oven.
          • Remove foil and bake uncovered until cheese starts to brown slightly, 350 °F for 15 minutes.
            Critical Control Point: Heat to 140 °F or higher for at least 15 seconds.
          • Remove from oven.
          • Let lasagna rest for 10 minutes before cutting.
          • Portion: Cut each pan 5 x 5 (25 pieces per pan).
            Serve 1 piece (2" x 3¾" piece).
            Critical Control Point: Hold at 140 °F or higher.

          Notes

          *See Marketing Guide for purchasing information on foods that will change during preparation or when a variation of the ingredients is available.
          Variations
          Whole grain-rich noodles may be substituted for the enriched noodles. When substituting whole grain-rich noodles, the lasagna may need to be cooked 10 minutes longer. Cook until noodles are soft.

          Nutrition

          Serving: 1piece | Calories: 171 | Total Carbohydrate: 24g | Protein: 11g | Total Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 434mg | Dietary Fiber: 2g | Total Sugars: 5g | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg