WAIT!
Before you run away, I just want you to know two things: it was delicious AND it has my Husband’s Stamp of Approval, which is harder to get than a meeting with The President.
It’s not the most photogenic dish and it sounds kinda odd (and possibly gross), but I’m telling you it was yummy and I wouldn’t lie to you.
I’ve had a recent obsession with spaghetti squash after my twice-baked spaghetti squash several weeks ago. I started wondering how else I could use this filling, yet low calorie, vegetable. What about lasagna?
It was a risk. A vegetarian lasagna that’s also light on cheese. Would my Husband hate it?
Nope! He said it was really good and then got seconds.
Winning!
My Whole-Wheat Vegetarian Lasagna had similar spices and structure as my more traditional Lasagna, but in this Spaghetti Squash Kale Lasagna, I decided to throw the old rules out the window and try something new.
Fresh cilantro brings a bright, fresh flavor and asiago cheese makes the whole dish taste indulgent!
And in all honesty, I was kind of sick of basil.
Make sure you use fresh mozzarella and a high quality asiago. Fresh mozzarella has more flavor than the pre-shredded or low-moisture versions. More flavor means you use less cheese for the same impact, which means fewer calories! Yay!
And because spaghetti squash is so moist, you will want to use a thicker tomato sauce. Nobody likes soupy lasagna.
I honestly can’t wait to make it again! Healthy, flavorful and vegetarian!
This Spaghetti Squash Kale Lasagna is flavored with bright cilantro and asiago cheese! It's healthy, vegetarian, hearty and flavorful!
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- freshly ground nutmeg
- freshly ground black pepper
- kosher salt
- 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 8 stalks Tuscan Kale, stalks removed, sliced into thin ribbons
- 1 cup part skim ricotta
- 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 5 oz fresh mozzarella, shredded
- 5 oz asiago, grated
- 3 ½ cups tomato sauce (such as this one here
- 4 sheets fresh whole-wheat lasagna
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper (this will save your baking sheets and also you a lot of cleanup!)
- Halve your spaghetti squash, scoop out the insides, and place the halves face up on your baking sheet; drizzle with olive oil and coarse kosher salt. Flip them over and drizzle with more olive oil and salt. Be sure to set aside the insides of the squash to roast the seeds!
- Bake in your preheated oven until the skin easily gives when you poke it with a fork. It will feel soft and will indent. This baking time will vary drastically by the size of your squash; 30-60 minutes.
- Grip the squash with tongs and scrape out the insides with a fork into a medium bowl.
- Repeat with all remaining squash halves.
- Season generously with olive oil, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper and fresh ground nutmeg (leave this out if you only have the pre-ground type…it’s just not the same). I like to season the squash in batches; fluffing with a fork to toss and coat.
- You can make the squash several days ahead of time.
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Mix cilantro with the ricotta in a medium bowl and set aside.
- Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add about 1 tablespoon olive oil, swirl to coat. Sauté onions and garlic until onions are translucent. Remove from skillet and set aside. Add a little bit more olive oil and sauté the kale until it is limp and cooked through. Add kale to onions and mix.
- Place all your ingredients out around your 12x7x4 baking dish, and you are ready for assembly!
- Start by placing two overlapping lasagna noodles in the bottom of your dish, then spread about a third of the ricotta mixture on the noodles with a rubber spatula.
- Next add your spaghetti squash being careful not to scoop out too much water that has drained to the bottom of your bowl. I made this layer thick, about ¾ inch with minimal visible ricotta.
- Next sprinkle 1/3 of the onion/kale mixture over the squash. It’s easiest to do this with your hands.
- Top the vegetables with 1/3 of the sauce.
- And finally add a layer of asiago and mozzarella.
- Repeat until the pan is filled ending with cheese. I like to add a bit of extra cheese to the top layer for added yumminess!
- Bake 50 minutes in preheated oven. Cool 10-20 minutes before serving.
Notes:
In this recipe I would be sure to use a "plain" tomato sauce that is only lightly seasoned, because we wouldn't want it to overpower the other flavors in this lasagna!
You May Also Love these Healthy Favorites:
Whole Wheat Vegetarian Lasagna
18 Comments
Josephine
March 31, 2014 at 9:05 amThis looks like an awesome and healthy recipe. I will put it on my to do list. Thank you!
Lindsey
March 31, 2014 at 9:11 amYou should! I think this one would be weight watchers approved…though I’m not totally sure, but how could you go wrong with whole wheat and spaghetti squash?!
Miss Kim @ behgopa
April 1, 2014 at 1:33 amWeight Watcher approved? Really? I am trying to eat healthier and cut back on the calories. So this sounds good! It’s so much easier said than done. I have been telling myself to go to the gym more often too. I need a new system to get back on track.
Your husband is a picky eater? I guess he’d be a great taste tester then.
Lindsey
April 1, 2014 at 10:09 amYou should definitely try this out then! I’m not sure if its actually WW approved but Josephine is always lamenting the fact that she can’t have half of what I post! My husband isn’t picky in the traditional sense of the word but he and I are definitely food snobs and he judges each dish/dessert with the discerning tastebuds of a professional food critic!
Good luck with your gym and diet goals! I’m a terrible dieter but, fortunately, I love to workout as much as I love to eat!
ashley - baker by nature
April 2, 2014 at 12:02 amI am all about lasagna! And with spaghetti squash?! Why the heck not!
Lindsey
April 2, 2014 at 10:50 amI know, right?! I was skeptical but it was delicious! My husband ate the last slice and I was actually kinda upset that he didn’t share!
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs
April 2, 2014 at 4:34 pmOh wooooooow I’m so drooling right now! This lasagna looks like pretty awesome comfort food and I WANT IT NOW 😉
Lindsey
April 3, 2014 at 1:00 amThanks, Consuelo! It’s delicious! I hope you do try it!
50 Ways To Cook Spaghetti Squash | Aggie's Kitchen
October 14, 2014 at 10:28 am[…] Spaghetti Squash Kale Lasagna from American Heritage Cooking (pictured, top right) […]
Liz
March 26, 2015 at 7:53 amThis looks great! My husband and I have recently “discovered” kale and we are always looking for new dishes to use it in. We haven’t tried it in lasagna yet.
Lindsey
March 27, 2015 at 5:50 pmHaha! I know all about “discovering” new foods! Enjoy! ps- you can do a search for kale on AHC, I use it a bunch both raw (my fav) and cooked!
CSA Week 16: Edamame, Potatoes & Spaghetti Squash | Left Bower Farm
September 8, 2015 at 9:11 pm[…] Spaghetti squash kale lasagna […]
Susan
October 7, 2015 at 11:47 amLindsey I was looking for something different to do with my spaghetti squash, and found this on your site! How exciting-hope you are doing well.
Love- Aunt Susan
Lindsey
October 8, 2015 at 11:12 amHi Aunt Susan! This lasagna was delicious! I made is 4 times right after I posted it! I was also obsessed with this twice baked spaghetti squash for a while. I am doing well and I am still in NYC. We should catch up soon! xoxox
tracie mcguire
October 16, 2015 at 1:10 pmSo weird…last night I had a craving to do something similar. So I just googled what I did last night to see if anyone else had the same thought. My recipe was slightly different as I try to reduce processed carbs as much as possible. So, instead of using any lasagna noodles, I beat two eggs and then mixed the egg into the spaghetti squash. The egg gives it enough binding to hold up pretty much like a “noodle” does. And my family doesn’t like the consistency of ricotta, so I mix 3/4 cup ricotta with 1 cup grated fontina and 1/2 cup heavy cream. Makes it creamier but still with that great ricotta flavor. And I made a pesto out of the kale instead of using a red sauce.
Ginny
October 23, 2016 at 9:52 amThank you, Lindsey. I enjoyed making this recipe, I posted a pic on Instagram, tried to tag you but you didn’t come up. I used #americanheritagecooking hashtag
It was delicious!!
Scott
April 10, 2017 at 2:01 pmNever thought spaghetti and squash would go together so well. My kids loved and that was surprising. Thanks for sharing and hope to try others on your site.
Healthy Recipes : Spaghetti Squash Kale Lasagna – American Heritage Cooking… | Healthy | Leading Health & well-being Inspiration source
September 2, 2017 at 5:27 pm[…] -Read More – […]