Garden Vegetable Lasagna
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Noodles layered with ricotta cheese, sauteed vegetables, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce make for a beautiful summer Garden Vegetable Lasagna.
The past two weeks have been beautiful outside. After a very cold winter that lasted until the end of April and a blazing hot June, July has been pretty nice.
My garden has finally started producing some vegetables and herbs. It usually takes until late July or early August because of where we live.
The farmer’s market has been fully loaded as well. Since we finally got air conditioning in out house and I can cook in the summer I decided to make a lovely Garden Vegetable Lasagna using veggies from my own garden and some from the local farms.
Ingredients:
- red onion
- bell peppers
- eggplant
- zucchini
- mushrooms
- carrots
- spinach
- garlic cloves
- salt and pepper
- no bake lasagna noodles
- marinara sauce
- fresh oregano, basil, and parsley
- ricotta cheese
- egg
- mozzarella cheese
- Parmesan cheese
To Make the Vegetables: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a saute pan and add all of the vegetables. Saute for 10 minutes or until the vegetables have softened. Add in the garlic cloves, salt, and pepper, and cook for one minute. Remove from heat.
To Make the cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl combine the ricotta cheese, egg, oregano, basil, parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
To Make the Lasagna: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pour sauce into the bottom of an 8 x 8 pan. Place two noodles in the pan. Layer with half the ricotta, 1/2 cup sauce, then 1/2 the vegetable mixture. Top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat for a second layer. To finish top off with 2 more noodles, the remaining sauce, the remaining mozzarella, and all of the Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 20 minutes.
Since pasta is one of my favorite meals, I end up making it once a week even in the summer. The only difference is that in the summer I add plenty of fresh vegetables and herbs, many of which come from my own garden. That’s what I did with this vegetable lasagna.
This lasagna is filled with garden vegetables like bell peppers, eggplant, zucchini, and onions. It also has fresh basil, oregano, and parsley. You can use whatever you have in your own garden.
Can I add meat to this lasagna?
You can! In fact, the most recent time I made this lasagna I added ground beef. Ground beef, ground chicken, or ground turkey would all work in this recipe. Use around a half pound and add between the layers with the marinara sauce.
Can I use dried herbs?
You can add dried herbs in place of the fresh but fresh is better, especially in the summer. If you do use dried herbs use 1 teaspoon of dried herbs to 1 Tablespoon of the fresh herbs.
Can I add other vegetables?
For sure! Use your favorite vegetables in this lasagna. In addition to what I used you can add regular onions, squash, fresh tomatoes, broccoli, or any other vegetable that would work with a lasagna.
Can I double this recipe?
You sure can! Double the recipe and use a 9 x 13 pan. You’ll put three noodles down for each layer instead of two but otherwise just double the recipe. You’ll also bake it for 30 minutes covered then 20 minutes uncovered.
Can I Freeze this Lasagna?
Yes! Build the lasagna to completion but don’t bake it. Cover the top with plastic wrap then cover it in foil. When ready to bake simply pull from the freezer, remove the plastic wrap, put the foil back on a bake for 45-50 minutes with the foil and 20-25 minutes without the foil. It can be frozen for up to 6 months.
The vegetables I couldn’t get from my garden I bought at the local farmer’s market so I was sure they were local and delicious. I even topped the lasagna with tomato sauce I canned last fall from the tomatoes in my garden.
The resulting lasagna was amazing! Because it’s made with vegetables and not meat it’s a lighter lasagna which is perfect for a summer meal. It tastes so fresh and yummy, especially with my homemade tomato sauce.
More Lasagna Recipes:
- Tony Bennett’s Mother’s Lasagna
- One Pot Lasagna
- Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups
- Four Cheese Lasagna
- Quinoa, Spinach, and Kale Lasagna
Do you grow your own vegetables? If not, I suggest starting with a small garden of herbs and a few vegetables. Cucumbers and green beans are easy veggies to grow so starting with those is a good idea.
Pick out a few herbs as well and plant them along the edges of your vegetable garden. I’ve found that oregano, rosemary, and thyme are all very easy grow and my oregano and rosemary have both come back for several years.
Growing your own herbs and vegetables is a great way to have fresh herbs and vegetables available all summer and it’s a cheaper way to get your produce!
If youโve tried my Garden Vegetable Lasagna or any other recipe on Hezzi-Dโs Books and Cooks please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. I love hearing from you! You can FOLLOW ME on:
Garden Vegetable Lasagna
Ingredients
- 1 medium red onion thinly sliced
- 1 ยฝ c. colored bell peppers cut into thin strips (I used red, yellow, and green)
- ยฝ medium eggplant peeled and diced
- ยฝ large zucchini peeled and diced
- ยฝ c. sliced mushrooms
- 2 carrots peeled and diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 6 ready to bake lasagna noodles
- 1 ยฝ c. marinara sauce homemade is best!
- 2 c. fresh spinach
- 1 c. part skim ricotta cheese
- 1 Tablespoon fresh basil chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh oregano chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 c. mozzarella cheese shredded
- ยฝ c. shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the vegetables and saute for 10 minutes,
stirring occasionally, or until they have softened. - Stir in half the garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes. Remove vegetables from heat.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 x 8 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl combine half the garlic, the ricotta cheese, basil, rosemary, and oregano. Mix well. Stir in the beaten egg.
- Spoon ยผ cup of marinara sauce onto the bottom
of the baking dish. Layer 2 lasagna noodles on top then spread half of the ricotta mixture. Spread ยผ cup of sauce on top of the ricotta and then layer with half of the spinach and then half of the sauteed veggies. Sprinkle with โ of the mozzarella cheese. - Repeat this process for the next layer. Top with 3 more lasagna noodles, the remaining mozzarella cheese, and the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with the parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake and additional 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
- Remove from oven and let stand 5 minutes. Slice and enjoy.
People tend to think of lasagna as a heavy dish but not when made with garden fresh ingredients — sounds like one to try
This sounds really great. I don’t grow a garden. The many times I have tried, I haven’t had any luck at all. That is even with friends trying to help me. I have a very black thumb. I have embraced it and I just go to the farmer’s market or my friends take pity on me. It’s a sad situation, but it is what it is.
Oh no! I’m sorry you can’t grow a garden, they are so much fun! Farmer’s markets are great too though!
Yum! I love a good vegetable lasagna and yours looks amazing! Nothing like cheesy veggies and tomato sauce!
It is hard for me to plant before mid-May as well because of our weather. I do wish we had a longer growing season. I may try my hand at a winter garden this year though since we don’t get much snow, just TONS of rain. I am hoping I can talk my guy into a meatless dinner because this lasagna is amazing!!
This looks amazing! I love veggie lasagna! Looking forward to trying it! Pinned and stumbled!
I love pasta too. Your vegetable lasagna looks great. Wish I had some in the fridge for lunch.
What a great looks lasagna! It looks so hearty and filling, no one will miss the meat part of it!
I love all the freshness this dish makes!
Very lovely looking lasagna (and a great way for me to use alliteration). And I agree with you completely, homemade marinara sauce is the best! On the rare occasion I’ll be in lazy mode and make a lasagna with a store bought and *ugh*…never tastes nearly as good as homemade sauce. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the delicious pics. Cheers!
I agree…there are days when I use store bought marinara and it just isn’t the same!
Such a perfect lasagna! I love all the fresh veggies and herbs!
Vegetable lasagnas are one of my favorites…especially with fresh veggies from your own garden!
What a beautiful delicious garden lasagna. I cannot wait to give it a try with my usual adaptions.
I forget how lucky we are here in Portland as most of our herbs grow year round and sage as well as rosemary turn into huge bushesโฆ.Having the herb garden right outside your kitchen is great – something I have as well. Love it.
I’m super jealous that you can grow herbs year round. We had something crazy like 160 inches of snow this year and 60 or so days under freezing.
This is beautiful! I want dig right in!
What a gorgeous dish of Lasagna! What time is dinner? ๐
I love the idea of vegetable lasagna and can’t wait to try this fantastic recipe.
I adore spinach lasagna, and adding all those amazing summer veggies makes it even more irresistible!!!
I love a good veggie lasagna! Thanks for sharing, Heather!
I just got my veg in YESTERDAY. I am really late, but better late than never, eh?
This looks delicious and thanks for the gardening tips too! We haven’t ever grown anything (apartment living and all) but I know we could probably manage some simple herbs.
Lasagna is a fabulous way to get some extra veggies, especially for picky eaters!
Starting small is a great tip! Love your lasagna. Such a wonderful way to showcase the fresh veggies! Mmmm
What a lovely way to use those fresh garden veggies! And what a way to make lasagna lighter and yet even tastier.
Yum! Your lasagna looks just amazing! I have to admit, vegetable lasagna is simply my favorite lasagna! Beautiful recipe!