Healthier Lasagna? Yes, please!

Who loves lasagna? This lady LOVES lasagna. The HIH Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe is one of those stick to your ribs meals that just offers comfort. While we all need a good comfort meal every now and again, we don’t always need the the high calorie, carb, or fat counts that come along with those comfort meals. But, should that mean that we can’t have lasagna? I don’t think so! This macro friendly healthier lasagna recipe never fails me. I’ve created some version of this recipe since I was in my early 20’s. It’s tried and true in my recipe repertoire and it’s about time it made it to the Honey, I’m Healthier page.

Am I saying you should be swapping your traditional lasagna for a healthier lasagna recipe every time? Of course not! Am I saying you can make this recipe for only 8g carbs, 12g fat, and 1/3 the calories of a traditional lasagna per serving without feeling like you’re eating diet food? You bet I am! Sometimes you just need a healthier swap for a crave-able indulgence in your aresenal to keep your health and fitness objectives on the right track. For those eating gluten-free, this is the lasagna recipe of your DREAMS! I’m not an expert in the Keto diet, but based on my knowledge, this would be a great addition to someone living a Keto or low-carb lifestyle as well.

Recipe Evolution

The earliest versions of this recipe did not include a noodle of any kind. I simply made the filling and ate it out of a bowl or served it over sautéed spinach. Was it delicious? Yes. Was it lasagna? No.

Over the years many pasta options have hit the market. I love a chickpea or lentil pasta for the higher protein content, but they also have a high calorie and carb count which made it hard to justify as a protein source over lean beef, chicken, or pork which yield more nutrition/serving. Most other pasta options have fallen flat for me, until I found Palmini.

Palmini makes noodles from hearts of palm. If you aren’t familiar with hearts of palm, it’s a vegetable harvested from the inner core of palm trees. When cut into different pasta shapes like linguine, angel hair, or lasagna sheets hearts of palm become my absolute favorite traditional pasta substitute. They are low in carbs and calories, have a mild taste that picks up the flavors of the recipe, and a texture when cooked that mimics the bite of al dente pasta. Is it a perfect dupe, no, but it 100% gets the job done! There are other brands out there, but Palmini is the easiest for me to find.

The only drawback is hearts of palm does hold quite a bit of water. Preparation is important to ensure you don’t end up with a watery lasagna! The good news is the preparation is as easy as rinsing and patting dry with a paper towel before assembling the lasagna. That’s less work than boiling, draining, and arranging traditional lasagna noodles! Once I figured out how to use the Palmini lasagna sheets, this healthier lasagna recipe became a staple!

Where do I find hearts of palm pasta?

I heard about hearts of palm pastas via an Instagram influencer. She raved about them so I went on a mission to figure out where to purchase here in rural SEK. I was able to find the Palmini brand linguini and angel hair varieties at Walmart, but to get the lasagna sheets I had to purchase online and have them shipped. I’ve linked the two best sources I found for grocery delivery for unique items I can’t find in my local stores.

• Thrive Market – super fast delivery, lower annual fee than Walmart +, but limited scope of products.
• Walmart+ – super fast delivery, much larger scope of products and benefits, higher annual fee.

Keys to Success

1. Dry the lasagna sheets well. I mentioned this above, but a wet noodle will result in a soggy lasagna. No one wants a soggy lasagna! After you drain and rinse the lasagna sheets, pat them dry with a paper towel and you’ll be good to go. Super simple!
2. The filling should be pretty thick and hearty. Whether you choose a thinner marinara or a more rustic marinara sauce, you’ll want to make sure you’ve allowed the water in the sauce to cook out. You’re looking for a thick meaty filling instead of a saucy filling. Cottage cheese also has a high water content, so allowing the filling to simmer and reduce will make sure your lasagna bakes up nice and sturdy.
3. Watch the SUGAR! Jarred marinara sauces from the store can be filled with added sugars. Make sure to check the label to ensure you’re not buying tomato candy. I love the Good and Gather spicy sauce from Target and Rao’s.
4. Don’t rush to cut. The lasagna has been through a lot in the oven. Let it rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting into portions. Your fingertips and the structure of your lasagna will thank you!