Low calorie beef lasagna is just like your rich creamy favourite but with a lot fewer calories than the traditional version.
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If you have read much of my blog it will be no secret to you that I love Italian food so of course I am a massive fan of lasagne.
But sometimes we want a bit of a lighter version but still want the deliciousness - enter low calorie lasagne.
It is so packed with flavour you won't even know it's low calorie. Whip one up and freeze it in portions for easy Italian take-out dinner fresh from the freezer.
Ingredients
To make this low calorie lasagna recipe you will need just a few simple ingredients:
- Lean beef mince - also called lean ground beef
- Garlic cloves - crushed
- Canned tomato soup
- Water
- Tomato paste
- Cottage cheese - use low fat if you want to reduce the fat
- Spinach - fresh or frozen
- Fresh lasagna sheets - also called lasagna noodles
- Fresh basil
- Parmesan - grated
Instructions
Step 1
Lay out the ingredients. I like to do this so I don't forget anything.
Step 2
Start by browning the mince and breaking it up as it browns.
Step 3
When the mince has browned, add the minced garlic, tomato soup, 1 cup of water and 150g of tomato paste and bring the pot to the boil. Reduce it to a simmer, cover and leave it to simmer for 30 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
Step 4
While the sauce is thickening beat the cottage cheese until it's smooth. Ricotta can be used in place of cottage cheese.
Step 5
Add the baby spinach to the cottage cheese bowl and stir in a little of the tomato/meat sauce.
Step 6
Add the rest of the sauce and mix until it's all well combined.
Step 7
In a jug, combine the rest of the water and tomato paste with the basil.
Step 8
Time to assemble the lasagna. Start by spreading ⅓ of the meat mixture onto the bottom of the baking dish.
Step 9
Cover it with a lasagna sheet followed by another ⅓ of the sauce, another lasagna sheet, the rest of the sauce and the last lasagna sheet.
Step 10
Spread the basil and tomato sauce over the last lasagna sheet and sprinkle the parmesan over the top. Bake the lasagna at 180C/360F fan-forced for 30 minutes.
Step 11
Let it cool slightly in the dish then serve it up.
Tip
I used frozen cottage cheese. It made it a lot easier to beat out to a smooth consistency.
Recipe
Low calorie beef lasagna
Ingredients
- 300 g 11oz lean beef mince
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 can of tomato soup
- 1 ½ cups water
- 250 g 9oz tomato paste
- 125 g 4oz reduced fat cottage cheese
- 150 g 5oz fresh spinach
- 3 fresh lasagna sheets
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil
- 60 g 2oz grated parmesan
Instructions
- Brown the mince in large saucepan.
- Add the minced garlic, tomato soup, 1 cup of water and 150g (5oz) of tomato paste and bring the pot to the boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and leave it to simmer for 30 mins or until the sauce has thickened.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/360F fan-forced. Beat the cottage cheese in a large bowl with wooden spoon til smooth then add the spinach and a little of the meat sauce and mix until combined. Stir through the rest of the meat sauce.
- In a lasagna dish, spread a small amount of the meat/spinach sauce on the bottom.
- Lay a lasagna sheet on top then top with more meat mixture. Repeat finishing with the third lasagna sheet.
- Combine the basil with the remaining tomato paste and water. Pour it over the top of the lasagna and sprinkle with grated parmesan.
- Bake the lasagna for 30 mins.
betty says
grow up and stop with the sly-profanity - "fricken" is just so juvenile and inappropriate!
Claire says
Hi Betty. I'm sorry if my writing offended you but I am who I am. I hope you enjoyed the recipe.
Cari says
I made this recipe last night and it was so fricken delicious! And now I'm having leftovers for lunch :) yumm
Claire says
I'm going to have to make it again soon now too. I've got serious cravings! It freezes well too.
Jen says
Hi Claire, thanks for posting this, the recipe looks amazing . I was just wondering a few things
1. How big are the lasagna sheets that you use?
2. What size dish did you cook it in, it looks like the perfect size!
3. When she asks for Tomato soup in the recipe, does she specify a brand of fat %
many many thanks
Jen
Claire says
Hi Jen,
It's delicious!
1. I think the sheets are pretty standard sizes. I used the La 'something I can't remember' sheets that you find in the fresh pasta fridge at the supermarket.
2. My dish is about 25 x 15cm.
3. The brand of tomato soup doesn't matter but better to go for low sodium.
Enjoy!
Claire
Jen says
yay, someones having yummy dinner tonight!! Thanks Claire :)
Claire says
No problem!
Serina Huang says
Yum! Good to see that great food can also be healthy.
Clarkie @ Beloved Green says
Layer it up! That looks phenomenally good. I like the addition of the spinach.
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Ooh a low calorie version! Great timing as we're heading into the cold season and pastas and Italian dishes are my thing :D Thanks for thinking of our waistlines Claire!