One of the most comforting meals you can enjoy at home is lasagna, but it’s not labeled as the most “weight loss friendly” food. Until now, that is.
Lasagna combines some of the most indulgent and warming ingredients, from pasta to gooey cheese, which is why some people label it as strictly a cheat meal. Luckily, Ayat Sleymann, also known as ‘Mom Nutritionist,’ is a dietitian, nutritionist, and content creator who found a way to fill the classic dish with healthy vegetables and other protein-packed ingredients so that it can fit into some of your weight loss meals or get a few more nutrients into your family’s nightly dinner. Check out how she makes her high-protein, low-calorie lasagna that’s “filled with so many nutrients” below.
@momnutritionist High protein easy meal up on the blog! https://themomnutritionist.com/high-protein-lasagna/ #mominfluencer #creatorsearchinsights #quicklazyhighproteinmeals #thingsivecookedrecently #whattocooktoday #lazyeasyhealthymeals ♬ original sound – Mom Nutritionist
Ayat Sleymann Creates A ‘Nutritious’ Lasagna Filling
“Lasagna is one of those meals I make on repeat, especially in the winter, because it’s so warming and so cozy,” says Ayat at the start of her TikTok video.
The nutritionist begins making her nutrient-dense lasagna by making her “beef and tomato sauce layer” in a pan on the stove. She sautees diced onion, garlic, and ground beef in a pan and cooks it until it browns and breaks up. For extra flavor, she adds some sliced basil leaves. Once her beef is cooked, she pours in a bottle of tomato sauce and stirs everything together.
Once her beef and tomato sauce mixture is prepared, she sautees finely chopped carrots, red bell pepper, yellow squash, zucchini, and spinach in a separate pan. Yup, all of those healthy and beneficial vegetables go into this lasagna, making it “more nutritious, filling, and flavorful.” However, once they’re cooked, she blends them with two cups of cottage cheese and around 15 ounces of ricotta cheese until a thick, cheesy mixture forms so the vegetables are easily ‘hidden’ in the meal.
“If you’re somebody who doesn’t like too many different textures, or you’re trying to get your kids to eat more veggies, this is what I like to do,” reveals Ayat.
“If blending veggies helps your child get more nutrients in, you’re the parent; that’s your call.”
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Assembling The Easy, 'High-Protein' Lasagna
Once your beef and tomato mixture is cooked and the vegetables and cheese are blended, Ayat begins assembling her tasty lasagna. She takes a 9x13 baking dish and adds a cup of the tomato beef and sauce to the bottom before topping it with three to four cooked lasagna sheets.
Then, according to the recipe on her website, she layers the noodles "with ⅓ of the vegetable and cheese mixture, then adds ⅓ of the mozzarella cheese and then ⅓ of the remaining tomato and beef sauce."
Ayat repeats the process two more times before completing the final layer of noodles with the last of the tomato sauce and some shredded mozzarella cheese. She then covers her pan with foil before baking the lasagna in a 375°F oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, she removes the foil and lets the lasagna cook for 10 more minutes uncovered or until the cheese is "golden and bubbly."
"This recipe is so delicious," adds Ayat in her TikTok tutorial. "The family loves it, and it makes the best leftovers the next day."
