Fat Fat Fat?

So for the past few weeks I have been tracking my calories on the Daily Plate website.  The great thing about this site (for me) is it allows me to enter in a recipe and find out the nutritional information for the meals I cook.  This has been pretty eye opening and have since been trying my best to cut the fat (both literally and figuratively).  You would be surprised how much difference casual application of olive oil and parmesan can make to a meal.  That said, I strongly feel that a little fat can sometimes be a good thing in one's diet, especially if it comes in the form of vegetable or fish fat (omega fatty acid, yo!).  I have, in the past 2-3 weeks entered in about 20 or so recipes (some of which I have already posted to this blog), so I thought I would post a few of them starting off with a recipe for a lower fat lasagna.  Using low fat ricotta and nonfat cottage cheese you can really reduce the fat content in this meal.  Using whole wheat lasagna noodles and spinach this lasagna ends up being really high in protein and fiber.  Its a zone dieter's dream at 40% carbs 34% protein and 21% fat.  See below the recipe for complete nutritional data:


Lower Fat Spinach Lasagna
makes 8 generous servings


Wine Sauce


1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 cup onions, diced
• 3 clove garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup dry red wine 
• 
  
  
  • 2 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp fennel seed
• 2 1/2 cup canned crushed tomatoes
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• salt to taste

Cheese and Spinach Filling

1 tbsp olive oil

• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cup onion, diced
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 2 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried marjoram
• 4 cup washed baby spinach
• 2 1/2 cup reduced fat mozerella
• 1 3/4 cup low-fat ricotta cheese
• 1 1/2 cup nonfat cottage cheese
• 
  
• 16 oz whole wheat lasagna noodles
• 
  
• In a deep saucepan heat oil and cook onions over low heat for 5-7 minutes. Add oregano, basil, fennel and cook 2 more minutes.  Add tomatoes, wine, and peppers and gently simmer for 20 minutes or so.  Add sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Cook the noodles according to directions on box (al dente). Lay out on waz paper to avoid them sticking to each other.
• 
  
• Heat olive oil in deep saucepan. Cook onions and garlic over medium head. Add wine, basil and cook for a few more minutes until half of the wine has cooked off. Add spinach and cook until spinach is wilted. In a blender or food processor blend ricotta, cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup mozerrella. Combine cheese mixture with spinach and salt and pepper to taste.
• 
  
• Layering the lasagna is really a personal art but as long as you start with marinara and a layer of noodles and end with a layer of noodles and marinara on top you will be doing well.  Just make sure to use all the ingredients.  This will fit nicely into on 9"x12" tray or two 8"x8" trays. Once you have everything layerd sprinkle remaining mozeralla on top, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Remove foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.  If desired the last 5 minutes of cooking can be under the broiler.  Let sit for at least 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 servings

Amount per Serving

Calories 524

Calories from Fat 114.6

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 12.73g

19%

Saturated Fat 6.44g

32%

Cholesterol 38.13mg

12%

Sodium 826.68mg

34%

Total Carbohydrate 52.27g

17%

Dietary Fiber 10.17g

40%

Sugars 7.96g

Protein 44.92g

89%

Est. Percent of Calories from:

Fat

21%

Carbs

39%

Protein

34%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs.