SMART SUBSTITUTIONS Small swap-ins can make a big difference. Whole-wheat noodles, low-fat cottage cheese, and lean ground sirloin lighten up this lasagna. Sautéed eggplant rounds out the ground-beef sauce; melted part-skim mozzarella on top (but not inside) keeps the dish feeling indulgent, but more moderately so.

　　

Ingredients

serves 4

　　6 whole-wheat lasagna noodles (about 4 ounces total), broken in half

　　1 tablespoon olive oil

　　1 medium onion, chopped

　　1 small Italian eggplant (1 pound), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch slices

　　2 garlic cloves, minced

　　Coarse salt and ground pepper

　　8 ounces ground beef sirloin

　　1 can (10.75 ounces) tomato purée

　　2 cups low-fat (1%) cottage cheese

　　1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (1 ounce)

　　1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (2 ounces)

　　

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place noodles in an 8-inch square baking dish, and cover with hot water; set aside to soften.

　　

Step 2

In a medium Dutch oven or other heavy pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, eggplant, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until eggplant is very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add sirloin and cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomato purée and cook until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Season meat sauce with salt and pepper.

　　

Step 3

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine cottage cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan; season with salt and pepper. Remove noodles from baking dish, discarding water (dry dish).

　　

Step 4

Spread about 1/4 cup meat sauce in bottom of dish, and top with 4 noodle halves in a single layer. Sprinkle evenly with a third of the cheese mixture, then top with a third of the sauce. Repeat twice with remaining noodles, cheese mixture, and sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan.

　　

Step 5

Bake until lasagna is bubbling and cheese topping is golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

　　

nutrition information

Step 6

(Per Serving)

　　

Step 7

Calories: 469

　　

Step 8

Fat: 15.4g (6g Saturated Fat)

　　

Step 9

Protein: 40.4g

　　

Step 10

Carbohydrates: 42.4g

　　

Step 11

Fiber: 9.5g

　　Everyday Food: Light