Ingredients:
- 1 lb. 93/7 lean ground beef
- 3/4 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
- black pepper to taste
- 3 medium (8 oz each) zucchini, sliced 1/8" thick
- 1 1/2 cups part-skim ricotta
- 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano
- 1 large egg
- 16 oz (4 cups) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions:
In a medium saucepan, brown meat and season with salt. Remove from pan and drain to remove any fat.
Add olive oil to the pan and sauté garlic and onions about 2 minutes. Return the meat to the pan, add tomatoes, basil, salt, and pepper. Cover with a lid and simmer on low for at least 30-40 minutes. Do not add extra water, the sauce should be thick.
Slice zucchini into 1/8" thick slices, salt lightly, and set aside for 10 minutes to let the salt draw out the moisture. After 10 minutes, blot the excess moisture with a paper towel.
Preheat a gas grill or grill pan to medium high and grill 2-3 minutes per side, until slightly browned. Place on paper towels to soak any excess moisture.
Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a medium bowl, mix ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, and egg. Stir well.
In a 9x13 dish, spread 1/2 cup of sauce on the bottom and layer the zucchini to cover. Spread 1/2 cup of the ricotta mixture, then top with 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat until all of the ingredients are used, reserving 1 cup of mozzarella. The last layer should be the remaining zucchini and sauce.
Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake 20 minutes more.
Place the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella on top of the sauce and bake until melted, about 10 minutes.
Let cool 10-15 minutes before serving. Enjoy!