Italian Zucchini Roll Ups

This recipe is a really great one to make in the summertime, especially if you have a garden that's producing an abundance of zucchini and you're trying to figure out new ways to use it. In this recipe, you make strips of zucchini to replace the noodles and you fill them spinach, ricotta, and cover them with marinara sauce. (PSST: If you also have an abundance of garden tomatoes, you can make your own marinara sauce too!) This makes for a gluten free, grain free, low carb dinner that tastes delicious! A healthy version of lasagna? Well, this recipe still has plenty of cheese, so we'll call it a healthier version of lasagna.

Italian Zucchini Roll Ups

4 medium zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
30 oz ricotta cheese
2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped
2 cups chopped spinach
¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 large egg
4.5 cups marinara sauce* (if using jarred, this is 1.5, 26 oz jars)

1. Use a mandoline or vegetable slicer to slice zucchini into thin strips lengthwise so that they resemble lasagna noodles. 
2. Layer zucchini strips between paper towels to draw out excess water before baking.
3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
4. In a medium bowl, mix together ricotta cheese, basil, spinach, Parmesan cheese, half of the mozzarella cheese, and egg.
5. Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 3/4 cup of marinara sauce on the bottom of the dish.
6. Begin assembling your zucchini rolls by laying out the sliced zucchini noodles on a flat, clean surface.
7. Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of the ricotta mixture over each zucchini noodle. Then, roll up the zucchini noodle and place it in the baking dish. As you work, place each rolled noodle next to the previous noodle to hold them securely in place so that they don't unroll.
8. Pour remaining tomato sauce evenly over top of and in between the rolls. 
9. Bake for 45 minutes. 
10. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top. Return to oven for additional 5 minutes or until cheese on top is melted and bubbly.

Here's a closeup of the top after the cheese on top has been melted. Yum!

Notes:

If you want to try making your own homemade marinara sauce, you can give these recipes a try:

Crockpot Marinara Sauce
Stovetop Marinara Sauce

Rather than rolling the "noodles" this recipe might make a good candidate for layering them lasagna-style between sauce and cheese layers. I have not tried this method yet, but let me know if you try this and if it works for you!

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