Chayote Squash and spinach Lasagne

[ValidRouge]

I tried this recipe tonight for dinner. It was VERY good, and my DH had two helpings. I would change a couple things the next time I make it.

1) Make sure I get a mandolyne so that I can slice the squash VERY thinly, otherwise it takes forever to bake them and get them tender.
2) Squeeze all excess water out of the spinach...and perhaps precook the squash and squeeze the water out of them.
3) I'll use whole eggs instead of just the whites to add more flavor. I'll add more spices to the cheese mixture like garlic.
4) Use parmesan cheese instead of the blue cheese.

Chayote Squash Lasagna
Rancho La Puerta (Baja Mexico)

Recipe:
3 chayote squash, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced*
3 cups spinach, chopped
1 cup low fat mozzarella, shredded
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
2 large egg whites
1 cup fat free or 1% cottage cheese
sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

* Chayote is a green pear shaped squash containing a soft central pit. It was a staple of the Aztec and Mayan diet. You may substitute zucchini or any summer squash for the chayote.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a square bake pan. Place one layer of chayote in pan. Beat egg whites; mix in ricotta or cottage cheese and the blue cheese. Layer 1/3 of this mix over the chayote; follow with a layer of spinach. Sprinkle on 1/4 of the mozzarella. Repeat layers. Top with another layer of chayote slices and the remaining mozzarella. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the casserole is set.

Servings per recipe: 6 ~ 6.5 ounce portions; Calories per serving: 141; Carbohydrate: 6.5g; Protein: 14g; Fat: 6.8g; Fiber: 2g; Cholesterol: 20mg; Sodium: 525mg; Potassium: 307 mg; % Calories from: Carbohydrate: 18%; Protein: 39%; Fat: 43%

Created by Chef Gonzalo Mendoza of the Culinary Team at Rancho La Puerta Fitness Resort and Spa 011 52 665 654 9155 ~ Po Box 69 Tecate, CA 91980 ~ www.rancholapuerta.com

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[dotsamantha]

I'm making this! And not telling bf it's spinach so he'll eat it.

[ValidRouge]

Samantha, tell him like I tell my stepson, just try it. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. He ends up eating everything he tries. Of course, there are things that I just don't tell him the difference, like mashed faux-tatoes! He thinks the cauliflower is potatoes.

If you can get the squash sliced thinly enough...think potatoe chip thin...then the squash would sorta be like noodles. It doesn't have much flavor of its own...so all the flavor is in the cheese and the spinach. Remember the good old days when we could have the white spinach lasagne?? This tastes like that.

Some butter would probably give it a little more flavor too.

OH OH...that gives me an idea. Don't use spinach, use MUSHROOMS. Does he eat mushrooms??

[dotsamantha]

He's funny, I tihnkj he claims to not like something because he didn't like it as a kid, but if I just give it to him and ask him to try it, he often likes it.

[Barbde]

Oh yum. I would use ricotta in place of the cottage cheese, and yeah, parm instead of blue cheese. I want to do something else with the Chayote, I just haven't had time to be adventurous!!
Thanks for sharing!!