It's time for another Taco Tuesday. This week's offerings include Jamaican Jerk Steak Tacos and Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Taco. Enjoy!
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
GROUND BEEF TACOS WITH SPICY SHELLS
This is from Delish and begins, “Line taco shells with lettuce leaves so the filling stays put inside.”
Total Time: 25 minutes; Prep Time: 25 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves:4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1 1/4 lb. ground beef (at least 90% lean)
3 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tsp. low-sodium beef bouillon base (we used Better than Bouillon)
8 small yellow corn tortillas (see box, below)
8 butter or iceberg lettuce leaves
2 tomatoes, chopped
Shredded cheddar, for serving
Directions
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, oregano, coriander and chili powder and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
Increase heat to medium-high, add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon until browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring 2 minutes. Add the bouillon base and 1 cup water and gently simmer until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.
While the beef is browning, prepare the spicy taco shells (see tip, below). Line the tortillas with lettuce, fill with the beef, and top with the tomatoes and cheese, if desired.
PER SERVING 494 CAL, 28 G FAT (7.5 G SAT FAT), 92 MG CHOL, 154 MG SOD, 33 G PRO, 29 G CAR, 5 G FIBER
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
SLOW COOKER SMOKY PULLED PORK TACOS
This comes from Heidi, self-described “photo-taking, storytelling, magazine and e-cookbook designing food blogger” for FoodieCrush. If you’ve never heard of her or checked out her blog, I suggest checking it out ASAP. Seriously.
For this recipe, Heidi wrote, “Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.”
Total Time: 15 hours; Cook Time: 15 hours; Serves: 3-4 pounds pulled pork.
To view this on FoodieCrush, go to https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-tacos/.
Ingredients
6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
1 pint jar Smoky Roasted Salsa or smoky-flavored store-bought salsa
6 whole cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3-4 canned chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mexican coleslaw
Guacamole
Cotija cheese
Cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
Place the pork shoulder in a 6½ to 8 quart slow cooker. In a medium size bowl, mIx the salsa with the smashed garlic cloves and the chipotles in adobo sauce. Pour the salsa mixture over the pork. Cover with the lid of the slow cooker and cook on low for 12-14 hour, or until the pork falls off of the bone. Chill the crock with the contents still in it until cold all the way through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrape away the congealed fat around the pork shoulder and use a bit of the fat to grease a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Discard the rest of the fat but reserve the cooking juices.
Transfer the meat to a large cutting board and scrape away any visible fat. Use your hands to shred the meat into same-size pieces. Transfer the meat to the baking dish and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is hot all the way through. At the 10 minute mark, check to see if the meat is getting too dry. If so, toss it with a fork to keep it from drying out too much.
While the pork bakes, strain the cooking juices through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook until reduced to 1/4 its original volume.
When the pork is hot, pour the reduced pan juices over the pork and toss to coat.
Warm the tortillas, either in a damp towel in a warm oven at 200 degrees F, or lightly char the tortillas over the flame of a gas stove. Assemble the tacos with a 1/3-1/2 cup pulled pork, Mexican coleslaw, guacamole and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve with more smoky salsa if desired.
Pulled Pork recipe from Not Your Mama's Canning Book, by Rebecca Lindamood.
JAMAICAN JERK STEAK TACOS
This is from Tiffany Azure on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything is better when it's a taco. Homemade jerk seasoning has amazing flavor, but you can use store-bought as a shortcut.”
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
According to the note at the end of the recipe, “Tiffany Azure is a self-taught cook and photographer and loves to develop recipes with big bold flavors, using minimal ingredients and easy preparation techniques. You can find her tasty spins on classic recipes at Creme de la Crumb.”
Ingredients
For the Jerk Seasoning
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tbsp. dried Italian blend seasoning
2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. smoked paprika
1/2 tsp. Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
For the Tacos
2 tbsp. jerk seasoning
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. canola oil, divided
1 1/2 lb. flank or skirt steak
10 small (taco-sized) flour tortillas
1 c. diced pineapple
1/2 c. diced onion
1/4 c. freshly chopped cilantro
Juice of 1/2 lime, plus lime wedges for serving
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
1 avocado, sliced
Crumbled cotija cheese, for serving (optional)
Directions
Make jerk seasoning: In a small bowl, whisk together spices until combined. (If using store-bought jerk seasoning, move to step 2.)
Make tacos: In a small bowl, whisk together jerk seasoning and 1/4 cup oil until combined. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag and add steak. Press out as much air as you can and seal. Shake to coat the steak in the marinade, then chill for 1 hour or up to 24 hours.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Add steak and cook until nicely seared but slightly pink in center, 6 to 8 minutes per side. Remove from heat and let rest 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together pineapple, onion, cilantro, lime juice, and salt.
Thinly slice steak across the grain. Serve in tortillas with pineapple salsa and avocado. Top with cotija cheese if desired and serve with lime.
CARROT-AND-BLACK BEAN CRISPY TACOS
This recipe comes from Country Living, and begins, “Dig into vegetarian tacos with tons of fresh flavor.” Total Time: 30 minutes; Prep Time: 30 minutes; Level: Easy; Yield: 4 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 small onion, chopped
1 poblano pepper, diced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 (15.5-oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tbsp. fresh lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 lb. medium carrots, cut into 3" to 4" sticks
1 tsp. ground cumin
8 whole-grain taco shells, warmed
Sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped fresh cilantro and radishes, for serving
Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 4to 6 minutes. Add chili powder and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add black beans and 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 4 to 6 minutes. Mash beans with the back of the spoon until thick. Stir in lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Meanwhile, toss carrots with cumin and 1 1/2 tablespoons oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until just tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
Divide beans and carrots between taco shells. Top with avocado, queso fresco, cilantro, and radishes. Serve with lime wedges alongside.
PER SERVING: protein: 8 g; fat: 17 g; carbohydrate: 42 g; fiber: 10 g; sodium: 261 mg; cholesterol: 0 mg; calories: 334.
Showing posts with label Taco Zucchini Lasagna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taco Zucchini Lasagna. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Today's yummy offerings include Sweet Potato and Spinach Chicken Tacos and Garlicky Shrimp Tacos. Enjoy!
VEGAN TACOS
This recipe is by Taqueria Los Gorditos and was in the September 2009 issue of Bon Appetite. Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped seeded jalapeño chile
1 12-ounce package soy chorizo (sometimes labeled Soyrizo), casing removed
1 15.4-ounce to 16-ounce can vegetarian refried black beans
12 corn tortillas, warm
Diced onion
Chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and jalapeño; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add soy chorizo and cook until beginning to brown in spots, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook beans in heavy small saucepan over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Stack 2 warm tortillas for each of 6 tacos. Spread scant 2 tablespoons beans over each stack. Top with soy chorizo mixture, dividing equally. Sprinkle with diced onion and cilantro.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
SLOW COOKER CHIPOTLE-HONEY CHICKEN TACOS
This yummy recipe is from Sarah DiGregorio in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Sarah wrote, "These may be the easiest tacos you ever make, but you’d never know it. The recipe hinges on just two ingredients: canned chipotles and honey, which slowly caramelize together for a glossy and incredibly tasty sauce. You may hesitate because there's so little liquid in the slow cooker with the chicken, but don't worry. That's how it's supposed to be. It allows the sauce to get a little sticky, which is exactly what you want. (Get the pressure cooker version of this recipe here.)"
Total Time: 3 to 5 hours; Yield: 4
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019693-slow-cooker-chipotle-honey-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
\1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 to 4 chipotles from a can of chipotles in adobo, finely chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
Juice of 1 lime
Warmed tortillas, for serving
Pickled onion, for serving (see Tip)
Sliced or cubed avocado, for serving
Preparation
Combine the chicken, honey, onion and garlic powders, cumin, salt and chipotle chiles and adobo sauce in a 5- to 8-quart slow cooker. Stir well. Cook for at least 3 hours and up to 5 hours on low. If it’s more convenient, you can let the slow cooker switch to warm after 5 hours. The dish will hold on warm for about another 3 hours before the chicken starts to become quite dry.
Using two forks, coarsely shred the chicken in the sauce. Stir in the black beans and lime juice. Cover and let the beans warm through, about 5 minutes. Taste and add more salt or lime juice if necessary. Serve in tortillas with pickled onion and avocado.
Tip
To make quick-pickled onions, thinly slice a red onion and put the slices in a bowl or container. Bring about 1-1/2 cups cider or white vinegar to a boil, and add about 3 heaping spoonfuls of sugar and a big pinch of salt to dissolve. You can also add a pinch of red-pepper flakes, a bay leaf or some dried oregano, if you like. Pour the hot vinegar over the onions and let them cool. They’re ready to use right away, and can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
GARLICKY SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "A nod to gambas al ajillo, the immensely popular Spanish tapas dish of garlic prawns, this recipe tucks garlic shrimp into festive tacos that can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes. There are very few ingredients involved, but they all pack a punch. The quick-cooking shrimp are seared and finished in olive oil that’s infused with lots of fragrant garlic and rich smoky paprika. Be sure to save the robust oil that’s left in the skillet and enjoy it drizzled over your tacos. Dress them up with crisp sliced radishes, creamy avocado, spicy pico de gallo and fresh, herbaceous cilantro, plus a final squeeze of lime to brighten all the flavors."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025852-garlicky-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Salt
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 2 dozen)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Warm corn tortillas, sliced avocado, sliced radishes, pico de gallo and cilantro leaves, for serving
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine sour cream and lime juice; season with salt. Mix well and set aside.
In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Season shrimp with salt and add half to the skillet; sear for 1 minute on each side and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining shrimp.
Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, the garlic and paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl.
To build tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic oil. Top with avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges.
SWEET POTATO AND SPINACH CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, "Unexpected taco fillings are all the rage on the food truck scene. Make these rich and savory versions at home!"
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Serving Size: 1 taco
To view this online, go to https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/sweet-potato-and-spinach-chicken-tacos.html.
Ingredients
1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
24 oz. baby spinach
1 (about 8 oz) large sweet potato (peeled and diced)
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp water
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
4 6-inch corn tortillas (warmed)
4 tsp light sour cream
1/2 cup pico de gallo or salsa
Directions
In a large nonstick pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the spinach and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the sweet potato, cumin, black pepper, and water to the pan. Sauté for 2 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 8 minutes.
Add the chicken to the pan and mix to incorporate. Heat for 2 minutes.
Fill each tortilla with 1/4 of the chicken and sweet potato mixture. Top with 1 Tsp. of sour cream and 2 Tbsp. of pico de gallo.
VEGAN TACOS
This recipe is by Taqueria Los Gorditos and was in the September 2009 issue of Bon Appetite. Makes 6 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 onion, sliced
2 teaspoons chopped seeded jalapeño chile
1 12-ounce package soy chorizo (sometimes labeled Soyrizo), casing removed
1 15.4-ounce to 16-ounce can vegetarian refried black beans
12 corn tortillas, warm
Diced onion
Chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add sliced onion and jalapeño; sauté until tender, about 10 minutes. Add soy chorizo and cook until beginning to brown in spots, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook beans in heavy small saucepan over low heat until heated through, stirring occasionally.
Stack 2 warm tortillas for each of 6 tacos. Spread scant 2 tablespoons beans over each stack. Top with soy chorizo mixture, dividing equally. Sprinkle with diced onion and cilantro.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
SLOW COOKER CHIPOTLE-HONEY CHICKEN TACOS
This yummy recipe is from Sarah DiGregorio in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Sarah wrote, "These may be the easiest tacos you ever make, but you’d never know it. The recipe hinges on just two ingredients: canned chipotles and honey, which slowly caramelize together for a glossy and incredibly tasty sauce. You may hesitate because there's so little liquid in the slow cooker with the chicken, but don't worry. That's how it's supposed to be. It allows the sauce to get a little sticky, which is exactly what you want. (Get the pressure cooker version of this recipe here.)"
Total Time: 3 to 5 hours; Yield: 4
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019693-slow-cooker-chipotle-honey-chicken-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
3 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
\1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 to 4 chipotles from a can of chipotles in adobo, finely chopped, plus 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
Juice of 1 lime
Warmed tortillas, for serving
Pickled onion, for serving (see Tip)
Sliced or cubed avocado, for serving
Preparation
Combine the chicken, honey, onion and garlic powders, cumin, salt and chipotle chiles and adobo sauce in a 5- to 8-quart slow cooker. Stir well. Cook for at least 3 hours and up to 5 hours on low. If it’s more convenient, you can let the slow cooker switch to warm after 5 hours. The dish will hold on warm for about another 3 hours before the chicken starts to become quite dry.
Using two forks, coarsely shred the chicken in the sauce. Stir in the black beans and lime juice. Cover and let the beans warm through, about 5 minutes. Taste and add more salt or lime juice if necessary. Serve in tortillas with pickled onion and avocado.
Tip
To make quick-pickled onions, thinly slice a red onion and put the slices in a bowl or container. Bring about 1-1/2 cups cider or white vinegar to a boil, and add about 3 heaping spoonfuls of sugar and a big pinch of salt to dissolve. You can also add a pinch of red-pepper flakes, a bay leaf or some dried oregano, if you like. Pour the hot vinegar over the onions and let them cool. They’re ready to use right away, and can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.
GARLICKY SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Kay Chun at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "A nod to gambas al ajillo, the immensely popular Spanish tapas dish of garlic prawns, this recipe tucks garlic shrimp into festive tacos that can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes. There are very few ingredients involved, but they all pack a punch. The quick-cooking shrimp are seared and finished in olive oil that’s infused with lots of fragrant garlic and rich smoky paprika. Be sure to save the robust oil that’s left in the skillet and enjoy it drizzled over your tacos. Dress them up with crisp sliced radishes, creamy avocado, spicy pico de gallo and fresh, herbaceous cilantro, plus a final squeeze of lime to brighten all the flavors."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025852-garlicky-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon lime juice, plus wedges for serving
Salt
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp (about 2 dozen)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
Warm corn tortillas, sliced avocado, sliced radishes, pico de gallo and cilantro leaves, for serving
Preparation
In a small bowl, combine sour cream and lime juice; season with salt. Mix well and set aside.
In a 12-inch skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over medium-high. Season shrimp with salt and add half to the skillet; sear for 1 minute on each side and transfer to a plate. Repeat with 1 tablespoon of the oil and the remaining shrimp.
Adjust heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil, the garlic and paprika to the skillet and stir until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add shrimp (and any accumulated juices) and cook, turning and basting, until opaque, just cooked through and nicely coated in the sauce, about 2 minutes. Transfer the shrimp and sauce to a shallow serving bowl.
To build tacos, pile a few shrimp in the center of each tortilla and drizzle with some of the garlic oil. Top with avocado, radishes, pico de gallo, cilantro and lime crema. Serve with lime wedges.
SWEET POTATO AND SPINACH CHICKEN TACOS
This is from Diabetes Food Hub, and begins, "Unexpected taco fillings are all the rage on the food truck scene. Make these rich and savory versions at home!"
Prep Time: 5 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Servings: 4; Serving Size: 1 taco
To view this online, go to https://www.diabetesfoodhub.org/recipes/sweet-potato-and-spinach-chicken-tacos.html.
Ingredients
1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
24 oz. baby spinach
1 (about 8 oz) large sweet potato (peeled and diced)
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 tbsp water
1 cup cooked shredded chicken
4 6-inch corn tortillas (warmed)
4 tsp light sour cream
1/2 cup pico de gallo or salsa
Directions
In a large nonstick pan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the spinach and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the sweet potato, cumin, black pepper, and water to the pan. Sauté for 2 minutes. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook for 8 minutes.
Add the chicken to the pan and mix to incorporate. Heat for 2 minutes.
Fill each tortilla with 1/4 of the chicken and sweet potato mixture. Top with 1 Tsp. of sour cream and 2 Tbsp. of pico de gallo.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Friday Recipes
It's finally Friday. Yay! Here are six recipes to help you through the weekend, including Sweet and Sour Chicken with Vegetables and Taco Zucchini Lasagna. Enjoy!
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
MAPLE SRIRACHA ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Kikkoman.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/recipes/maple-sriracha-roasted-vegetables/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2 cups brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup red onion, coarsely chopped
For Serving
1/2 teaspoon flaky salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together oil, maple syrup and sriracha. Add brussels sprouts, carrots and red onion. Mix well to coat.
Spread vegetables evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve hot topped with flaky sea salt.
MEATLOAF
This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "Traditional meatloaf was created as a tasty way to use up leftover vegetables and to stretch meat further during lean times. This easy meatloaf recipe is a classic version, blending ground beef, pork and veal with simple pantry seasonings, but you should feel free to use your preferred combination of meat, such as half pork and half beef. Milk-soaked bread ensures a tender meatloaf, and baking it freeform — on a baking sheet instead of a loaf pan — provides more surface area for the tangy-sweet tomato glaze to caramelize as it bakes. Leftover slices can be crisped in a skillet and served with a salad or tucked into a sandwich. Alternatively, freeze one uncooked loaf for the next time you need to put dinner on the table with ease; simply thaw the night before and bake as directed."
Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 6 to 8 servings (2 loaves)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020853-meatloaf. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap.)
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
5 large garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 (1/2-inch-thick) slices white sandwich bread (about 3 ounces), torn into small pieces
2/3 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf or curly parsley
2 tablespoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt or fine salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 pounds meatloaf mix (or any combination of ground beef, pork and/or veal)
For the Tomato Glaze
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Make the meatloaf: Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste until well combined; let cool.
In a large bowl, combine bread and milk, and mash with a spoon until a paste forms.
Add eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, thyme and cooled onion mixture and mix until well blended.
Add the beef, pork and veal, and mix gently to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Divide mixture into 2 equal portions and shape each into a 4-by-8-inch meatloaf on the prepared baking sheet. (If you like, use an 8-inch loaf pan to shape each meatloaf before unmolding for baking.)
Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Use a spoon to spread mixture over the top and sides of each meatloaf.
Bake until nicely browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of meatloaf registers 160 degrees, 45 to 55 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes before sprinkling the top with fresh parsley, if using, and slicing.
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Looking for a veggie-packed all-in-one chicken dish? This is it! This skillet meal takes no time to whip together. And, with its great color and nutrition plus authentic Asian flavor, it's sure to be a hit."
Cook Time: 12 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 4 ounces chicken strips and 3/4 cup veggies
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Chicken/Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-with-Vegetables-103208.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in syrup, drained and liquid reserved
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup fresh broccoli florets
1 medium-sized red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup fresh snow peas, trimmed
Directions
In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until no pink remains.
Add pineapple chunks, water chestnuts, broccoli, and red pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, combine the reserved pineapple liquid, the soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and sugar; mix well. Stir into skillet or wok and cook 3 minutes. Add snow peas and cook 1 minute, or until sauce has thickened. Serve immediately.
RANCHER'S MEATLOAF
This recipe is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Take your taste buds down to the ranch with this easy recipe for Rancher's Meatloaf. Filled with barbecue flavor, fiber-filled black beans, and good-for-ya veggies, this is one meatloaf that'll really get you saying, 'Yeehaw!'"
Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Beef/Ranchers-Meatloaf.
Ingredients
2 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 (8-1/4-ounce) can julienne carrots, drained
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup cornflake crumbs
3 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 cup egg substitute
\1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons low-carb barbecue sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, carrots, black beans, cornflake crumbs, minced onion, egg substitute, and pepper; mix well. Place in loaf pan. Spread barbecue sauce evenly over top.
Bake 1-1/2 hours, or until no pink remains. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Pour off excess liquid, if any, then slice and serve.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
This yumminess is from Kardea Brown on the Food Network.
Active Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour; Yield: 8 to 10 Servings; Level: Easy
To view this yumminess online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/super-decadent-mac-and-cheese-9831363.
Ingredients
1/4 cup unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the dish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound elbow macaroni
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed
4 ounces cream cheese
One 16-ounce block sharp Cheddar, shredded
1-1/2 cups extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
2 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
MAPLE SRIRACHA ROASTED VEGETABLES
This is from Kikkoman.
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://kikkomanusa.com/homecooks/recipes/maple-sriracha-roasted-vegetables/.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon Kikkoman® Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2 cups brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved
2 cups carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cup red onion, coarsely chopped
For Serving
1/2 teaspoon flaky salt
Directions
Preheat oven to 400ºF and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together oil, maple syrup and sriracha. Add brussels sprouts, carrots and red onion. Mix well to coat.
Spread vegetables evenly on baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
Serve hot topped with flaky sea salt.
MEATLOAF
This is from Kay Chun in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Kay wrote, "Traditional meatloaf was created as a tasty way to use up leftover vegetables and to stretch meat further during lean times. This easy meatloaf recipe is a classic version, blending ground beef, pork and veal with simple pantry seasonings, but you should feel free to use your preferred combination of meat, such as half pork and half beef. Milk-soaked bread ensures a tender meatloaf, and baking it freeform — on a baking sheet instead of a loaf pan — provides more surface area for the tangy-sweet tomato glaze to caramelize as it bakes. Leftover slices can be crisped in a skillet and served with a salad or tucked into a sandwich. Alternatively, freeze one uncooked loaf for the next time you need to put dinner on the table with ease; simply thaw the night before and bake as directed."
Total Time: 1-1/2 hours; Yield: 6 to 8 servings (2 loaves)
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020853-meatloaf. While you're at it, if you haven't signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more. Go ahead, I'll wait. (Tap, tap, tap.)
Ingredients
For the Meatloaf
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
1 large yellow onion, finely chopped (about 2 cups)
5 large garlic cloves, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
3 (1/2-inch-thick) slices white sandwich bread (about 3 ounces), torn into small pieces
2/3 cup whole milk
3 large eggs
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf or curly parsley
2 tablespoons kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt or fine salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3 pounds meatloaf mix (or any combination of ground beef, pork and/or veal)
For the Tomato Glaze
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Preparation
Make the meatloaf: Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste until well combined; let cool.
In a large bowl, combine bread and milk, and mash with a spoon until a paste forms.
Add eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, thyme and cooled onion mixture and mix until well blended.
Add the beef, pork and veal, and mix gently to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Divide mixture into 2 equal portions and shape each into a 4-by-8-inch meatloaf on the prepared baking sheet. (If you like, use an 8-inch loaf pan to shape each meatloaf before unmolding for baking.)
Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup and Worcestershire sauce until smooth. Use a spoon to spread mixture over the top and sides of each meatloaf.
Bake until nicely browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of meatloaf registers 160 degrees, 45 to 55 minutes. Let rest for 15 minutes before sprinkling the top with fresh parsley, if using, and slicing.
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN WITH VEGETABLES
This is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Looking for a veggie-packed all-in-one chicken dish? This is it! This skillet meal takes no time to whip together. And, with its great color and nutrition plus authentic Asian flavor, it's sure to be a hit."
Cook Time: 12 minutes; Serves: 6; Serving Size: 4 ounces chicken strips and 3/4 cup veggies
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Chicken/Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-with-Vegetables-103208.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canola oil
1-1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1 (20-ounce) can pineapple chunks in syrup, drained and liquid reserved
1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup fresh broccoli florets
1 medium-sized red bell pepper, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon sugar
1 cup fresh snow peas, trimmed
Directions
In a large skillet or wok, heat oil over high heat. Add chicken and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, or until no pink remains.
Add pineapple chunks, water chestnuts, broccoli, and red pepper. Stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the vegetables are crisp-tender.
In a small bowl, combine the reserved pineapple liquid, the soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, and sugar; mix well. Stir into skillet or wok and cook 3 minutes. Add snow peas and cook 1 minute, or until sauce has thickened. Serve immediately.
RANCHER'S MEATLOAF
This recipe is from Everyday Diabetic Recipes, and begins, "Take your taste buds down to the ranch with this easy recipe for Rancher's Meatloaf. Filled with barbecue flavor, fiber-filled black beans, and good-for-ya veggies, this is one meatloaf that'll really get you saying, 'Yeehaw!'"
Cook Time: 1 hour 35 minutes; Serves: 10
To view this online, go to https://www.everydaydiabeticrecipes.com/Beef/Ranchers-Meatloaf.
Ingredients
2 pounds extra lean ground beef
1 (8-1/4-ounce) can julienne carrots, drained
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup cornflake crumbs
3 tablespoons minced onion
1/2 cup egg substitute
\1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons low-carb barbecue sauce
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, carrots, black beans, cornflake crumbs, minced onion, egg substitute, and pepper; mix well. Place in loaf pan. Spread barbecue sauce evenly over top.
Bake 1-1/2 hours, or until no pink remains. Allow to sit 5 minutes. Pour off excess liquid, if any, then slice and serve.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Monday, May 11, 2026
Meatless Monday
It's time for another Meatless Monday. Here are six yummy vegetarian recipes to help you through the day, including Creamy Broccoli Soup and Chocolate Lover's Chocolate Mousse Pie. Enjoy!
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
APRICOT COBBLER SUPREME
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs melted shortening
2 cups cooked apricots, sweetened
Directions
Beat egg and sugar until creamy. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk and vanilla to creamed mixture; add shortening. Put fruit in greased baking dish; pour in batter. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until batter is done. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.
Any type fruit, fresh or canned, may be substituted for apricots. If using fresh fruit, sprinkle with 1cup sugar and heat before pouring in batter. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE LOVER'S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Chocolate crust with a milk chocolate coating, fluffy chocolate filling, whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle: this pie is not for the faint of heart!”
Serves: 12; Prep. time: 25 minutes; Cooking time: 11 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 3/4 cups (16 ounces) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
2 teaspoons Powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa and granulated sugar in 9-inch pie plate. Stir in butter until all ingredients are moistened; press onto bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 cup morsels over bottom of hot crust; let stand for 10 minutes or until all morsels are shiny. Spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust. Cool to room temperature.
Microwave 2 cups morsels and 3/4 cup cream in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
Beat remaining cream, sugar and vanilla extract in chilled small mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 2 cups whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Spoon into crust; swirl top. Garnish with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate until firm.
Microwave remaining 1/4 cup morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for about 30 seconds; knead until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle chocolate over pie; let stand a few minutes before serving.
CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet.
Serves 6; Serving size: 1 1/3 cup.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning
32 ounces low-sodium vegetable broth
6 cups frozen broccoli, chopped
6 tablespoons plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
Instructions
Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and lemon pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
Add vegetable broth and broccoli. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 9 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
Remove soup from the heat. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth.
Top each serving with a tablespoon of yogurt.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 90; Total fat: 3 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 135 mg; Total carbohydrate: 12 g; Dietary fiber: 6 g; Protein: 6 g
AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW
This recipe comes from Publix.
Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained
1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)
1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions
Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.
Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.
CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “A little-known fact: Creamy chocolate-covered peppermint patties are not hard to make at home. Here, the minty filling and chocolate coating are layered onto a cocoa-imbued shortbread base, which adds a cookie crunch to each bite. These keep well, so you can make them a week ahead; store airtight at room temperature. They also freeze well. The coconut oil makes the chocolate coating slightly shinier and a little more brittle in a good way, so use it if you have it. But if you don't have it on hand, you can omit it.”
Yield: 36 squares; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, plus chilling.
This was featured in“Peppermint Patties Worthy Of Dessert” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Shortbread:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cupgranulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
For the Peppermint Filling and Chocolate Top:
3 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 1/4 teaspoons/10 milliliters peppermint extract, or to taste
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 60 percent cocoa solids), chopped
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches of paper to hang over the sides.
Make the shortbread: In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Add butter and process until a smooth dough forms. Press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake until firm to the touch, and sides of the crust are beginning to pull away from the pan, about 25 minutes. Cool completely.
Make the filling: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar, butter, cream and peppermint extract. Beat until mixture forms a thick, smooth paste. Press filling evenly over shortbread. Chill to set the filling for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
Use parchment paper overhang to lift the shortbread and peppermint out of the baking pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares (there should be 36 squares). Place squares on a rack placed over a parchment-lined sheet tray, and let them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt 7 ounces chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from heat, add remaining 2 ounces chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes.
Add coconut oil, if using, and stir the chocolate until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon chocolate on top of a cut peppermint square, using the back of the spoon to spread chocolate to the edges. Be sure to fully cover the top of the square with chocolate. (Leave the sides exposed, though it's O.K. if some of the chocolate drips down.) Repeat with remaining squares.
Let squares sit at room temperature until chocolate is set, at least 1 hour.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
APRICOT COBBLER SUPREME
This comes from the infamous long-since-forgotten emailing list.
Ingredients
1 egg
1 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs melted shortening
2 cups cooked apricots, sweetened
Directions
Beat egg and sugar until creamy. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk and vanilla to creamed mixture; add shortening. Put fruit in greased baking dish; pour in batter. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes or until batter is done. Serve warm with cream or ice cream.
Any type fruit, fresh or canned, may be substituted for apricots. If using fresh fruit, sprinkle with 1cup sugar and heat before pouring in batter. Enjoy!
CHOCOLATE LOVER'S CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE
This recipe is from FamilyTime, and begins, “Chocolate crust with a milk chocolate coating, fluffy chocolate filling, whipped cream and a chocolate drizzle: this pie is not for the faint of heart!”
Serves: 12; Prep. time: 25 minutes; Cooking time: 11 minutes
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Baking Cocoa
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 3/4 cups (16 ounces) NESTLÉ ® TOLL HOUSE ® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
2 teaspoons Powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine graham cracker crumbs, cocoa and granulated sugar in 9-inch pie plate. Stir in butter until all ingredients are moistened; press onto bottom and up sides of pie plate. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Sprinkle 1/2 cup morsels over bottom of hot crust; let stand for 10 minutes or until all morsels are shiny. Spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust. Cool to room temperature.
Microwave 2 cups morsels and 3/4 cup cream in large, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; stir. Microwave at additional 10- to 20-second intervals, stirring until smooth. Cool to room temperature.
Beat remaining cream, sugar and vanilla extract in chilled small mixer bowl until soft peaks form. Fold 2 cups whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Spoon into crust; swirl top. Garnish with remaining whipped cream. Refrigerate until firm.
Microwave remaining 1/4 cup morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for about 30 seconds; knead until smooth. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to drizzle chocolate over pie; let stand a few minutes before serving.
CREAMY BROCCOLI SOUP
This is from The Mayo Clinic Diet.
Serves 6; Serving size: 1 1/3 cup.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons thyme leaves or 2 tablespoons fresh chopped thyme
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning
32 ounces low-sodium vegetable broth
6 cups frozen broccoli, chopped
6 tablespoons plain, fat-free Greek yogurt
Instructions
Heat oil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium to high heat.
Add onion and cook for about 4 minutes, until soft and translucent.
Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes and lemon pepper, cooking for an additional minute.
Add vegetable broth and broccoli. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for 8 to 9 minutes, until broccoli is tender.
Remove soup from the heat. Puree in batches in a blender until smooth.
Top each serving with a tablespoon of yogurt.
Nutritional Information: Amount per serving: Calories: 90; Total fat: 3 g; Saturated fat: 0 g; Sodium: 135 mg; Total carbohydrate: 12 g; Dietary fiber: 6 g; Protein: 6 g
AFRICAN-STYLE SWEET POTATO AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH STEW
This recipe comes from Publix.
Servings: 8; Total Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes; Active Time: 10 minutes
To view this recipe online, click here.
Ingredients
2 medium sweet potatoes
1 can chickpeas (garbanzos), (15–16 oz), drained
1 (14.5-oz) can no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (10-oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
8 oz prediced bell pepper mix (1 1/2 cups)
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
1 teaspoon chunky garlic paste
2 1/2 cups vegetable broth (or stock)
1 package fresh (or frozen) prediced butternut squash (15–16 oz)
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions
Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Drain chickpeas. Place in slow cooker: sweet potatoes, chickpeas, tomatoes, bell peppers, seasoning, garlic paste, and broth; cover and cook on HIGH for 2 1/2–3 hours (or LOW for 4–6 hours) or until potatoes are tender.
Stir in squash during last 30 minutes of cook time. Chop cilantro and peanuts.
Remove 1 cup of liquid from stew and whisk with peanut butter until blended. Stir peanut butter mixture into stew. Serve topped with cilantro and peanuts.
CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT BARS
This is from Melissa Clark in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter, and begins, “A little-known fact: Creamy chocolate-covered peppermint patties are not hard to make at home. Here, the minty filling and chocolate coating are layered onto a cocoa-imbued shortbread base, which adds a cookie crunch to each bite. These keep well, so you can make them a week ahead; store airtight at room temperature. They also freeze well. The coconut oil makes the chocolate coating slightly shinier and a little more brittle in a good way, so use it if you have it. But if you don't have it on hand, you can omit it.”
Yield: 36 squares; Time: 1 hour 10 minutes, plus chilling.
This was featured in“Peppermint Patties Worthy Of Dessert” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Shortbread:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cupgranulated sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick)
For the Peppermint Filling and Chocolate Top:
3 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 1/4 teaspoons/10 milliliters peppermint extract, or to taste
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate (at least 60 percent cocoa solids), chopped
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil (optional)
Preparation
Heat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing 2 inches of paper to hang over the sides.
Make the shortbread: In a food processor, pulse together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Add butter and process until a smooth dough forms. Press dough evenly into the bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake until firm to the touch, and sides of the crust are beginning to pull away from the pan, about 25 minutes. Cool completely.
Make the filling: In a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine confectioners' sugar, butter, cream and peppermint extract. Beat until mixture forms a thick, smooth paste. Press filling evenly over shortbread. Chill to set the filling for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
Use parchment paper overhang to lift the shortbread and peppermint out of the baking pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 1 1/2-inch squares (there should be 36 squares). Place squares on a rack placed over a parchment-lined sheet tray, and let them come to room temperature for about 15 minutes.
In the top of a double boiler or in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, melt 7 ounces chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove from heat, add remaining 2 ounces chocolate and let sit for 2 minutes.
Add coconut oil, if using, and stir the chocolate until smooth. Spoon 1 teaspoon chocolate on top of a cut peppermint square, using the back of the spoon to spread chocolate to the edges. Be sure to fully cover the top of the square with chocolate. (Leave the sides exposed, though it's O.K. if some of the chocolate drips down.) Repeat with remaining squares.
Let squares sit at room temperature until chocolate is set, at least 1 hour.
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday. Yum! Today's offerings include Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos and Chicken Tacos with Chipotle. Enjoy!
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Enjoy!
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. He wrote, “For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with “chipotle chiles in adobo” on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “Chichen Tacos Let You Think Fast” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For Garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
SLOW COOKER SMOKY PULLED PORK TACOS
This comes from Heidi, self-described “photo-taking, storytelling, magazine and e-cookbook designing food blogger” for FoodieCrush. If you’ve never heard of her or checked out her blog, I suggest checking it out ASAP. Seriously.
For this recipe, Heidi wrote, “Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.”
Total Time: 15 hours; Cook Time: 15 hours; Serves: 3-4 pounds pulled pork.
To view this on FoodieCrush, go to https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-tacos/.
Ingredients
6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
1 pint jar Smoky Roasted Salsa or smoky-flavored store-bought salsa
6 whole cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3-4 canned chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mexican coleslaw
Guacamole
Cotija cheese
Cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
Place the pork shoulder in a 6½ to 8 quart slow cooker. In a medium size bowl, mIx the salsa with the smashed garlic cloves and the chipotles in adobo sauce. Pour the salsa mixture over the pork. Cover with the lid of the slow cooker and cook on low for 12-14 hour, or until the pork falls off of the bone. Chill the crock with the contents still in it until cold all the way through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrape away the congealed fat around the pork shoulder and use a bit of the fat to grease a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Discard the rest of the fat but reserve the cooking juices.
Transfer the meat to a large cutting board and scrape away any visible fat. Use your hands to shred the meat into same-size pieces. Transfer the meat to the baking dish and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is hot all the way through. At the 10 minute mark, check to see if the meat is getting too dry. If so, toss it with a fork to keep it from drying out too much.
While the pork bakes, strain the cooking juices through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook until reduced to 1/4 its original volume.
When the pork is hot, pour the reduced pan juices over the pork and toss to coat.
Warm the tortillas, either in a damp towel in a warm oven at 200 degrees F, or lightly char the tortillas over the flame of a gas stove. Assemble the tacos with a 1/3-1/2 cup pulled pork, Mexican coleslaw, guacamole and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve with more smoky salsa if desired.
Pulled Pork recipe from Not Your Mama's Canning Book, by Rebecca Lindamood.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
CHEESY TACO SKILLET
This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything you love in beef tacos, only without the tortillas.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
kosher salt
1 lb. ground beef
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 c. black beans
1 tbsp. Hot sauce
1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
1 c. shredded Cheddar
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and green onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chili powder and cumin and stir until combined, then season with salt.
Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.
Add diced tomatoes and black beans and stir until combined. Stir in hot sauce, Monterey jack, and cheddar. Cover with a lid and let melt, 2 minutes, then garnish with green onions and serve.
TACOS WITH SPICY TOFU, TOMATOES AND CHARD
This is from Martha Rose Schulman in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Martha wrote, “In these tacos, tofu stands in for meat in a vegan picadillo, cooked in a modified salsa ranchera. I’ve never been one for meat “substitutes,” and I normally don’t advocate using tofu in anything other than Asian dishes. But I find this pretty irresistible, a sort of vegan picadillo. You can make it spicier by adding more chiles, milder by using less. The tofu is cooked in a modified salsa ranchera; being tofu, it absorbs the sweet and spicy flavors of the tomatoes and chiles. I used firm tofu and mashed it with the back of my spoon. Silken tofu is also a good choice, though then you will have something more akin to Mexican scrambled eggs.”
Yield: 8 tacos, 4 servings; Time: About 45 minutes
This was featured in “Vegetarian Taco Night” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
1 pound tomatoes
1/2 pound Swiss chard, stemmed, leaves washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
1 small or 1/2 medium red onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon lightly toasted cumin seeds, ground
1 teaspoon mild chili powder
1 to 2 serrano or jalapeño chiles (to taste), seeded if desired and minced
1 14-ounce box firm tofu, drained and cut into medium-size cubes
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (more to taste)
8 warm corn tortillas
Salsa fresca (optional)
Preparation
Preheat broiler with rack set about 4 inches from the heat. Cover a baking sheet with foil. Place tomatoes on foil and broil for 6 minutes, until blackened in spots or all over. Using tongs, flip over and broil for another 4 to 6 minutes. The tomatoes should be charred and cooked through. Remove from oven and tip, with juices, into a bowl. Allow to cool until you can handle them, then core and discard skins. Purée, along with juices in the bowl, in a blender or a food processor.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem and wash the chard. When water comes to a boil, add salt to taste and chard. Blanch for 1 minute and transfer to a bowl of cold water. Drain and take up chard by the handful to squeeze out excess water. Cut in 1/4-inch wide strips and set aside.
Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add onion. Cook, stirring, until tender and beginning to color, 5 to 8 minutes. Add a generous pinch of salt, the garlic, cumin and chili powder and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add puréed tomatoes, which should sizzle as soon as they hit the pan. Cook, stirring often, until purée thickens and leaves a canal when you run your spoon down the middle, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt.
Add minced chiles and tofu, and mash tofu into the tomatoes using the back of your spoon. Add Swiss chard and salt to taste, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes, stirring and mashing tofu. Stir in cilantro. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Heat tortillas and top with tofu mix. Serve with salsa on the side if desired.
Tip
Advance preparation: The cooked tofu keeps well for a couple of days.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
Enjoy!
CHICKEN TACOS WITH CHIPOTLE
This comes from David Tanis in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. He wrote, “For good tacos, you need fresh, hot tortillas and a zesty filling. Canned chipotle chiles will do the trick with their smoky heat; it's an easy way to get flavor fast. Look for small cans with “chipotle chiles in adobo” on the label. And Mexican groceries generally have better-quality tortillas than the ones you find in supermarkets; it's worth seeking those out and heating them gently over steam, or by toasting them in a dry cast-iron pan. You can also use this recipe with precooked chicken, which makes this already quite simple recipe as easy as falling out of bed.”
Yield: 4 servings; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “Chichen Tacos Let You Think Fast” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
For the Tacos:
4 large bone-in chicken thighs, about 1 1/2 pounds
3 scallions, left whole
1 bay leaf
1 thyme branch
3 black peppercorns
1 allspice berry
2 cloves
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
2 or 3 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
3 tablespoons adobo sauce, from the can
1/2 cup broth (use broth from simmered chicken)
8 fresh corn tortillas
For Garnish:
1 small white onion, finely chopped, soaked in ice water for 10 minutes and drained
Thinly sliced serrano chile
Thinly sliced radishes
Sliced avocado
Crumbled queso fresco or mild feta cheese
Crème fraîche or Mexican crema
Cilantro sprigs
Dried oregano
Lime wedges
Preparation
Put chicken thighs in a saucepan and cover with 3 cups water. Add scallions, bay leaf, thyme, peppercorns, allspice, cloves and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Simmer for 30 minutes, then remove chicken and cool. Shred chicken with your fingers, discarding chicken skin and bone. Strain broth and reserve. You should have about 2 cups shredded chicken.
Put olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced yellow onion, season with salt and cook until softened and a bit browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cumin and cook for 1 minute more. Add chopped chipotle chile and adobo sauce and stir to combine. Add shredded chicken, salt lightly and stir to coat. Add chicken broth and simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, until sauce has thickened somewhat. Keep warm.
Heat the tortillas over steam or by your favorite method, keeping them soft and pliable.
Build the tacos quickly: Put a spoonful of the saucy chicken in the center of each tortilla. Top with a teaspoon of chopped white onion, a few slivers of serrano chile, some radish and avocado slices, a teaspoon of queso fresco and a teaspoon of crème fraîche. Add a few cilantro springs and a small pinch of oregano. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
SLOW COOKER SMOKY PULLED PORK TACOS
This comes from Heidi, self-described “photo-taking, storytelling, magazine and e-cookbook designing food blogger” for FoodieCrush. If you’ve never heard of her or checked out her blog, I suggest checking it out ASAP. Seriously.
For this recipe, Heidi wrote, “Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.”
Total Time: 15 hours; Cook Time: 15 hours; Serves: 3-4 pounds pulled pork.
To view this on FoodieCrush, go to https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-tacos/.
Ingredients
6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
1 pint jar Smoky Roasted Salsa or smoky-flavored store-bought salsa
6 whole cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3-4 canned chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mexican coleslaw
Guacamole
Cotija cheese
Cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
Place the pork shoulder in a 6½ to 8 quart slow cooker. In a medium size bowl, mIx the salsa with the smashed garlic cloves and the chipotles in adobo sauce. Pour the salsa mixture over the pork. Cover with the lid of the slow cooker and cook on low for 12-14 hour, or until the pork falls off of the bone. Chill the crock with the contents still in it until cold all the way through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrape away the congealed fat around the pork shoulder and use a bit of the fat to grease a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Discard the rest of the fat but reserve the cooking juices.
Transfer the meat to a large cutting board and scrape away any visible fat. Use your hands to shred the meat into same-size pieces. Transfer the meat to the baking dish and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is hot all the way through. At the 10 minute mark, check to see if the meat is getting too dry. If so, toss it with a fork to keep it from drying out too much.
While the pork bakes, strain the cooking juices through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook until reduced to 1/4 its original volume.
When the pork is hot, pour the reduced pan juices over the pork and toss to coat.
Warm the tortillas, either in a damp towel in a warm oven at 200 degrees F, or lightly char the tortillas over the flame of a gas stove. Assemble the tacos with a 1/3-1/2 cup pulled pork, Mexican coleslaw, guacamole and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve with more smoky salsa if desired.
Pulled Pork recipe from Not Your Mama's Canning Book, by Rebecca Lindamood.
CHEESY TACO MEATLOAF
This comes from Campbell’s Kitchen, begins, “It takes just 10 minutes and a few ingredients to put together this scrumptious meatloaf...and when it comes out of the oven you've got two family favorites, tacos and meatloaf, combined into one tasty dish!”
Prep Time: 10 minutes; Total Time: 1 hour 16 minutes; Serves: 8 people
To view this online, go to https://www.campbells.com/kitchen/recipes/cheesy-taco-meatloaf/.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1 jar (16 ounces) Pace® Chunky Salsa - Mild or Pace® Picante Sauce - Medium
1 1/2 ounces tortilla chips, crushed (about 1/2 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions
Set the oven to 350°F. Thoroughly mix the beef, 1 cup salsa, tortilla chips, egg, chili powder, salt and black pepper in a large bowl. Place the beef mixture into a 3-quart shallow baking pan and shape into an 9x4-inch loaf.
Bake for 1 hour or until the meatloaf is cooked through.
Spread the remaining salsa over the meatloaf and sprinkle with the cheese. Bake for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
CHEESY TACO SKILLET
This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything you love in beef tacos, only without the tortillas.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
kosher salt
1 lb. ground beef
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 c. black beans
1 tbsp. Hot sauce
1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
1 c. shredded Cheddar
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and green onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chili powder and cumin and stir until combined, then season with salt.
Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.
Add diced tomatoes and black beans and stir until combined. Stir in hot sauce, Monterey jack, and cheddar. Cover with a lid and let melt, 2 minutes, then garnish with green onions and serve.
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Taco Tuesday
It's time for another Taco Tuesday.
It might seem strange, but tacos were not a big thing in my family when I was growing up. It wasn't until my mom, sister, brother, and I moved to Florida that we started having tacos on a regular basis. I was in my late teens at the time.
Of course, the tacos we had were the typical ground-beef-lettuce-tomatoes-and-shredded-cheese on a hard taco shell.
Fortunately, tacos have evolved over the years to include a variety of meat and veggies; some are even fine for vegetarians. To that end, today's offerings include Loaded Guacamole Vegetarian Tacos and Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos. Enjoy!
SPICY TURKEY TACOS
This is from Judy Kim on Delish and begins, “Thought ground turkey was blah? Think again.”
According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab.” Check out both Delish and The Judy Lab.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 hard corn taco shells
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey
4 tsp. Mexican seasoning
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 c. crushed tomatoes
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 c. grated mozzarella
1 c. Pico de Gallo
1 c. sour cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Place taco shells on a sheet pan.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and add ground turkey; brown while breaking up with a wooden spoon. Season with Mexican seasoning, cayenne, salt and pepper.
Add garlic and onions; sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and cilantro and stir until warmed through. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm.
Just before serving, bake taco shells until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Spoon spicy turkey mixture into taco shells and top with mozzarella, pico de gallo and cilantro. Serve with sour cream.
CHEESY TACO SKILLET
This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything you love in beef tacos, only without the tortillas.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
kosher salt
1 lb. ground beef
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 c. black beans
1 tbsp. Hot sauce
1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
1 c. shredded Cheddar
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and green onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chili powder and cumin and stir until combined, then season with salt.
Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.
Add diced tomatoes and black beans and stir until combined. Stir in hot sauce, Monterey jack, and cheddar. Cover with a lid and let melt, 2 minutes, then garnish with green onions and serve.
SLOW COOKER SMOKY PULLED PORK TACOS
This comes from Heidi, self-described “photo-taking, storytelling, magazine and e-cookbook designing food blogger” for FoodieCrush. If you’ve never heard of her or checked out her blog, I suggest checking it out ASAP. Seriously.
For this recipe, Heidi wrote, “Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.”
Total Time: 15 hours; Cook Time: 15 hours; Serves: 3-4 pounds pulled pork.
To view this on FoodieCrush, go to https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-tacos/.
Ingredients
6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
1 pint jar Smoky Roasted Salsa or smoky-flavored store-bought salsa
6 whole cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3-4 canned chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mexican coleslaw
Guacamole
Cotija cheese
Cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
Place the pork shoulder in a 6½ to 8 quart slow cooker. In a medium size bowl, mIx the salsa with the smashed garlic cloves and the chipotles in adobo sauce. Pour the salsa mixture over the pork. Cover with the lid of the slow cooker and cook on low for 12-14 hour, or until the pork falls off of the bone. Chill the crock with the contents still in it until cold all the way through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrape away the congealed fat around the pork shoulder and use a bit of the fat to grease a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Discard the rest of the fat but reserve the cooking juices.
Transfer the meat to a large cutting board and scrape away any visible fat. Use your hands to shred the meat into same-size pieces. Transfer the meat to the baking dish and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is hot all the way through. At the 10 minute mark, check to see if the meat is getting too dry. If so, toss it with a fork to keep it from drying out too much.
While the pork bakes, strain the cooking juices through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook until reduced to 1/4 its original volume.
When the pork is hot, pour the reduced pan juices over the pork and toss to coat.
Warm the tortillas, either in a damp towel in a warm oven at 200 degrees F, or lightly char the tortillas over the flame of a gas stove. Assemble the tacos with a 1/3-1/2 cup pulled pork, Mexican coleslaw, guacamole and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve with more smoky salsa if desired.
Pulled Pork recipe from Not Your Mama's Canning Book, by Rebecca Lindamood.
LOADED GUACAMOLE VEGETARIAN TACOS
This is from Karen, the Soup Addict. Karen wrote, “Veggie-loaded with lots of guacamole, black beans, corn, and peppers, these vegetarian tacos are full-on yummy.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 8 minutes; Total Time: 28 minutes; Serves: 6 tacos.
This can be viewed online at http://soupaddict.com/2014/06/loaded-guacamole-vegetarian-tacos/.
Ingredients
for the guacamole
2 avocados, pit and skin removed, roughly chopped
1/2 of a lime
1/2 of a lemon
1/4 salt (plus extra as needed)
1/3 cup corn kernels (raw, from about 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons diced poblano pepper
1 tablespoon diced red onion
1 tablespoon diced jalapeño pepper
2 teaspoons minced cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
for the black beans
1 can black beans (15 ounces)
1/3 cup corn kerns (raw, from 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup poblano peppers, diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
for the tacos
6 small flour or soft corn tortillas
2 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
hot sauce, such as Cholula or Sriracha (optional)
lime and/or lemon wedges
Instructions
prepare the guacamole
Mash the avocado in a medium bowl with a fork (or molcajete) until it reaches your desired consistency, chunky or smooth. Add a small squeeze each of lime and lemon juice, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well and taste. Add more lime juice, lemon juice, and salt as you like. Stir in the remaining guacamole ingredients. (To make ahead, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and press gently against the guacamole. The entire surface of the guac should be touching and covered by the wrap, to keep air out. Then, cover the bowl with a second sheet of wrap, and refrigerate.)
prepare the black beans
Add all of the black bean ingredients to a 2 quart sauce pot and heat over medium-low until hot. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to a very warm, eatable temp (a few minutes should do it).
assemble
If the tortillas are not soft and pliable (or if you like your tortillas warm), stack them on a microwaveable plate, separated with paper towels, and heat for 20 to 30 seconds.
Line half of each tortilla with lettuce. Spoon the black bean mixture over the lettuce (on half of the tortilla). Spoon guacamole on the other half. Top with a few shakes of hot sauce (optional) and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve with lemon and lime wedges.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Yewande wrote, "Spiced shrimp and quick-pickled red cabbage fill corn tortillas for dressed-up tacos that are easy to put together and sure to be a favorite. The seasoned shrimp is cooked in a heated skillet for a slight char, but resist the temptation to move the pieces before the contact side is properly browned. You can keep the add-ons simple with slices of creamy avocado, bits of fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!"
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023929-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1-1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (1/4 small cabbage)
2 limes
12 corn tortillas
Guacamole
Sour cream or crema
Pico de gallo
Cilantro leaves
Preparation
In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, black pepper and 1 tablespoon oil. Season the shrimp lightly with salt. If you have time, you can refrigerate the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
Squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lime. Slice the remaining lime into wedges for serving. In a small bowl, quick pickle the cabbage by combining the shredded cabbage with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Toss together and set aside.
Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Warm a tortilla in the dry skillet, flipping once, until soft and pliable, about 30 seconds. Place in a dish towel to keep warm. Repeat until all the tortillas are warmed, stacking and wrapping them in the dish towel until ready to use.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-high. Add half of the shrimp and cook without stirring until the contact side is browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Flip to cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes, until the shrimp is fully cooked. Move to a plate and cook the remaining shrimp, heating up the remaining tablespoon of oil before adding the shrimp to get a nice sear.
To assemble, spread some guacamole down the middle of each tortilla. Divide the shrimp among the warm tortillas and top with crema, pico de gallo, quick pickled cabbage and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with lime slices for squeezing.
It might seem strange, but tacos were not a big thing in my family when I was growing up. It wasn't until my mom, sister, brother, and I moved to Florida that we started having tacos on a regular basis. I was in my late teens at the time.
Of course, the tacos we had were the typical ground-beef-lettuce-tomatoes-and-shredded-cheese on a hard taco shell.
Fortunately, tacos have evolved over the years to include a variety of meat and veggies; some are even fine for vegetarians. To that end, today's offerings include Loaded Guacamole Vegetarian Tacos and Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos. Enjoy!
SPICY TURKEY TACOS
This is from Judy Kim on Delish and begins, “Thought ground turkey was blah? Think again.”
According to Delish, “Judy Kim is a NYC-based food stylist, recipe developer, and photographer. She also writes recipes for her website The Judy Lab.” Check out both Delish and The Judy Lab.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 15 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
8 hard corn taco shells
1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey
4 tsp. Mexican seasoning
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, diced
1 c. crushed tomatoes
1/4 c. chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish
1 c. grated mozzarella
1 c. Pico de Gallo
1 c. sour cream
Directions
Preheat oven to 375°. Place taco shells on a sheet pan.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil and add ground turkey; brown while breaking up with a wooden spoon. Season with Mexican seasoning, cayenne, salt and pepper.
Add garlic and onions; sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add tomatoes and cilantro and stir until warmed through. Turn off heat and cover to keep warm.
Just before serving, bake taco shells until warmed through, about 2 minutes. Spoon spicy turkey mixture into taco shells and top with mozzarella, pico de gallo and cilantro. Serve with sour cream.
CHEESY TACO SKILLET
This is from Lindsay Funston on Delish. The recipe begins, “Everything you love in beef tacos, only without the tortillas.
Total Time: 20 minutes; Prep Time: 5 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1/4 c. sliced green onions, plus more for garnish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. ground cumin
kosher salt
1 lb. ground beef
1 15-oz. can diced tomatoes
1 c. black beans
1 tbsp. Hot sauce
1 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
1 c. shredded Cheddar
Directions
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add bell pepper and green onions and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute. Add chili powder and cumin and stir until combined, then season with salt.
Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 5 minutes more.
Add diced tomatoes and black beans and stir until combined. Stir in hot sauce, Monterey jack, and cheddar. Cover with a lid and let melt, 2 minutes, then garnish with green onions and serve.
SLOW COOKER SMOKY PULLED PORK TACOS
This comes from Heidi, self-described “photo-taking, storytelling, magazine and e-cookbook designing food blogger” for FoodieCrush. If you’ve never heard of her or checked out her blog, I suggest checking it out ASAP. Seriously.
For this recipe, Heidi wrote, “Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.”
Total Time: 15 hours; Cook Time: 15 hours; Serves: 3-4 pounds pulled pork.
To view this on FoodieCrush, go to https://www.foodiecrush.com/slow-cooker-pulled-pork-tacos/.
Ingredients
6-8 pound bone-in pork shoulder
1 pint jar Smoky Roasted Salsa or smoky-flavored store-bought salsa
6 whole cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
3-4 canned chipotles in adobo sauce, chopped
6-inch corn or flour tortillas
Mexican coleslaw
Guacamole
Cotija cheese
Cilantro leaves, chopped
Instructions
Place the pork shoulder in a 6½ to 8 quart slow cooker. In a medium size bowl, mIx the salsa with the smashed garlic cloves and the chipotles in adobo sauce. Pour the salsa mixture over the pork. Cover with the lid of the slow cooker and cook on low for 12-14 hour, or until the pork falls off of the bone. Chill the crock with the contents still in it until cold all the way through.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Scrape away the congealed fat around the pork shoulder and use a bit of the fat to grease a 9 X 13-inch baking dish. Discard the rest of the fat but reserve the cooking juices.
Transfer the meat to a large cutting board and scrape away any visible fat. Use your hands to shred the meat into same-size pieces. Transfer the meat to the baking dish and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes or until the pork is hot all the way through. At the 10 minute mark, check to see if the meat is getting too dry. If so, toss it with a fork to keep it from drying out too much.
While the pork bakes, strain the cooking juices through a fine mesh sieve into a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to simmer and cook until reduced to 1/4 its original volume.
When the pork is hot, pour the reduced pan juices over the pork and toss to coat.
Warm the tortillas, either in a damp towel in a warm oven at 200 degrees F, or lightly char the tortillas over the flame of a gas stove. Assemble the tacos with a 1/3-1/2 cup pulled pork, Mexican coleslaw, guacamole and sprinkle with cotija cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve with more smoky salsa if desired.
Pulled Pork recipe from Not Your Mama's Canning Book, by Rebecca Lindamood.
LOADED GUACAMOLE VEGETARIAN TACOS
This is from Karen, the Soup Addict. Karen wrote, “Veggie-loaded with lots of guacamole, black beans, corn, and peppers, these vegetarian tacos are full-on yummy.”
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 8 minutes; Total Time: 28 minutes; Serves: 6 tacos.
This can be viewed online at http://soupaddict.com/2014/06/loaded-guacamole-vegetarian-tacos/.
Ingredients
for the guacamole
2 avocados, pit and skin removed, roughly chopped
1/2 of a lime
1/2 of a lemon
1/4 salt (plus extra as needed)
1/3 cup corn kernels (raw, from about 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
2 tablespoons diced poblano pepper
1 tablespoon diced red onion
1 tablespoon diced jalapeño pepper
2 teaspoons minced cilantro
1 clove garlic, minced
for the black beans
1 can black beans (15 ounces)
1/3 cup corn kerns (raw, from 1/2 of a large cob, or thawed from frozen)
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1/4 cup poblano peppers, diced
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
for the tacos
6 small flour or soft corn tortillas
2 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce
1 tablespoon minced cilantro
hot sauce, such as Cholula or Sriracha (optional)
lime and/or lemon wedges
Instructions
prepare the guacamole
Mash the avocado in a medium bowl with a fork (or molcajete) until it reaches your desired consistency, chunky or smooth. Add a small squeeze each of lime and lemon juice, along with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well and taste. Add more lime juice, lemon juice, and salt as you like. Stir in the remaining guacamole ingredients. (To make ahead, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and press gently against the guacamole. The entire surface of the guac should be touching and covered by the wrap, to keep air out. Then, cover the bowl with a second sheet of wrap, and refrigerate.)
prepare the black beans
Add all of the black bean ingredients to a 2 quart sauce pot and heat over medium-low until hot. Turn off the heat and allow to cool to a very warm, eatable temp (a few minutes should do it).
assemble
If the tortillas are not soft and pliable (or if you like your tortillas warm), stack them on a microwaveable plate, separated with paper towels, and heat for 20 to 30 seconds.
Line half of each tortilla with lettuce. Spoon the black bean mixture over the lettuce (on half of the tortilla). Spoon guacamole on the other half. Top with a few shakes of hot sauce (optional) and a sprinkle of cilantro. Serve with lemon and lime wedges.
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
SHRIMP TACOS
This is from Yewande Komolafe at The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this yumminess, Yewande wrote, "Spiced shrimp and quick-pickled red cabbage fill corn tortillas for dressed-up tacos that are easy to put together and sure to be a favorite. The seasoned shrimp is cooked in a heated skillet for a slight char, but resist the temptation to move the pieces before the contact side is properly browned. You can keep the add-ons simple with slices of creamy avocado, bits of fresh cilantro and acidic bursts from lime slices. Or bulk up with dollops of guacamole, chunky pico de gallo, and sour cream. The choice is yours!"
Total Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1023929-shrimp-tacos. While you're at it, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Great recipes, guides, and more.
Ingredients
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp, tails removed
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola
Kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
1-1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage (1/4 small cabbage)
2 limes
12 corn tortillas
Guacamole
Sour cream or crema
Pico de gallo
Cilantro leaves
Preparation
In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the cumin, cayenne, onion powder, garlic, black pepper and 1 tablespoon oil. Season the shrimp lightly with salt. If you have time, you can refrigerate the shrimp to marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
Squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from 1 lime. Slice the remaining lime into wedges for serving. In a small bowl, quick pickle the cabbage by combining the shredded cabbage with the lime juice and a pinch of salt. Toss together and set aside.
Heat a large (12-inch) skillet over medium. Warm a tortilla in the dry skillet, flipping once, until soft and pliable, about 30 seconds. Place in a dish towel to keep warm. Repeat until all the tortillas are warmed, stacking and wrapping them in the dish towel until ready to use.
Heat a tablespoon of oil in the skillet over medium-high. Add half of the shrimp and cook without stirring until the contact side is browned around the edges, about 3 minutes. Flip to cook the other side for 1 to 2 minutes, until the shrimp is fully cooked. Move to a plate and cook the remaining shrimp, heating up the remaining tablespoon of oil before adding the shrimp to get a nice sear.
To assemble, spread some guacamole down the middle of each tortilla. Divide the shrimp among the warm tortillas and top with crema, pico de gallo, quick pickled cabbage and cilantro leaves. Serve immediately with lime slices for squeezing.
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Lasagna
If Lasagna is your thing, tonight's post is sure to please. (Even "Weird Al" Yankovic is into Lansagna, for starters, so there ya go.)
So, now for today's six lasagna recipes, including Classic Lasagna and Barbecue Lasagna. Enjoy!
WEEKNIGHT SPINACH AND RICOTTA LASAGNA
This is from Hetty Lui McKinnon in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Hetty wrote, "While it is hard to beat the perfection of a meticulously layered lasagna, this cheater’s version delivers all the comforting vibes with minimal effort. This weeknight dish requires no chopping; just mixing and baking. Choose ease, with oven-ready lasagna sheets, as they don’t require preboiling and will cook quicker than the regular ones. (Fresh lasagna sheets will certainly work, too, with the same cooking time.) Don’t drain the thawed spinach, as the extra moisture will help keep this dish moist and saucy. The easiest way to thaw spinach is to leave it overnight in the fridge; it can also be defrosted quickly in the microwave."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1-1/4 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025023-weeknight-spinach-and-ricotta-lasagna. Also, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, you might want to consider doing so.
Ingredients
9 ounces (dry) no-boil, oven-ready lasagna sheets
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed (undrained)
15 ounces whole-milk ricotta
1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce, such as vodka or marinara
2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup grated low-moisture mozzarella
Extra-virgin olive oil
Handful of torn soft herbs, such as oregano, basil, or parsley, to serve
Preparation
Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
Break up each lasagna sheet into 5 to 6 pieces and place them in a large bowl. (They can be a mixture of large and small; you can expect irregularity.) Add the spinach and half the ricotta, and fold through to coat the broken pasta sheets. Add the pasta sauce, stock and crushed red pepper; stir to combine.
Transfer the mixture to a large, 8-by-12-inch baking dish, distributing the pasta evenly and pressing it down until submerged in the sauce. Top with the mozzarella and drizzle with olive oil.
Cover with foil, tenting it to prevent it from sticking to the top, place on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil, increase heat to 425 degrees and bake until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the cheesy top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Top with remaining ricotta and drizzle with olive oil. Like traditional lasagna, this dish is best rested for 10 minutes before eating (if you can wait!). When ready to serve, top with soft herbs.
TACO LASAGNA
This is from the Food Network. It starts off, "Equal parts lasagna and taco, this dish is comfort central, with layers of classic taco meat and toppings nestled between tender lasagna noodles and melty cheese. Use your favorite salsa to build the sauce -- milder to keep it kid-friendly or spicier to liven it up."
Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/taco-lasagna-3666644.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 pound ground beef sirloin
2 tablespoons chili powder
Kosher salt
Two 16-ounce jars salsa
1 pound no-boil lasagna noodles
Two 16-ounce packages part skim mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with the chili powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, breaking apart chunks of meat with the back of a spoon, and stirring often, until meat is crumbled and browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the salsa and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Spread a quarter of the meat sauce over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Lay a third of the noodles over the sauce, overlapping slightly and breaking them to fit, if needed. Leave a 1/2-inch space around the edges of the baking dish. Top the noodles with another quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Make another layer with a third of the noodles, a quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Repeat, making a final layer with the remaining third of the pasta and quarter of the sauce, making sure that the top layer of noodles is completely covered in sauce. Top with the remaining third of the mozzarella.
Cover loosely with foil and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the noodles are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove the foil and cook 15 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with lettuce, tomato, Cheddar and chips.
SAAG PANEER LASAGNA
This is from Khushbu Shah in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Khushbu wrote, "While writing her cookbook “Amrikan” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), Khushbu Shah became convinced that a spinach lasagna could be greatly improved by swapping in the flavors of saag paneer for the filling. It’s a dish she jokingly refers to as “lasaagna.” Ms. Shah uses a saag base made with warm spices, spinach, cilantro and dried fenugreek leaves (which are optional but highly encouraged, and add a beautiful earthy note to the sauce), and then adds fistfuls of grated paneer for an extra punch of cheese. Many of the lasagna’s components may be made ahead (see Tips), making assembly a breeze, especially when making this dish for a dinner party or as a vegetarian meal during the holidays."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 2-1/4 hours; Total Time: 2-3/4 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
This was featured in "How Thanksgiving Lasagna Became an American Staple," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026104-saag-paneer-lasagna. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already.
Ingredients
For the Saag
16 ounces baby spinach
2 small Roma tomatoes, quartered
2 green serrano chiles, stemmed and halved lengthwise
Leaves and tender stems from 1 bunch cilantro, rinsed and dried
3 tablespoons kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves), optional
Salt
3 tablespoons ghee or neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1-1/2 tablespoons garlic paste or 5 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 tablespoons ginger paste or 1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated
1-1/2 teaspoons Kashmiri chile powder
1-1/2 tablespoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
For the Sauce
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan
For Assembly
Olive oil, for greasing
2 (8-ounce) boxes no-boil lasagna noodles (24 sheets), for assembly
1 (12- to 14-ounce) block of paneer, coarsely grated
Preparaion
Prepare the saag filling: Bring a large pot of water to boil then add the spinach. As soon as the greens fully wilt (about 2 minutes), strain through a colander and run cold water over the spinach to cool; wipe out and reserve the pot. Let the spinach drain before transferring to a blender. (There’s no need to squeeze any water out!)
Add the tomatoes, serrano chiles, cilantro, kasoori methi (if using) and 3/4 cup water to the blender with the drained spinach and blitz 30 seconds to 1 minute until puréed. Season to taste with salt; set the saag aside. (The filling may be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.)
In the same pot used for the spinach, melt the ghee over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and somewhat golden. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to stir for 2 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent any scorching.
Add the chile powder, coriander, cumin and turmeric, and season with salt. Give it a good stir before adding the saag. Gently simmer and continue to stir occasionally, adjusting the heat as necessary if the mixture begins to sputter and splatter, until the saag is slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare the sauce: In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. When the roux is golden in color, about 2 to 3 minutes, add the milk, adjust heat to medium and continuously stir until the béchamel thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the black pepper, nutmeg and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Whisk until smooth, season with salt and set aside. (The sauce may be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. It might need to be loosened a little by adding some milk or water to the sauce before layering in the lasagna, as the sauce gets quite thick as it sits.)
Assemble the lasagna: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish that is at least 2 inches deep with 1 tablespoon oil. Pour in and spread enough sauce to cover the bottom of the dish. Layer noodle sheets on top of the sauce, breaking the noodles as needed to fit. (You may need 4 to 6 noodles per layer, depending on the size of the dish and the noodles you’re working with; you’ll need about 24 total.) Spread 1/3 of the saag over the noodles, then layer on 1/3 of the paneer shreds, followed by 1/4 of the remaining sauce. Repeat this process 2 more times, starting with another layer of noodles (You will use all the saag and paneer.). To top the lasagna, add a final layer of noodles, spread the remaining sauce on the noodles and then sprinkle on the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Cover the lasagna with foil, lightly greasing one side so the foil doesn’t stick, and bake for 40 minutes, until the noodles are cooked through and the cheese has melted.
Remove the foil and bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until the lasagna is cooked through and is light golden on top. Let the lasagna cool for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving. (Any leftover lasagna may be wrapped in foil and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven.)
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
BARBECUE LASAGNA
This is one of the yummy recipes from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
CLASSIC LASAGNA
This is from MyRecipes, and begins, "A classic, beefy lasagna recipe perfectly matches these traditional, zesty Italian ingredients and creamy homemade ricotta sauce. Tall layers of cheese, meat, and pasta will seriously satisfy your casserole cravings. Plus any leftovers for lunch the following day are always welcome. Tip: make this lasagna bake for a crowd by doubling the recipe and making ahead of time. Prep steps one through four, cover, and freeze. Thaw and bake (covered) at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until bubbly."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours; Stand Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-lasagna-0.
Ingredients
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (14.5-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano diced tomatoes
2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste
1 (8-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
8 cups boiling water
1 (16-oz.) container ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 (6-oz.) packages part-skim mozzarella cheese slices
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Sauté onion in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain beef mixture, and return to skillet. Stir in diced tomatoes, next 4 ingredients, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf; set meat sauce aside.
Place lasagna noodles in a 13- x- 9-inch pan. Carefully pour 8 cups boiling water and remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil over noodles. Let stand 15 minutes.
Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper until blended.
Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Shake excess water from noodles, and arrange 6 noodles over meat sauce; top with half of ricotta mixture and 1 package mozzarella cheese slices. Repeat layers once.
Bake, covered, at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until bubbly. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired.
Chef's Notes
The sauce is time-consuming but worth the extra effort. Make it on a weekend, and freeze it to enjoy later with lasagna or your favorite pasta.
So, now for today's six lasagna recipes, including Classic Lasagna and Barbecue Lasagna. Enjoy!
WEEKNIGHT SPINACH AND RICOTTA LASAGNA
This is from Hetty Lui McKinnon in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Hetty wrote, "While it is hard to beat the perfection of a meticulously layered lasagna, this cheater’s version delivers all the comforting vibes with minimal effort. This weeknight dish requires no chopping; just mixing and baking. Choose ease, with oven-ready lasagna sheets, as they don’t require preboiling and will cook quicker than the regular ones. (Fresh lasagna sheets will certainly work, too, with the same cooking time.) Don’t drain the thawed spinach, as the extra moisture will help keep this dish moist and saucy. The easiest way to thaw spinach is to leave it overnight in the fridge; it can also be defrosted quickly in the microwave."
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 1 hour; Total Time: 1-1/4 hours; Yield: 4 to 6 servings
To view this online, go to https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1025023-weeknight-spinach-and-ricotta-lasagna. Also, if you haven't already signed up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, you might want to consider doing so.
Ingredients
9 ounces (dry) no-boil, oven-ready lasagna sheets
1 (10-ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed (undrained)
15 ounces whole-milk ricotta
1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce, such as vodka or marinara
2 cups vegetable stock
1/2 to 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1 cup grated low-moisture mozzarella
Extra-virgin olive oil
Handful of torn soft herbs, such as oregano, basil, or parsley, to serve
Preparation
Heat the oven to 400 degrees.
Break up each lasagna sheet into 5 to 6 pieces and place them in a large bowl. (They can be a mixture of large and small; you can expect irregularity.) Add the spinach and half the ricotta, and fold through to coat the broken pasta sheets. Add the pasta sauce, stock and crushed red pepper; stir to combine.
Transfer the mixture to a large, 8-by-12-inch baking dish, distributing the pasta evenly and pressing it down until submerged in the sauce. Top with the mozzarella and drizzle with olive oil.
Cover with foil, tenting it to prevent it from sticking to the top, place on a baking sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil, increase heat to 425 degrees and bake until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the cheesy top is golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
Top with remaining ricotta and drizzle with olive oil. Like traditional lasagna, this dish is best rested for 10 minutes before eating (if you can wait!). When ready to serve, top with soft herbs.
TACO LASAGNA
This is from the Food Network. It starts off, "Equal parts lasagna and taco, this dish is comfort central, with layers of classic taco meat and toppings nestled between tender lasagna noodles and melty cheese. Use your favorite salsa to build the sauce -- milder to keep it kid-friendly or spicier to liven it up."
Active Time: 40 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes; Makes 8 servings; Level: Easy
To view this online, go to https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/taco-lasagna-3666644.
Ingredients
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 pound ground beef sirloin
2 tablespoons chili powder
Kosher salt
Two 16-ounce jars salsa
1 pound no-boil lasagna noodles
Two 16-ounce packages part skim mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 large beefsteak tomato, diced
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
Directions
Position an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Add the ground beef and sprinkle with the chili powder and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, breaking apart chunks of meat with the back of a spoon, and stirring often, until meat is crumbled and browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the salsa and 1 cup of water, bring to a simmer and cook until slightly reduced, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Spread a quarter of the meat sauce over the bottom of a 9- by 13-inch baking dish. Lay a third of the noodles over the sauce, overlapping slightly and breaking them to fit, if needed. Leave a 1/2-inch space around the edges of the baking dish. Top the noodles with another quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Make another layer with a third of the noodles, a quarter of the meat sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Repeat, making a final layer with the remaining third of the pasta and quarter of the sauce, making sure that the top layer of noodles is completely covered in sauce. Top with the remaining third of the mozzarella.
Cover loosely with foil and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling and the noodles are tender when pierced with a knife, about 1 hour. Remove the foil and cook 15 minutes more. Let rest 10 minutes. Dollop with sour cream and sprinkle with lettuce, tomato, Cheddar and chips.
SAAG PANEER LASAGNA
This is from Khushbu Shah in The New York Times cooking enewsletter. For this recipe, Khushbu wrote, "While writing her cookbook “Amrikan” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2024), Khushbu Shah became convinced that a spinach lasagna could be greatly improved by swapping in the flavors of saag paneer for the filling. It’s a dish she jokingly refers to as “lasaagna.” Ms. Shah uses a saag base made with warm spices, spinach, cilantro and dried fenugreek leaves (which are optional but highly encouraged, and add a beautiful earthy note to the sauce), and then adds fistfuls of grated paneer for an extra punch of cheese. Many of the lasagna’s components may be made ahead (see Tips), making assembly a breeze, especially when making this dish for a dinner party or as a vegetarian meal during the holidays."
Prep Time: 30 minutes; Cook Time: 2-1/4 hours; Total Time: 2-3/4 hours; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
This was featured in "How Thanksgiving Lasagna Became an American Staple," and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026104-saag-paneer-lasagna. While you're at it, sign up for The New York Times cooking enewsletter, if you haven't already.
Ingredients
For the Saag
16 ounces baby spinach
2 small Roma tomatoes, quartered
2 green serrano chiles, stemmed and halved lengthwise
Leaves and tender stems from 1 bunch cilantro, rinsed and dried
3 tablespoons kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves), optional
Salt
3 tablespoons ghee or neutral oil (such as vegetable or canola)
1 medium white onion, finely chopped
1-1/2 tablespoons garlic paste or 5 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 tablespoons ginger paste or 1 (1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger, grated
1-1/2 teaspoons Kashmiri chile powder
1-1/2 tablespoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
For the Sauce
8 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 quart whole milk, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 cup shredded Parmesan
For Assembly
Olive oil, for greasing
2 (8-ounce) boxes no-boil lasagna noodles (24 sheets), for assembly
1 (12- to 14-ounce) block of paneer, coarsely grated
Preparaion
Prepare the saag filling: Bring a large pot of water to boil then add the spinach. As soon as the greens fully wilt (about 2 minutes), strain through a colander and run cold water over the spinach to cool; wipe out and reserve the pot. Let the spinach drain before transferring to a blender. (There’s no need to squeeze any water out!)
Add the tomatoes, serrano chiles, cilantro, kasoori methi (if using) and 3/4 cup water to the blender with the drained spinach and blitz 30 seconds to 1 minute until puréed. Season to taste with salt; set the saag aside. (The filling may be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge in an airtight container.)
In the same pot used for the spinach, melt the ghee over medium heat. Add the onion and sauté 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and somewhat golden. Add the garlic and ginger and continue to stir for 2 minutes, adjusting the heat as necessary to prevent any scorching.
Add the chile powder, coriander, cumin and turmeric, and season with salt. Give it a good stir before adding the saag. Gently simmer and continue to stir occasionally, adjusting the heat as necessary if the mixture begins to sputter and splatter, until the saag is slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
Prepare the sauce: In a large pot, melt the butter over low heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. When the roux is golden in color, about 2 to 3 minutes, add the milk, adjust heat to medium and continuously stir until the béchamel thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the black pepper, nutmeg and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Whisk until smooth, season with salt and set aside. (The sauce may be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated. It might need to be loosened a little by adding some milk or water to the sauce before layering in the lasagna, as the sauce gets quite thick as it sits.)
Assemble the lasagna: Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish that is at least 2 inches deep with 1 tablespoon oil. Pour in and spread enough sauce to cover the bottom of the dish. Layer noodle sheets on top of the sauce, breaking the noodles as needed to fit. (You may need 4 to 6 noodles per layer, depending on the size of the dish and the noodles you’re working with; you’ll need about 24 total.) Spread 1/3 of the saag over the noodles, then layer on 1/3 of the paneer shreds, followed by 1/4 of the remaining sauce. Repeat this process 2 more times, starting with another layer of noodles (You will use all the saag and paneer.). To top the lasagna, add a final layer of noodles, spread the remaining sauce on the noodles and then sprinkle on the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Cover the lasagna with foil, lightly greasing one side so the foil doesn’t stick, and bake for 40 minutes, until the noodles are cooked through and the cheese has melted.
Remove the foil and bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, until the lasagna is cooked through and is light golden on top. Let the lasagna cool for 15 to 20 minutes before slicing and serving. (Any leftover lasagna may be wrapped in foil and frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating in the oven.)
TACO ZUCCHINI LASAGNA
This comes from Linday Funston on Delish, and begins, “So flavorful, you won't even notice the noodles are gone.”
Total Time: 45 minutes; Prep Time: 20 minutes; Level: Easy; Serves: 4 - 6
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. ricotta
1/2 c. sour cream, plus more for drizzling
1 large egg
1/3 c. salsa
3 large zucchini, thinly sliced lengthwise
2 c. shredded Cheddar
2 c. Shredded Monterey Jack
Fresh cilantro, for garnish
Directions
Preheat oven to 350º. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook until tender, 5 minutes. Season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, 8 minutes more. Drain fat.
In a small bowl, stir together ricotta, sour cream, and egg. Season with salt and pepper.
In a large baking or casserole dish, spread a thin layer of salsa. Top with a layer of zucchini noodles, sour cream mixture, ground beef, cheddar, and Monterey Jack. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, ending with zucchini noodles.
Bake until noodles are tender and cheese is bubbly, 25 minutes.
Drizzle with sour cream, garnish with cilantro, and serve.
BARBECUE LASAGNA
This is one of the yummy recipes from a long-since-forgotten emailing list that my son was on for a few years. Makes 8 servings.
Ingredients
1-1/2 pounds ground beef
1 cup ketchup
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
6 lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Colby or mild cheddar cheese
1 cup (8 ounces) small-curd cottage cheese
1 egg
Directions
In a skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. For barbecue sauce, combine the next 13 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
Spread about 1/4 cup barbecue sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. Layer with three noodles and half of the beef.
Spread with half of the remaining barbecue sauce; sprinkle with half of the mozzarella, cheddar and Colby cheeses. Repeat layers.
Combine cottage cheese and egg; spoon evenly over the top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 50-60 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting.
CLASSIC LASAGNA
This is from MyRecipes, and begins, "A classic, beefy lasagna recipe perfectly matches these traditional, zesty Italian ingredients and creamy homemade ricotta sauce. Tall layers of cheese, meat, and pasta will seriously satisfy your casserole cravings. Plus any leftovers for lunch the following day are always welcome. Tip: make this lasagna bake for a crowd by doubling the recipe and making ahead of time. Prep steps one through four, cover, and freeze. Thaw and bake (covered) at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until bubbly."
Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 2 hours; Stand Time: 25 minutes; Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes; Yield: 8 to 10 servings
To view this online, go to https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/classic-lasagna-0.
Ingredients
2 medium onions, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (14.5-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano diced tomatoes
2 (6-oz.) cans tomato paste
1 (8-oz.) can basil, garlic, and oregano tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
12 lasagna noodles, uncooked
8 cups boiling water
1 (16-oz.) container ricotta cheese
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 (6-oz.) packages part-skim mozzarella cheese slices
Garnish: chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Sauté onion in 1 Tbsp. hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 minutes or until tender. Add garlic, and sauté 1 minute. Add beef, and cook, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes or until beef crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain beef mixture, and return to skillet. Stir in diced tomatoes, next 4 ingredients, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/2 tsp. pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Remove and discard bay leaf; set meat sauce aside.
Place lasagna noodles in a 13- x- 9-inch pan. Carefully pour 8 cups boiling water and remaining 1 Tbsp. olive oil over noodles. Let stand 15 minutes.
Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese, remaining 1/4 tsp. salt, and remaining 1/4 tsp. pepper until blended.
Spoon half of the meat sauce mixture in a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Shake excess water from noodles, and arrange 6 noodles over meat sauce; top with half of ricotta mixture and 1 package mozzarella cheese slices. Repeat layers once.
Bake, covered, at 350° for 55 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 to 15 more minutes or until bubbly. Let lasagna stand 10 minutes before serving. Garnish, if desired.
Chef's Notes
The sauce is time-consuming but worth the extra effort. Make it on a weekend, and freeze it to enjoy later with lasagna or your favorite pasta.
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