This easy zucchini ricotta bake is reminiscent of a hearty lasagna without the noodles or all the work!
Have we talked about the recent infestation of pantry moths I dealt with?
No, I don’t think we have. Unless you heard some screaming last Friday afternoon coming from a kitchen in NY.
Guys, omg guys, it was so freakin’ disgusting.
There I am about to grab something for lunch when I open the one cabinet we keep some nuts and grains in that we use frequently (instead of everything else that resides in the pantry) and I see a tiny worm crawling up the inside of the cabinet.
Ok gross, I think and grab a paper towel to deal with it.
Then I see another, and another, and holy shit, they’re on the glass container of the cashews and the almonds and INSIDE THE EFFIN’ millet.
Shit = officially lost at this point.
See I’ve already dealt with an infestation before.
Last year actually at this very same time, saw tooth beetles took up residence in the brown rice I had purchased from the bulk bins and literally invaded my entire pantry.
I don’t get it.
This kind of stuff should be happening to those slobs on hoarders, not me.
My house is clean.
I have a dog I’m allergic to and therefore literally vacuum and dust and clean like every other damn day. How do I end up with beetles and now worms/moths?! Why???????
So I freaked, threw out at least $100 worth of food in containers infested with worms, threw every glass jar in my cabinet in the sink with loads of bleach and spent 2 hours bleaching, disinfecting, vacuuming and stalking out worms in the crevices of my kitchen.
I still haven’t been able to close the cabinet doors where they were and will randomly walk by, get up on a chair and inspect every inch of the cabinet for ones that might’ve eluded me the first time around.
It was so repulsive.
So, I’m off grains for awhile.
1. I‘m never buying from bulk bins again as I know the beetles came from there and I’m pretty sure these moths/worms did as well and 2. I hear they can even be in packaged/store bought grains as well.
I don’t even want to think about how many of these disgusting little things I inadvertently consumed and I refuse to ever deal with this again.
So…no grains for now until the disgustingness of this whole situation wears off.
If time heals all wounds, it better buck up and heal all worm infested memories too because there’s only so long I can go without a big bowl of mac ‘n cheese.
And I swear this sort of relates to the zucchini ricotta bake I’m shoving in your face today.
How?
Well, when trying to figure out what the heck to call this thing the best descriptor that kept coming to mind was lasagna.
This is completely like a vegetarian lasagna. Just minus the noodles (And subsequently, any disgusting grain infestations that may occur.)
It’s got all the saucy deliciousness of lasagna and those creamy dollops of ricotta that permeate throughout.
It’s perfect really for anyone who wants the comfort food vibe of lasagna without the work of the classic recipe. Who knew zucchini, ricotta and marinara sauce could be so good?
I think I’ll take my lasagna noodleless for now.
Ricotta lemon pasta is another great recipe for this time of year and you could easily add zucchini to it as well!
Feel free to make this with any kind of summer squash you have on hand.
Round zucchini will work just fine too, they taste the same and are the perfect shape for slicing and layering into this zucchini ricotta bake!
Try these other zucchini recipes too:
Cheesy Zucchini Bread, Bruschetta Hummus Stuffed Zucchini, Zucchini Noodles with Sausage, Cherries and Ricotta and Thai Chicken Zucchini Noodles are all great summer recipes too!
Zucchini Ricotta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 large zucchini, sliced into rounds about 1/8 inch thick
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup almond meal/flour
- salt & pepper
- 3 eggwhites or cooking spray of choice
- 1 cup ricotta
- 1 cup tomato sauce, this 20 minute sauce is a great option!
- basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Pour the breadcrumbs and almond meal into a shallow dish and add salt & pepper to taste, mix until combined.
- If using the eggwhite, dip the zucchini rounds in the eggwhite and then coat in the breadcrumb mixture. If using cooking spray, spray both sides of the zucchini and then coat in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place the zucchini rounds on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once half way through.
- Remove zucchini from the oven, spray an 8×8 (or similar size) baking dish with cooking spray and cover the bottom with a layer of the baked zucchini rounds.
- Add dollops of ricotta over the zucchini and then pour sauce over the entire layer of zucchini,
- Repeat the layering process until the zucchini are gone.
- Bake in the 400 degree oven for another 10 minutes.
- Remove, garnish with basil and serve warm.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Totally been there, I’m glad no one was there to witness the freak out that I had throwing containers around the kitchen and slamming every moth I saw. I went through the same process, cleaned everything, threw everything out and put some loose bay leaves out in the cabinet since I hear they detract them and I’ve been fine since. I still buy stuff from the bulk bin but I freeze it for a few days before I put it in the cabinet and that seems to have solved the problem. Grossest things EVER!
I seriously feel as though I need to go to our local Sunflower and hose down the bins!! Major gross town. On the another hand, this ricotta bake is major yum-town. Definitely can’t wait to try:)
This reminds me of eggplant parm, but with zucchini, which means I must try it!
Ugh, that story is definitely going to keep me away from the bulk bins! Shudder.
Your zucchini bake looks fantastic…such a comforting dish.
WOW this sucks. I have heard of horor stories about bulk bin items. They are breading grounds for this stuff. I’m sure your safe for now but i would be doing just what you are doing. I’m pinning this recipe. Would be perfect for a girls night.
I think I need to go clean out my pantry now….just in case *grossed out face*. I’m a bulk buyer, too. And perhaps, no more. Sidenote – this looks amazing!
I’m pretty sure this bake is my love language. I absolutely love ricotta and zucchini together, and this is (as always) a beautiful way to eat yummy and healthy!
I seriously drool all over my computer when I read your posts. Gorg recipe, gorg photos. Pinning!
Gina, what a gorgeous dinner! I gotta try is soon, we are on a fitness challenge for the next 8 weeks, this will be perfect :) xoxo
YUCK Gina! That’s awful. Same thing happened to me a year or so ago with some bran I bought in the bulk bin…now, I’m starting to wonder about those pepitas I picked up yesterday, lol.
Love this bake! Zucchini is rampant around here, and I never say no to ricotta!