Zucchini and Cooked Ham Lasagna, a simple and tasty main course, perfect for festive days, to be enjoyed with friends and family. The recipe is very simple and finally uses my beloved zucchinis. For this version, they are grilled, which I love even more, and honestly, I had never tried them in a lasagna, and to be honest, they make it even better. Besides the grilled zucchinis, I enriched the lasagna with cooked ham and smoked scamorza: a perfect combination! Of course, you can substitute the ham and scamorza with other cured meat or cheese to your liking. Perfect to prepare in advance to organize other preparations. And now, let’s go to the kitchen together, because the zucchini and cooked ham lasagna will be ready in a click!
If you’re interested in other first course recipes, also read:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Economical
- Preparation time: 40 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Oven, Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
- Energy 412.25 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 17.07 (g) of which sugars 6.07 (g)
- Proteins 22.86 (g)
- Fat 28.63 (g) of which saturated 10.30 (g)of which unsaturated 6.23 (g)
- Fibers 1.16 (g)
- Sodium 942.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 231 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients
- 9 oz lasagna
- 10 oz zucchini
- 3.5 oz cooked ham
- 9 oz smoked scamorza
- grated Parmesan cheese (to taste)
- extra virgin olive oil (to taste for the pan)
- 2.5 cups milk
- 3.5 tbsp butter
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- salt (to taste)
- nutmeg (to taste)
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Tools
- High-sided Casserole
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Knife with thickness adjuster
- Hand Whisk
- Pan
- Baking Dish
- Grater
Steps
First, wash the zucchinis very well, dry them with paper towels, and remove the ends. Then, slice them lengthwise with a knife with a thickness adjuster or a mandoline. Grill the zucchini slices in a pan for 3 or 4 minutes per side and set them aside.
Now prepare the béchamel sauce. Heat the milk with a bit of salt in a high-sided casserole and bring it to the edge of boiling. Separately, prepare the roux. Melt the butter in a small pan, and as soon as it turns golden, add the flour all at once. Stir and add the roux to the milk, mixing with a hand whisk.
Put it back on the heat and cook until the béchamel has thickened, always stirring with a whisk to avoid lumps. For this recipe, I used a bit more milk to get a less dense béchamel, allowing the lasagna to cook better.
When the béchamel has thickened, add the nutmeg and grated cheese and mix again until all the ingredients are well combined.
And now let’s assemble the lasagna, but first grate the scamorza with a grater with large holes. Grease a baking dish and spread a bit of béchamel on the bottom. Then lay the first lasagna sheet and then a slice of ham.
Then distribute the grilled zucchini slices and then the grated scamorza. Another layer of béchamel, and continue making more layers this way until all ingredients are used up.
On the last layer, after placing the slice of ham, zucchinis, scamorza, and béchamel, spread a generous layer of grated cheese.
Bake the lasagna in a preheated oven at 392°F for 30 minutes, covering it with aluminum foil. Then remove it from the oven, uncover it, and finish cooking for another 10 minutes or until golden on top. The lasagna with grilled zucchinis and cooked ham is ready to be served at the table.
Storage and Tips for Zucchini and Cooked Ham Lasagna
The zucchini and cooked ham lasagna can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days. Even after being cooked, they can be stored in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 days in a container with a lid.
This content also contains one or more affiliate links, on which I could earn a small share of revenues without a price change.
FAQ Questions and Answers for Zucchini and Cooked Ham Lasagna
What can I replace the scamorza with?
Alternatively, you can use provola or another melting cheese to your liking.
What can I replace the ham with?
In place of the ham, you can use speck or other sliced meat to your liking.
Can the lasagna be frozen?
Yes, certainly, both raw and cooked. In the latter case, it’s better to let them cool completely before storing them in the freezer. They can be frozen for a maximum of 2 to 3 months. When needed, they should be thawed in the refrigerator overnight and cooked as indicated in the recipe if frozen raw. If frozen cooked, they can be reheated in the oven for a few minutes at 356°F, or in the microwave.
