All the flavors of traditional lasagna (including noodles!) plus a few secret ingredients work together to create the robust flavor profile of this ultimate lasagna.
Lasagna. Garfield’s favorite treat. The ultimate Italian comfort food. And one of my family’s (perhaps yours, too) most beloved meals. Unfortunately, when made in the typical traditional way, lasagna is a major bummer on your blood sugar.
Enter the beauty of Dreamfield’s pasta. Dreamfield’s tastes just like regular store-bought pasta, but it has a special coating that causes you to not digest the majority of the carbs.
For this reason, you’ll notice in the nutrition facts that the carbs look high and, if you’re doing Trim Healthy Mama or keto, that makes this lasagna way off plan. But, because of this coating, each serving (pasta only) yields a mere 5 carbs instead of the hefty amount indicated.
If for any reason you would rather not have yummy pasta, then you can easily sub it for eggplant, spaghetti squash, sliced zucchini, spinach, or whatever you like.
Lasagna Secret Ingredients
Okay, so I’m sharing my “secret” lasagna ingredients publicly for the world to see. So that doesn’t make them very secret (at least not any more!). But there are two things I add to my lasagna that maybe not everyone uses (though I’m sure there are some out there).
Cinnamon
First up is the cinnamon. I like to use ceylon cinnamon because it is healthier than the typical saigon cinnamon. That said, saigon cinnamon would also work (this is the kind typically found in most grocery stores).
Cinnamon adds a unique flavor to the lasagna that makes the lasagna a little more irresistible!
Red Cooking Wine
Red cooking wine gives the lasaga a subtle but amazing “tang.” It also boosts the flavor and makes it extra delicious.
Instead of cooking wine, you can use a dry red wine instead. Or you can sub it totally with some beef broth or just omit it.
Low and Slow
The meat mixture in this lasagna has a lot of liquid in it. This is taking full advantage the reducing technique. This is where you add a bunch of liquid then let it simmer for a longish time until most of the liquid has evaptorated. The liquid reduces and the flavor remains. It takes longer than just tossing it all together, but, trust me, it creates amazing flavor!
Suggested Sides
When I serve this casserole, I keep it very simple and just serve a side of leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, and arugula usually). Top it with a small drizzle of my house ranch dressing and call it good!
However, an on plan bread such as garlic knots or garlic bread would do. Just keep your macros in check so you don’t have a meal that is a super heavy S!
Deep Pan
If you do not already have a deeper pan to make casseroles like this in, I’d recommend you get one. A regular 9- by 13-inch glass Pyrex dish can work, but there are a lot of ingredients in this recipe which equals a lot of volume!
Therefore, I’d recommend you get a deep dish. Something like a roaster pan will do beautifully. Or you can acquire a special casserole or lasagne pan such as this one.
Alternatively, you can set a sheet pan underneath the baking dish you do have to catch any overflow so your oven doesn’t turn into a huge mess!
Noodle Substitutes
I did mention this above, but I wanted this to appear just before the recipe card for those people who don’t read the full article before diving into the recipe.
If you prefer for any reason to NOT use Dreamfields pasta, you can easily substitute it with something else and still glean a super delicious casserole.
Ideas include: sliced eggplant, spaghetti squash, shiritaki noodles, sliced zucchini (or zoodles), and spinach.
TJ’s Ultimate Lasagna
Ingredients
For Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground mild or hot Italian sausage (make sure it has no corn syrup or other sugar)
- 1 pound ground meat (beef, venison, elk, turkey, chicken, etc.)
- 1 small yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces canned crushed or diced tomatoes, drained
- 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 12 ounces canned tomato paste
- ½ cup
red cooking wine or beef broth - 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon THM Super Sweet
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon mineral salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried fennel seeds (optional)
For Noodles
- 8-10 Dreamfields lasagna noodles OR "noodles" of choice: thinly sliced zucchini, thinly sliced eggplant, spinach, etc.
For Creamy Mixture
- 16 ounces small curd cottage cheese
- 15 ounces Ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded (NOT the green can kind)
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- ¼ teaspoon
ground ceylon cinnamon or regular ground cinnamon (optional–boosts flavor) - 1 teaspoon mineral salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon
Other Ingredients
- 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- dried or chopped parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Mix the ground meat, sausage, and onions together in a pan over medium-high heat. Chop up the meat into crumbles with a chop-stir utensil or a wooden spoon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat fully browned and the onions are translucent or lightly caramelized.
- Add the garlic and sauté for about 1 minute. Mix in the remaining meat mixture ingredients and cook, covered, over low heat for 1 to 1½ hours or until the liquid has reduced a bit (this is the flavor boosting process), stirring every 15 minutes or so.
- About 30 minutes before the meat mixture is done cooking, heat oven to 350℉. Prepare a deep 9- by 13-inch glass or ceramic dish by lightly greasing it with avocado oil cooking spray; set aside.
- Prepare noodles of choice. If using Dreamfields lasagna noodles, boil them per the package directions until al dente. Once cooked, drain the noodles then run cold water over the them until cooled down enough to handle.
- Meanwhile, in a large bowl, mix together all of the creamy mixture ingredients.
Assembly
- Pick up one lasagna noodle and hold it with one hand over its pot. With the other hand, using your index finger and thumb, wipe off the excess water. Repeat with each noodle as you put it in the dish. Right now, place a layer of noodles in the bottom of the prepared dish with HALF OF THE NOODLES (4 to 5 noodles).
- Spread out HALF OF THE CREAMY MIXTURE on top the noodle layer.
- Carefully spoon HALF THE MEAT MIXTURE over the first creamy layer.
- Sprinkle HALF OF THE MOZZARELLA CHEESE atop the first meat layer.
- Place another layer with the REMAINING NOODLES over the first mozzarella layer.
- Spread the REMAINING CREAMY MIXTURE over the second noodle layer.
- Carefully spoon the REMAINING MEAT MIXTURE over the second creamy layer.
Baking
- Pop in the oven for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle on REMAINING MOZZARELLA CHEESE and optional garnish parsley.
- Return to the oven for an additional 20 minutes or until heated through (it should be about 160℉) and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and possibly a little browned.
- Allow to cool at room temperature for at least 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into 15 squares with a serrated knife.
I love this recipe! I’m wondering if it could be assembled and refrigerated the day before serving? I want take it to a Church function and needed to save time. Thank you!
Hi, Naomi. Yes, that would work. 🙂 Just pop it in the oven for a little longer.
Question: Would a dairy free version with cashew cream: soaked cashews/vinegar and spices, be a comparable substitute to sour cream and still be an S and not a crossover?
I have never tried that and would need to see the nutrition facts for the cashew cream to let you know for sure.
Love this, TJ! It’s spot on.
Thanks, TJ! Made this with the eggplant instead of Dreamfields (nothing against Dreamfields unlike some judgers apprently lol, just not my preferred choice). Recipe is amazing!
Wait a moment here…Dreamfields has Lasagna noodles? I’ve not seen those. Wow!
Yep, they do. I can never find them in stores though, only online. I’ve had a friend find them locally to her before though and she shipped me a bunch when they went on sale. You can substitute other noodles as well if you like or can’t get them.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/the-dreamfields-pasta-fraud
You don’t need to post my comment, most people don’t post comments that are not complimentary, but this link explains why this is not a low carb meal
best to you!
Hi, Millie! Thank you kindly for your concern. That specific article has been heavily discussed in the Trim Healthy Mama and keto communities over the past few years. It has been debunked for multiple reasons, including for being misleading and for its primary source of information having been removed for potentially inaccurate or incomplete information (specifically, this one: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/34/2/e17). If you are part of the THM community on Facebook, you can read Pearl Barrett’s (THM author) and various other authorities’ opinions on the Diet Doctor article here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/trim-healthy-mama/dreamfields-pasta-blood-sugar/473163619423461/
The conclusion–it was deemed that Dreamfields pasta is okay to use upon occasion (not daily).
As with any food, it is recommended that you be knowledgeable about your body’s own unique reaction via blood sugar levels (i.e. if Dreamfields spikes yours, avoid it; if you do ok, enjoy it). Be sure to include protein if you do enjoy Dreamfields pasta as this is important and, without it, can adversely affect your blood sugar levels (that is an unfairness of the “test” that the author of that article did–he ate no protein with Dreamfields).
If you’d still like to make my recipe above but want to avoid Dreamfields, you can sub it with the items I recommended in the article (just before the recipe card).
Hope this helps. Have a great day, Millie!
TJ, thank you for the taking the time to provide additional resources! The recipe looks great. I feel better about giving it a try now.
“This article has been withdrawn by the authors because some of the data were obtained prior to receiving IRB approval.” It didn’t say it was withdrawn because it was inaccurate (ie, they did the test again and it had different, contradicting results). It says it was withdrawn because they didn’t receive IRB (Institutional Review Board). There are quite a lot of tensions between the IRB and PI’s (Principle Investigators): http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0028773
The point of the research was not to show whether Dreamfield’s pasta is safe to consume on occasion with protein for people who do not have blood sugar problems. The point of the research was to show that the pasta is **exactly the same as every other normal pasta.** It is simply not low carb. Period. It’s pasta. Sure if you want to eat it, fine, but don’t pretend that it’s low carb. According to THM, you shouldn’t be eating it with fat.
Hi, Sarah. Thank you kindly for your comment. I’ll respond to each of your concerns and I will repeat myself a bit to make it very clear (not for you necessarily, but for others who may read this comment in the future and need some concepts repeated).
That is correct, it was withdrawn because IRB approval wasn’t there. What I was stating in my previous comment to Millie was that it wasn’t a good article for the Diet Doctor’s piece because it wasn’t there any more (others who had read the article when I researched it stated it was incomplete and inaccurate). I have no idea if it was in fact inaccurate or not because I never saw it, it was removed long before I read the Diet Doctor article.
And, yes, Dreamfields contains the same basic ingredients as any other durum pasta. However, they also add fiber and plant proteins that prevent the average body from digesting the majority of the carbs. When consumed with protein (studies “proving” Dreamfields doesn’t work, including the Diet Doctor article, the subjects ate Dreamfields either after fasting or just with no protein while other pastas were eaten with protein, thus likely altering the blood sugar results from one pasta to the next) it has a lower impact on blood sugar.
Dreamfields is now made the same as it was 10+ years ago, which means that it typically does not spike blood sugar levels. For those doing THM (used to enjoying carbs), it usually does not; for those doing modified (not as strict) keto (also those who enjoy limited carbs), it does not; for those who are super strict keto, it might spike their blood sugar levels. As with any other food, an individual needs to know their own body (be in tune with themselves). Blood monitors are cheap and easy to use, so I recommend people check their blood sugar before eating Dreamfields and after to see if it spikes their blood sugar. For me personally (I am not diabetic, but I still check my blood sugar regularly), it does not adversely affect me at all. With the same exact meal using a non-Dreamfields pasta, it major spikes my blood sugar. So my blood sugar results show me that I personally can handle it and they also exhibit that Dreamfields is unique from other durum wheat pastas. Everyone is different. So it might not affect mine or Pearl’s (THM author…she, too, did blood checks and she didn’t spike when using Dreamfields which is why she, too, says she continues to use it) or many other people, but it might adversely affect some people; if you (or whoever is reading this comment) is one such person, of course don’t eat it. There are plenty of pasta substitutes as I listed in the article just before the recipe.
Dreamfields isn’t labeled low carb any more, but it *can* work with a low carb diet because of the ingredients which render the majority of carbs non-digestible. If you are uncomfortable with this, that’s perfectly fine, however, on THM it is considered a personal choice item and thus allowed. As far as which meal types it can go with, it is allowed with an S (fat) based meal (double checked with Trim Healthy Mama’s community leader Jessica and she confirmed that, yes, it can go with any fuel type). I do offer alternative non-pasta options in the article for those who do not like Dreamfields for any reason (that is each person’s choice and either choice is ok and on plan). THM recommends Dreamfields only be enjoyed in one meal per week.
Thanks again for your comment, Sarah. I really appreciate it. Hopefully my response helps to clarify especially THM’s stance on Dreamfields. Have a great day!
Can’t wait to try it. Thanks!!