Ingredients
Marinara Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons canola oil
- 1/2 small onion, sliced
- 2 (28-ounce) cans San Marzano tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 6 fresh basil leaves
Fried Zucchini:
- 3 cups flour
- 1 dozen eggs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cups grated Romano cheese
- 3 cups canola oil, for frying
- 6 zucchini, sliced lengthwise about 1/4-thick
Ricotta Filling:
- 2 pounds ricotta cheese (homemade or Calabro)
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black peeper
- 1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
- 2 1/2 cups grated fresh mozzarella (for layering)
Zucchini Flowers:
- 8 zucchini flowers
- 1 egg, beaten
- Breadcrumbs
- Canola oil, for frying
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
For the marinara sauce: Heat the canola oil in a large saucepan, add the onions, and cook until translucent. Blend the tomatoes in a food processor. With a slotted spoon, remove the onions from the oil. Add the blended tomato, salt, pepper, and basil to the pan. Stir with a wooden spoon. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
For the zucchini: While the sauce is simmering, fry the zucchini. Place the flour on a flat dish. In a large bowl, mix the eggs, salt, pepper, and Romano cheese with a fork. In a large frying pan, heat the canola oil. Coat the zucchini slices in flour, then dip in the egg mixture. Fry until golden brown. Remove each piece, placing on a tray lined with paper towels.
For the ricotta filing: In a large bowl, mix the ricotta cheese, eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, and Romano cheese.
To assemble: In a 9 by 13 by 2-inch rectangular baking dish, spread 4 ounces of marinara sauce. Layer some of the fried zucchini to cover the bottom of the dish, slightly overlapping the pieces.
Spread 8 ounces of marinara over the zucchini. With a plastic spatula, spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the marinara, and sprinkle with 3/4 cups of mozzarella.
Repeat layering the zucchini, sauce, ricotta filling, and mozzarella, ending with 1 cup of mozzarella.
Cover the dish in foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove the foil and continue to cook until the top is slightly brown. Cool the lasagna for 15 minutes.
For the zucchini flowers: Rinse the zucchini flowers gently under running water. Pat dry. Dredge the zucchini flowers in the beaten egg, and then cover in breadcrumbs. Fry in canola oil until crispy. Sprinkle with salt, to taste. Place the flowers on top of the lasagna and serve.
This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

















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By mrs. I can cook
on October 12, 2011
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I thought it was a very, very good dish. you do have to use a lot of eggs because... you add Romano cheese to it and the Zucchini, when dredged in flour, absorbs a lot of the eggs. Unlike regular lasagna made with pasta? it doesn't make you bloated and full. its a very light dish.
By bonabeaner
on July 16, 2011
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Very work intensive as frying all the zucchini took about an hour and I had a large fry pan to fit a large amount of zucchini. The flavor left much to be desired, even my son who will try anything, spit it out. My husband who is a big eater was not impressed and myself who loves zucchini did not go back for seconds. We ended up throwing out what was left because we knew we wouldn't eat the leftovers. I'm just glad I made this for my family before trying it on guests, I will never make it again.
By pam.stone_8008836
Maryland
on July 10, 2011
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I had the pleasure of watching the "Throwdown" episode when it originally aired. I was very impressed and I've never forgotten about this recipe. Pulled it up today and just had to make it. What an amazing lasagna!!! Absolutely delicious. I also used 8 eggs, not a dozen. I have to admit, I did go the 'semi-homemade' route and used a very good jarred marinara sauce. I also added a little garlic to the egg mixture. Everyone in my house loved it, even the kids. Will definitely make it again. Thanks for sharing with us!
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