Low Carb & Gluten Free Million Dollar Baked "Spaghetti" (Lean & Green)

This delicious casserole is not
expensive to make ~ it gets it's name
because it tastes like a million bucks!

Ingredients: 

12 ounces Palmini (hearts of palm) linguini*

almond milk

olive or avocado oil cooking spray

8 ounces lean ground meat (beef, bison, turkey or chicken)

2 cloves garlic, minced

12 ounces Victoria marinara sauce (or other low carb sauce)

4 ounces light cream cheese, at room temperature**

2 tablespoons light or fat free sour cream**

1/2 cup lowfat or fat free cottage cheese**

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon black ground pepper

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning***

4 ounces (1 cup) shredded mozzarella cheese

Optional Garnishes:

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley or 2 tablespoons freshly snipped chives 

Method:

Preheat oven to 350*. Lightly spray a 9 inch square pan with the cooking oil spray and set aside.

Rinse the Palmini noodles with water. Place in a bowl and cover with almond milk. Soak for 30 minutes and then drain and return to a bowl. Use a fork and knife to cut into slightly smaller pieces. Set aside.

Brown the ground meat in a skillet. Drain the off the fat. Add the garlic and continue to cook over low heat for a couple of minutes. Stir the marinara sauce into the meat and set aside. 

Place half of the noodles in the prepared pan. 

Combine the cream cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese, parmesan, pepper and Italian herbs. Spread over the noodles. Top with the remaining noodles. Pour the meat mixture over the layers in the pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese on top. Continue baking for 15 more minutes or until the mozzarella is golden brown.

Let sit for 5 minutes. Cut into four equal portions. Makes 4 servings.

*When properly prepared, Palmini noodles taste like pasta and no one will guess that they are a vegetable! The key is to drain, rinse and then soak in your choice of milk for 30 minutes. The "noodles" are already al dente and are ready to eat after being heated for 5 to 10 minutes.

**If you are not following a lower fat diet, full fat cheeses may be used.

***Here is a link to a recipe for my homemade Italian seasoning:   https://carriekitchencreations.blogspot.com/2019/09/homemade-italian-blend-seasoning-gluten.html

Each portion equals: 83% of a lean portion, 3 greens, 2 1/4 condiments

Nutritional info per serving (with ground bison & chives), approximately: 368 calories ~ 21.4 grams fat ~ 19.27 grams carbs ~ 11.16 grams net carbs ~ 28 grams protein

Nutritional info per serving (with ground turkey & parsley), approximately: 381 calories ~ 22.65 grams fat ~ 19.45 grams carbs ~ 11.26 grams net carbs ~ 28.88 grams protein

Note:  This spaghetti casserole is appropriately named ~ it is tasty and very easy to make! (The recipe may be doubled and baked in a 13 x 9 inch pan.)

 

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