Kamokamo Lasagne Recipe (No Pasta)

This kamokamo lasagne is a lighter twist on a classic beef lasagne, using thin slices of kamokamo instead of pasta sheets. It’s naturally lower in carbs, packed with vegetables, and a great way to use this traditional New Zealand squash in a hearty, family-friendly dinner. When baked, kamokamo becomes tender and slightly sweet, making it the perfect substitute for pasta layers.

You can keep it classic with beef mince or swap in lentils for an easy vegetarian version. And yes, fresh basil makes all the difference here :)

*It's good to note, if you have a large kamokamo, the skin may be a little too tough to eat. If that's the case, just peel off the skin before slicing for this recipe.

• 450g beef mince (or 1 tin brown lentils, drained, for vegetarian option)
• ½ onion, finely diced
• 4 baby carrots, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 420g passata or sieved tomatoes
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (or ½ teaspoon dried)
• Pinch of salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
• 1 large kamokamo, sliced lengthways into 2–3mm thick strips
• 225g cottage cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 85g mozzarella, grated
• 20g grated parmesan

1. Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4.
2. In a frying pan over medium heat, cook the mince until evenly brown. Drain away any fat. (If you're using brown lentils, then skip this step. Just add your lentils into your pan once you've sauteed your onions & veggies)
3. Add the onion, carrots, garlic and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the passata. Season with chopped carrot tops, oregano, basil, salt and pepper. Add a teaspoon of sugar to help balance out the acid of the tomato.
4. Bring the mixture to the boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.
5. In the bottom of the baking dish, layer 1/2 the kamokamo strips. In a bowl, beat together the cottage cheese and egg and spread over the kamokamo.
6. Spoon some of the beef/ lentil mixture over the cottage cheese and egg mixture and sprinkle mozzarella cheese. Layer again with kamokamo, beef/lentil mixture and mozzarella. Repeat until you've used up all your ingredients! Top with Parmesan cheese. 
7. Bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven.
8. Allow to sit 10 minutes before serving.