Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. extra lean ground beef or turkey breast
• 1/2 large onion
• 1 large garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 cups low-fat cottage cheese
• 1 cup fat-free sour cream
• 1 jar (4 oz.) chopped green chile peppers
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/8 tsp salt (optional)
• 2 1/2 cups salsa
• 4 whole wheat tortillas (6" in diameter), halved
• 1 1/4 cup (5 oz.) shredded, reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese

Makes 8 Servings

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9" X 13" baking dish with cooking spray. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the ground beef or turkey and cook, turning several times, for 5 minutes or until no longer pink.
2. Remove the ground beef or turkey to a medium bowl. Wipe the skillet with a paper towel. Coat the skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7-8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add to the ground beef or turkey in the bowl. 
3. In another medium bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, peppers, cilantro, cumin and salt.
4. Spread 1 cup of the salsa across the bottom of the baking dish. Arrange half of the tortillas evenly over the salsa. Spread half of the cottage cheese mixture over the tortillas. Top with half of the ground beef or turkey mixture. Top with 1 cup of the remaining salsa and 1/2 cup of the Monterey Jack cheese. Repeat the layering sequence with the remaining tortillas, cheese and ground beef or turkey.
5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until heated through. Loosely cover with foil if the cheese browns to quickly.

WW POINTS VALUES PER SERVING: 5

Note: This recipe appears in the South Beach Diet Cookbook. I've been in the mood for Mexican food all week and this recipe lloked so delicious. I've cooked Italian Spinach Lasagna and Greek Lasagna and so I decided to go for a South-of-the-Border flavor. This dish was so delicious I felt like I was back in Mexico. I also highly recommend adding a pinch of hot sauce to the cottage cheese mixture for more heat and flavor and a mixed array of Mexican cheeses in this lasagna dish. This dish is even perfect for Cinco de Mayo.  Eat your hearts out Bobby Flay, Jose Garces and Emril Lagasse!