Aubergine & Mushroom Lentil Lasagne (Vegan + Pasta Free)
We’ve had this Aubergine & Mushroom Lentil Lasagne on repeat the last few weeks because it’s just so good! It has all the flavours and elements you’d expect from a classic lasagne, yet it doesn’t contain any pasta or refined grains/flours. There’s no cheese or dairy products, and of course no meat. Instead it’s made entirely from whole, plant foods!
The “mince” component is made from a combination of red onion, mushrooms and red lentils. If you like your “mince” layer to have a bite to it then you have the option to add brown lentils in too. To give the plant mince an authentic taste I use coconut aminos (or soy sauce), smoked paprika, salt, pepper and Italian style herbs. It honestly tastes so good you really won’t miss the meat. It’s also delicious on it’s own served with noodles, aka spaghetti bolognaise!
The pasta component in this lasagne is created with sliced aubergine. This is gently baked in the oven beforehand to ensure it’s lovely and soft by the end of the cook time. Which in turn ensures the lasagne is easy to slice and serve. I’ve also made this lasagne with zucchini strips instead of aubergine and this works really well too.
Of course, you can’t have a lasagne without a cheese sauce, and this is made from cashews. Simply soak to soften, then blend with nutritional yeast, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
When the three components are ready, simply assemble the lasagne as usual. Layer up the plant mince, aubergine and cheese sauce, and repeat. Bake the lasagne in the oven until the top is golden and enjoy!
Aubergine & Mushroom Lentil Lasagne (Vegan + Pasta Free)
Serves: 8
Prep time: 40 minutes Cook time: 1 hour
Plant-Based “Mince”
1 Tbsp avocado or olive oil for cooking
1 red onion, finely chopped
1 red capsicum, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 cup/large handful mushrooms, chopped
1 can chopped tomatoes
1 Tbsp tomato paste
1/2 cup red lentils, washed/drained
1 cup water
1 can brown lentils (optional)
1 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 Tbsp vegetable bouillon (optional)
pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
2 Tbsp coconut aminos (or soy sauce)
1 Tbsp Italian herbs (or fresh if you have them)
salt + pepper
2 large handfuls spinach, washed/chopped
“Pasta” Sheets
1 aubergine, thinly sliced
Cashew Cheese Sauce
1/2 cup cashews, soaked 2-4 hours
1/4 cup filtered water
2 Tbsp lemon juice
1 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt
Start by soaking the cashews. Place them in a bowl, cover with cold water and stand for 2 hours. Alternatively, if you’re short on time use boiling water and soak for 15 minutes.
Next make the plant mince. Heat a small amount of oil in a large pan, add the red onion and cook a couple minutes until it begins to soften. Add the red capsicum and garlic, continue cooking a few minutes then add the mushrooms. If anything starts to stick to the pan, add a little water to deglaze and continue cooking.
Add the chopped tomatoes and tomato paste, followed by the lentils and water, and stir well.
Sprinkle in the herbs and spices, salt and pepper, stir well and turn down to a simmer.
Simmer for around 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the red lentils are cooked through. If the mixture starts to look dry or begins sticking to the pan, add a little more water.
When the plant mince is cooked, turn off the heat and stir in the spinach.
While the plant mince is cooking, preheat the oven to 180C. Slice the aubergine as thin as you can (ideally around 3mm), lay the slices on 2 lined baking trays and bake for approximately 10 minutes. You’re aiming for the aubergine to soften but not gain too much colour.
To make the cashew cheese sauce, simply drain the cashews and place all the ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth and check the taste. If you want it more cheesey add more yeast, and more tangy add a little more salt or lemon.
Assemble the lasagne in an oven-proof baking dish. Place a layer of plant mince in the bottom, top with aubergine slices and then a layer of cashew cheese sauce. Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients, ending with a layer of cashew cheese sauce on the top.
Place the lasagne in the centre of the oven to bake for 40 minutes to 1 hour. The longer you bake, the better the flavours.
To serve, slice the lasagne into squares and serve warm with a side of fresh salad greens.
Any leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Be sure to reheat well before serving.
