Feed your family this delicious plant-based lasagne with salad. Plus, use the meat-free filling to make vegan spaghetti bolognese and moussaka
Prep:25 mins
Serves 6
30g bag dried porcini mushrooms6 tbsp olive oil1 onion, finely chopped2 carrots, finely chopped2 celery sticks, finely chopped4 garlic cloves, sliced few sprigs of thyme1 tsp tomato purée100ml vegan red wine (optional)250g dried green lentils2 x 400g cans whole plum tomatoes250g pack chestnut mushrooms, chopped250g pack portobello mushrooms, sliced1 tsp soy sauce1 tsp Marmite6 tbsp plain flour900ml soya milk1 whole nutmeg, for grating12 lasagne sheets2-3 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, adds cheesy flavour)green salad, to serve
STEP 1Pour 800ml boiling water over the dried porcini and leave for 10 mins until hydrated. Meanwhile pour 1½ tbsp oil into a large saucepan. Add the onion, carrot, celery and a pinch of salt. Cook gently, stirring for 10 mins until soft. Remove the porcini from the liquid, keeping the mushroomy stock and roughly chop. Set both aside.STEP 2Add the garlic and thyme to the pan. Cook for 1 min, then stir in the tomato purée and cook for a minute more. Pour in the red wine, if using, cook until nearly reduced, then add the lentils, reserved mushroom stock and cans of tomatoes. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and leave to simmer with the lid on.STEP 3Meanwhile, heat a large frying pan. Add 1½ tbsp oil, then tip all of the mushrooms into the pan, including the rehydrated ones. Fry until all the water has evaporated and the mushrooms are deep golden brown. Pour in the soy sauce. Give everything a good mix, then scrape the mushrooms into the lentil saucepan.STEP 4Stir in the Marmite, then continue to cook the ragu, stirring occasionally, over a low to medium heat for 30-45 mins until the lentils are cooked and the sauce is thick and reduced, adding extra water if necessary. Remove the thyme sprigs and season to taste.STEP 5Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. To make the white sauce, heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a pan, whisk in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste, then slowly whisk in the soya milk. Cook until you have a creamy sauce, about 10 mins. Season to taste, adding a good grating of nutmeg.STEP 6Spread a third of the ragu on the bottom of your ovenproof dish, then top with six lasagne sheets, followed by another third of the vegan white sauce, then another third of the ragu. Top with the remaining lasagne sheets, then the remaining ragu and finally, spread over the rest of the white sauce. Sprinkle over the nutritional yeast, if using, and bake for 45 mins-1 hr until the pasta is cooked.
