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Sunday, October 17, 2010

World's Easiest Vegan Lasagna

While I thought I had already come up with the best vegan lasagna ever, I think I might have done better with this one. It is not only easier, but tastes just like I remember (the non-vegan versions tasting). But seriously, this is the lazy vegan's lasagna. There is almost no chopping (only garlic), there is no sauteing or simmering, and there is minimal cleanup.


Easiest Tastiest Vegan Lasagna
adapted from Classic Tofu Lasagna in 1000 Vegan Recipes

Ingredients
1 package extra firm tofu
1 package firm tofu
2 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
2 heaping tablespoons Nutritional Yeast
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 tsp lemon juice
8 oz oven ready (no boil) lasagna noodles (I used American Beauty brand), 12 noodles
2 jars Barilla Tomato Basil pasta sauce
1/2 package Daiya Vegan Mozzarella Style Shreds **
1/4 cup vegan parmesan (optional)

Directions
Squeeze the tofu with your hands to remove any excess water. Crumble it into a bowl and add the garlic, nutritional yeast, parsley, basil, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Mash everything together with your hands or the back of a large spoon. Place it in the refrigerator for about an hour for the flavors to meld.

Heat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a 9x13 casserole.

Spoon a thin layer of pasta sauce in the bottom of the dish.
Add 3 noodles. Spread 1/3 of the tofu mixture, a sprinkle of Daiya cheese, and then a layer of sauce. Optionally, tear 2-3 fresh basil leaves over the layer.
Repeat 2 more times. Add 3 noodles and top with some sauce. Sprinkle top with (optional) Vegan parmesan and Daiya cheese.

Specifically:
Layer 1 - Sauce
Layer 2 - 3 noodles, 1/3 tofu mixture, sauce, daiya
Layer 3 - 3 noodles, 1/3 tofu mixture, sauce, daiya
Layer 4 - 3 noodles, 1/3 tofu mixture, sauce, daiya
Layer 5 - 3 noodles, sauce, vegan parm, daiya

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes. Allow it to stand for 10 minutes before serving.

** Look for this at Whole Foods

6 comments:

  1. We have been making a lot of pasta bakes with the Daiya. Or, I should say Jim has. He throws in ground veg sausage too. nom.

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  2. Yeah, it has definitely grown on me. Lots of pizza in our house (with veg sausage!)

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  3. Hey, K. Long time, no speak. I stumbled across this tonight while making up my meal plan and grocery list, and I'm going to give it a whirl. I've never seen a request for two types of tofu before. To be clear, I'm mixing the two firmnesses for two total pounds of tofu in the mixture? Do you know if Barilla sauces only come in one size? Thanks in advance!

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  4. Hey Eric,

    It probably doesn't matter especially much if you use the same kind of tofu for both packages... I'd guess it just add a little more moisture to use 1 pkg firm. Not sure If I did that because the original recipe did that, or if it's what I had on hand, or just cause I thought it was better. And yes, you sound clear on the intent.

    The barilla sauce is just your standard size spaghetti sauce. I don;t have one on hand to check. I'd guess it to be 24 oz. You could sub another kind of sauce, I just particularly like that one.

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  5. Cool. Thanks, amiga. I'm at WFM now (the tiny one near me in Brighton) and don't see Barilla. But, yeah, most of these are 24-25, so I'll just wing it on the brand. Thanks! Hope you, M., and the kitties are doing great!

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  6. Man, for a good portion of a decade we lived on tofu lasagna.
    Before Daiya!
    We love Daiya but I think it's also fine to not include it if you aren't into fake cheese or don't want to pay for it!!
    My husband is a Daiya/Tofurky addict.

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