The Ultimate Meaty Vegan Lasagna Recipes

THE ULTIMATE VEGAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Prepare the lasagna noodles. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the lasagna noodles and cook for 4 minutes, stirring regularly so they don't stick. Drain the noodles and rinse them with cold water. Transfer the noodles to a bowl of water to stop them from cooking. Place the noodles in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet - use 2 baking sheets if needed. Set aside.
• Place the same pot back on the stove. Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine and cook for 2 minutes. Add the sausage and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for a couple minutes or until it begins to brown. Add a splash of water to the pot to deglaze the pan - scraping down the brown bits.
• Add the fire roasted tomatoes, marinara, tomato paste and Italian seasoning to the pot and stir to combine. Cook for at least 15 minutes, stirring frequently - you can cook this longer if you have the time. Right before assembling add the fresh parsley.
• Combine all of the filling ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Combine the topping ingredients and mix until smooth. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. To assemble add 1 cup of the sauce to the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Add a layer of lasagna noodles, followed by 1.5 cups sauce and 1/2 of the ricotta mixture. Repeat with noodles, sauce and ricotta. For the final layer add a layer of noodles, the rest of the sauce and pour over the cream cheese mixture.
• Spray a piece of foil with non-stick spray and cover the lasagna. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and cook for an additional 10 minutes.** You can remove the lasagna now, or for an extra crispy top, turn the oven to broil. Cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until browned and bubbly on top - be sure to keep an eye on it so it doesn't burn.
• Remove from the oven and allow the lasagna to rest for 10 minutes. Cut into 8 pieces and top with fresh parsley.

THE ULTIMATE MEATY VEGAN LASAGNA

Steps:

• Heat olive oil over medium heat in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pot. Sauté garlic for a few minutes, until fragrant.
• Add crushed tomatoes, chopped basil, pepper flakes, onion powder, and oregano. Stir to combine. Bring to a very gentle boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1-2 hours. (This can also be prepared in a slow cooker or Instant Pot.)
• Combine ingredients in a food processor and puree until mostly smooth. (A tiny amount of graininess is actually preferable and will make the ricotta texture much more convincing! Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go to ensure even texture.
• In a skillet over medium-high heat, sautée mushrooms in a drizzle of olive oil for 5-8 minutes, stirring often, to cook off excess moisture. Add zucchini and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
• In the same skillet, cook vegan beef-style crumbles and Beyond Sausage for a few minutes until lightly browned. (If you're just using the beef crumbles, you can skip this step, but the Beyond Sausage is easiest to work with when lightly cooked.)
• Preheat your oven to 350°F.
• Spread about 1 cup of marinara sauce in the bottom of a greased 9×13″ baking dish. Layer 3 lasagna noodles, and roughly 1/3 of the sausage, vegetables, ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, and sauce. Repeat layers, reserving about 1 cup of mozzarella and 1 cup of sauce for the very top.
• Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake for 10-15 additional minutes, uncovered, until edges are slightly browned. Remove from oven and allow to rest for about 15 minutes before serving. (This will allow it to firm up a bit and make it easier to cut and serve.)