Vegan Mushroom Bechamel Lasagna Recipes

CREAMY MUSHROOM LASAGNE

Steps:

• For the ragu, put the dried porcini mushrooms in a heatproof mug and cover with 125ml boiling water from the kettle. Set aside. Finely chop the chestnut mushrooms or blitz in a food processor to fine pieces.
• Heat the oil in a large saucepan or flameproof casserole over a high heat and fry the onions, carrots and chopped chestnut mushrooms with a pinch of salt for 15 mins until the water released by the mushrooms has evaporated, stirring now and then. The mushrooms should be a deep brown colour and the other veg should be soft and slightly coloured.
• Add the mixed mushrooms, garlic and most of the thyme, and cook for another 5 mins until the mushrooms have started to soften. Drain the rehydrated porcini, add the soaking liquid to the pan, then finely chop the porcini and add that too. Stir in the wine, passata, ketchup and paprika to combine. Simmer for 25 mins until the ragu has reduced and is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Season generously with sea salt flakes and a grinding of black pepper.
• Meanwhile, make the béchamel. Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then add the bay and cook for a minute. Scatter in the flour and stir until you have a sticky paste. Add the milk in stages, whisking between each addition until you have a thick sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook for 3-4 mins, stirring occasionally until the sauce is thick enough to coat a spoon. Remove the bay, then mix in the crème fraîche, a generous grating of nutmeg and seasoning.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Rub the olive oil over the base and sides of a large ceramic baking dish (ours was 35 x 20 x 6cm). Arrange a layer of lasagne sheets in the base (you may need to break them so they fit), then spoon over a layer of the mushroom ragu, drizzle with some of the béchamel, and scatter over a handful of the mozzarella. Repeat until you have used all the ragu and the final layer of lasagne sheets, then smooth over a thick layer of béchamel. Sprinkle over the remaining mozzarella and bake for 40-45 mins until the filling is bubbling and the top is golden. Leave to rest for 10 mins, then sprinkle with the remaining thyme leaves before serving.

MUSHROOM LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the dried mushrooms in a glass measuring cup and pour 2 cups boiling water over them. Let soak 30 minutes, while you prepare the other ingredients. Place a strainer over a bowl, line it with cheesecloth or paper towels, and drain the mushrooms. Squeeze the mushrooms over the strainer to extract all the flavorful juices. If using shiitakes, cut away and discard the stems. Then rinse the mushrooms, away from the bowl with the soaking liquid, until they are free of sand. Squeeze dry and set aside. Chop coarsely. Measure out 1 1/2 cups of the soaking liquid and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat and add the shallots or onion. Cook, stirring often, until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, stir together for about 30 seconds, then add the fresh and reconstituted mushrooms and salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until the mushrooms begin to soften and to sweat, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and turn the heat to high. Cook, stirring, until the liquid boils down and glazes the mushrooms, 5 to 10 minutes. Add thyme and stir in the mushroom soaking liquid. Bring to a simmer, add salt, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the mushrooms are thoroughly tender and fragrant and the surrounding broth has reduced by a little more than half, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in some freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt.
• Meanwhile, make the béchamel. Heat the oil over medium heat in a heavy saucepan. Add the shallot or onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes, until smooth and bubbling, but not browned. It should have the texture of wet sand. Whisk in the milk all at once and bring to a simmer, whisking all the while, until the mixture begins to thicken. Turn the heat to very low and simmer, stirring often with a whisk and scraping the bottom and edges of the pan with a rubber spatula, for 10 to 15 minutes, until the sauce is thick and has lost its raw-flour taste. Season with salt and pepper. Strain while hot into the pan with the mushrooms.
• Assemble the lasagna. Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Oil or butter a 2-quart rectangular baking dish. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add 3 or 4 lasagna noodles, just the number you need for one layer. Cook only until flexible, and using tongs or a skimmer, remove from the pan and set on a kitchen towel to drain. Spoon a thin layer of béchamel and mushrooms over the bottom of the dish. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread a ladleful of the mushroom/béchamel mixture over the noodles and top with a layer of Parmesan. Cook the next layer of noodles and continue to repeat the layers (I get three layers in my pan), ending with a layer of the mushroom/béchamel mixture topped with Parmesan. Cover with foil and place in the oven. Bake 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and if you want the edges of the noodles crispy and the top lightly browned, continue to bake uncovered for another 5 to 10 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

VEGAN MUSHROOM & BECHAMEL LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat over to 220 C / 425°F.
• For the Noodles: Boil lasagna noodles to al dente according to package directions and set aside on baking paper.
• For the Bechamel: In heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the margarine over medium high heat. Slowly add the 1/2 cup + 2 tbs flour and stir to combine. Cook for two minutes stirring constantly. Slowly incorporate soy milk with a whisk. Bring just to a boil and reduce heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and add salt and pepper to taste. Add nutmeg.
• For the onions, etc: Saute the onion, shallot, fennel and leek in 2 tsp of the olive oil over medium heat in a non-stick pan until the onions are soft and translucent. Set aside.
• For the Mushrooms: Still using the non-stick pan, saute the portabellas in 2 tsp of the olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until the mushrooms begin to release their juices. Add the splash of sherry. Set aside. Saute the oyster mushrooms in the remaining 2 tsp of olive oil for about 2 - 3 minutes. Remove from heat and mix with the portabellas.
• For the Vegan Parmesan: In a food processor, mix the nuts, the 1/4 cup flour, the nutritional yeast and about 2 tsp of garlic powder (more or less as you prefer) and a 1/2 tsp of the salt. Test, and add the other 1/2 tsp of salt if needed.
• Layer the Lasagna: Spoon a thin layer of bechamel onto the bottom of the pan and spread evenly. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles.
• Spoon 1/3 of remaining bechamel on the noodles and top with a good sprinkle of 'parmesan'. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles.
• Spread all of the onion mixture, top with 'parmesan' and ladle a little bechamel. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles.
• Spread all of the mushroom mix, top with 'parmesan' and ladle a little bechamel. Cover with a layer of lasagna noodles.
• Spoon all remaining bechamel on top and top with remaining 'parmesan'.
• Cover tightly with tin foil and bake for 40 minutes.
• Remove foil and broil for 5 minutes or until top begins to brown slightly.