Italian, Lunch, Dinner and Entrees

Mushroom n Olives Lasagna (VEGAN)

This one-dish lasagna is super healthy and has a unique flavor with the addition of green olives. Mushrooms and swiss chards round off the veggies and tofu is used as the protein making it a completely VEGAN offering. 

By using readymade lasagna sauce, the assembling of the dish takes under 30 minutes and just 30 minutes to bake. Its the perfect weekend supper with a simple side salad. 

Lasagna is a very satisfying dish which contains all the food groups. By choosing each component wisely, we can make a one-dish meal which can be served for a large crowd. 

How should we go about doing this and what are the food groups in a lasagna?  

  1. Grains – I always try to pick ‘pasta’ with alternate ingredients – lentils, chickpea and whole wheat. This gives us a whole grain base. 
  2. Proteins – this is covered by the addition of ricotta cheese – here I am replacing ricotta with soft tofu mixed with vegan milk – this makes it a complete plant-based protein. 
  3. Fat (optional) – this is provided by the cheeses and can be omitted. Garnish the dish with healthy olive oil which provides the good fat. 
  4. Vegetables – bring in a mix of robust veggies which standup to baking in the sauce, here we are using a combination of swiss chards, mushrooms and a surprise element – green olives. 

By making wise substitutions to all the components, we have created a dish which is now a whole grain, low-fat and full of good vitamins and minerals. 

Have no guilt in indulging and don’t let anyone fool you that lasagna (homemade) is not a healthy offering. Its always up to us to make it one 😜

Mushroom n Olives Lasagna (VEGAN)

This one-dish lasagna is super healthy and has a unique flavor with the addition of green olives. Mushrooms and swiss chards round off the veggies and tofu is used as the protein making it a completely VEGAN. 
By using readymade lasagna sauce, the assembling of the dish takes under 30 minutes and just 30 minutes to bake. Its the perfect weekend supper with a simple side salad. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 12 Lasagna sheets whole wheat or lentil or chickpea 
  • 2 cups Lasagna sauce readymade

For Protein layer-

  • 2 cups soft Tofu
  • 1/2 cup non-dairy Milk
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning

For Vegetable layer-

  • 1 Onion chopped
  • 3 pods Garlic chopped
  • 1 Green Pepper chopped
  • 1 cup Mushrooms coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 cup Green Olives coarsely chopped
  • 2 packed cups Swiss chards chopped
  • 1 tbsp Basil ribbons

Instructions

  • Cook the lasagna sheets as per package instructions, drain, drizzle olive oil and set aside

Protein layer – 

  • Mix all the ingredients, season with salt and set aside 

Vegetable layer –

  • Start by sautéing the onions and garlic
  • Add all the vegetables one by one and cook 
  • Finally add the basil

Make and assembly line of 4 things – lasagna, sauce, vegetable layer, protein layer

  • Take a large rectangular glass dish with minimum 4 inches side height. Drizzle some olive oil on the bottom, spread a thin layer of sauce
  • Next layer lasagna sheets, protein, vegetables, sauce – repeat and finish with sauce at the top 
  • Bake in a hot oven at 450 degrees for 30 minutes
  • Serve with a simple side salad. 

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