SWEET POTATO LASAGNA

Not to brag or anything, but this is totally happening (again), and it totally rules.

Pardon me while I present yet another noodle-free ‘pasta’ dish that’s like the original, but somehow better and entirely plant-based.

Not to brag or anything, but this is totally happening (again), and it totally rules.

This lasagna is inspired by three things:

1) My love for lasagna (forever and ever, amen)
2) My successful recreations of it using both eggplant + spaghetti squash
3) My never-ending love affair with sweet potatoes

The filling is my go-to tofu ricotta. It’s creamy, lemony, herby, delicious, and a convincing dupe for the real thing. Trust me on this one – you need this in your life.

And the ‘pasta noodles’ are thinly-sliced sweet potatoes, which add the perfect tender texture and sweet flavor contrast to the savory ‘ricotta.’ In other words, swoon.

How is this recipe simple? I’m so glad you asked. It requires just 9 basic ingredients, simple methods, and about 1 hour from start to finish.

While this recipe lacks a marinara sauce as in a traditional lasagna, I argue it doesn’t need it! However, if you’re a sauce-lover like me, I do include an optional (but highly recommended) basil pesto sauce that’s positively amazing (and still keeps the recipe within my 10-ingredient standard).

It not only adds a burst of vibrant green color, but also a punch of herby-garlic flavor that finishes the dish perfectly (in my humble opinion).

I think you guys are going to LOVE this lasagna! It’s:

Savory-sweet
Comforting
Satisfying
Healthy
Protein-packed
Simple
Flavorful
& Delicious

I created this recipe with comfort food-loving folks in mind. Everyone loves a good hearty baked dish this time of year. Plus, it’ll satisfy hearty cravings with nearly 10 grams of protein per serving.

If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and don’t forget to take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Simple, 9-ingredient sweet potato lasagna with tofu ricotta and a pesto drizzle. Entirely plant-based and so delicious!

Author: Minimalist Baker

Recipe type: Entree

Cuisine: Vegan, Gluten Free, Italian

Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3 large sweet potatoes (~ 450 g), peeled and thinly sliced (organic when possible)

RICOTTA FILLING

• 3-4 Tbsp (45-60 ml) extra virgin olive oil, plus more for squash
• Sea salt + black pepper to taste (~1/2 tsp each)
• 2 lemons, juiced (~1/3 cup or 80 ml)
• 12 ounces (340 g) extra firm tofu, drained and pressed dry for 10 minutes
• 3 Tbsp (9 g) nutritional yeast
• 1/2 cup loosely packed (30 g) fresh basil
• 1 Tbsp (3 g) dried oregano
• 1/4 cup (20 g) vegan parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

PESTO SAUCE optional

• 1/2 cup (120 ml) olive oil
• 1 cup loosely packed (60 g) basil, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced (1 Tbsp or 6 g)
• 1/4 cup (20 g) vegan parmesan cheese
• Healthy pinch each salt + pepper
• Water to thin

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).
2. Add all tofu filling ingredients to a food processor or blender and pulse to combine, scraping down sides as needed. You are looking for a semi-pureed mixture with bits of basil still intact. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
3. Peel sweet potatoes and slice thinly with a very sharp knife or mandolin. They shouldn't be paper thin, but semi-thick and bendable - about 1/8th inch.
4. In a 9x13-inch (or similar size) dish, begin laying down the sweet potatoes in a single layer, overlapping slightly.
5. Top with one-third of the tofu ricotta mixture and spread using a spoon or spatula. Top with another layer of sweet potatoes, slightly overlapping. Repeat until you have three total layers of tofu ricotta, and four layers of sweet potatoes. The top layer should be sweet potatoes.
6. Cover with foil and bake for 50 minutes.
7. Then remove foil, increase oven heat to 400 degrees F (204 C), and bake uncovered for another 5-10 minutes to slightly brown up the top layer.
8. While the lasagna is cooking, prepare pesto (optional), by adding olive oil, basil, and garlic to a blender or food processor. Mix on on medium-low speed to combine, then add vegan parmesan cheese, a pinch each salt and pepper and pulse to combine again.
9. Add water to thin until a pourable pesto sauce is achieved, mixing on high until only small bits of basil and garlic remain. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. I added a bit more vegan parmesan cheese and basil.
10. Let lasagna cool slightly before serving. Top entire lasagna with desired amount of pesto, or reserve for individual servings.
11. Best when fresh, though leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Freeze for longer-term storage.
12. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper for flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, and lemon juice for brightness.

Notes

*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 of 8 slices and half of the basil pesto sauce.

Nutrition Information

Serving size: 1/8th of recipe Calories: 298 Fat: 16.6 g Saturated fat: 2.6 gCarbohydrates: 32.1 g Sugar: 1.1 g Sodium: 92 mg Fiber: 6.2 g Protein: 9.1 g

http://minimalistbaker.com/sweet-potato-lasagna/