Triple-layered vegan lasagna has herbaceous homemade tofu ricotta, perfectly charred eggplant as noodles, and savory butternut squash puree. This mouthwatering vegan lasagna is a healthy yet indulgent delight. It’s completely dairy-free and gluten-free, providing the ultimate nourishing meal.

If you’re looking for more vegan pasta dishes, then try this Cashew Cream Veggie Pasta and the Vegan Creamy Cajun Pasta.

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Not only will your tastebuds love this delicious vegan lasagna, but your body will too! It’s:

Filled with Tons of Protein, 14 grams Protein per serving!
Contains all Nine Essential Amino Acids
Provides powerful Antioxidants
Filled with Fiber, so you feel full longer while eating less
Low in Calories, only 191 Calories per serving!
Nutrient-Dense (tons of vitamins and minerals!)
A Perfect Low-Carb Option

Trust me, you’ll want more and more of this tasty Whole30 Compliant, Paleo, Low-Carb, Vegan Lasagna!

What is the secret to making the best Vegan Lasagna?

The secret to an incredible vegan lasagna dish (or any lasagna dish) is all in the layers! You must prepare layers of flavors to create a rich, delicious lasagna. This recipe is made completely with plant-based ingredients. Even the noodles are vegetables: perfectly roasted eggplant.

I like to start by making my simple, yet flavorful marinara sauce. I NEVER buy pre-made marinara from the grocery store anymore because it is so easy to make! Simply simmer one can of organic diced tomatoes (I prefer organic fire-roasted tomatoes for extra flavor), a half red onion, and tons of fresh herbs together for about 30-45 minutes.

Once the flavors have merged, blend the ingredients together for the perfect tomato sauce. I have a video making my favorite tomato sauce here.

What to use for gluten-free lasagna noodles?

While the marinara is simmering, I prepare the eggplant noodles. Some people like to use zucchini, others who have no aversion to gluten opt for regular lasagna noodles.

I have yet to find gluten-free lasagna noodles in the grocery store. It gives me the perfect reason to make my own lasagna noodles.

Eggplant is SUPER EASY to use. Because of its size, it makes the perfect lasagna noodles. Simply cut the eggplant lengthwise into ½ inch slices and you have perfect size and thickness to hold the generous layers of the lasagna together.

How to Perfectly Roast Eggplant

The trick to making perfectly roasted eggplant is to be sure to saturate the eggplant with salt and allow the moisture to escape the eggplant before cooking.

Simply generously salt the eggplant on both sides, let the eggplant sit for 15-20 minutes, and you will see small puddles of water dripping from the eggplant. Now, you’ll have to rinse off the excess salt and dry the eggplant and it is ready for roasting. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and roast the eggplant for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

By preparing and roasting the eggplant you achieve:

Perfectly caramelized eggplant noodles with immense flavor as all the excess water has been removed and flavor intensified.
Tender, yet sturdy eggplant to withstand numerous layers of lasagna fillings.

How to make tasty Vegan Ricotta?

Making Vegan Ricotta is simple; it only takes a few ingredients for the perfect ricotta.

The main ingredient you’ll need is firm tofu, along with fresh parsley, lemon, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast is what gives the ricotta a nutty, “cheesy” flavor. I like the addition of fresh parsley to give the ricotta a more dynamic, robust flavor. Simply combine all these ingredients in a food processor and blend until you achieve the perfect “ricotta” like consistency.

Side Note: I used Trader Joe’s Vegan Almond Shredded Mozzarella to create that top cheesy layer of lasagna we all love. I was happy with how well the “cheese” melted and how incredible it tastes!

The trick to making vegan lasagna “meaty”

Of course, you can easily saute some meatless ground beef for your lasagna; there are plenty of options available in the grocery stores.

For this recipe, I enjoy the process of making all of the layers from scratch.

There are many options for what you can use to make this lasagna “meaty” such as lentils, beans, or in this case, spinach and mushrooms. Mushrooms are an incredibly meaty vegetable. It is hearty, savory, and can be ground to resemble ground meat or left whole to make your dish filling.

how to make gluten free vegan lasagna using eggplant, butternut squash, mushrooms

How to prepare ahead and save time?

Each of the layers in this Vegan Lasagna can be prepared in advance to make assembling the lasagna nice and easy!

The Vegan ricotta and marinara sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance. I would recommend making the butternut squash puree, mushrooms and spinach, and eggplant no more than 1 day in advance. Make sure all ingredients stay refrigerated. When you are ready to prepare your lasagna, remove the ingredients from the fridge and allow the ingredients to come to room temperature before assembling and baking, about 1-hour minimum.

This recipe may seem like a bit of work, but it is all in the prep. This is the kind of meal where you can throw all the main ingredients in the oven, continue about your day, and assemble everything when you are ready.

I hope you enjoy this Vegan Lasagna Recipe!

If you try the recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know what you think in the comments below! Take pictures, tag #goodfoodbaddie, and share them with me on Instagram! I love seeing my recipes come to life in your kitchen.

Want more delicious plant based recipes to try! Here are a few of my favorites:

Vegan Lasagna

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Healthy Options, Vegan

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 1

Total Time: 1 10

Servings:

Calories: 191kcal

Ingredients

Vegan Tofu Ricotta

10 oz firm tofu (275 g), drained
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup fresh parsley

Lasagna

2 Eggplants
12 oz Butternut Squash cubed (1 whole squash)
3 cups Fresh Spinach
2 cups Variety of Mushrooms (Crimini, Portobello, Oyster)
16 oz Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes
1 cup Vegan Mozzarella Style Shredded Cheese
5 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 tsp Red Crushed Pepper
3 tsp Italian Seasoning, divided
3 tbsp Olive Oil, divided
Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

Instruction for Tofu Ricotta

Chop the tofu into large cubes and transfer tofu and all ingredients into a blender or food processor.
Blend just a moment, less than 30 seconds. Until you achieve a ricotta like consistency. (See image above)
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Instructions for Lasagna

Preheat oven to 400° and cover 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Taking the eggplant, slice off the ends and then slice lengthwise into 1/2 inch slices. Arrange the slices on a cutting board and sprinkle 1-2 tsp salt over all of the eggplant, on each side. Let the eggplant sit for 10 minutes.
Cut the ends of the butternut squash, then cut the butternut squash in half. Use a spoon to remove the seeds and fleshy inside. Rub the butternut squash with 1 tbsp of olive oil on all sides, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place the squash on the baking tray and roast the butternut until it is soft and golden, about 30 minutes. After the squash cools, use a spoon to remove the squash from the skin, then mash the squash into smooth consistency.
Returning to the Eggplant, use a clean dish towel or paper towel to remove the excess moisture. Arrange the eggplant on the baking tray. (You may need an additional baking tray to roast all the slices). Roast the eggplant until soft and golden, about 25 minutes. Make sure to flip the eggplant halfway through.
In a medium sauce pan, oven medium heat pour 1 tbsp Olive oil, saute half the chopped onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, add 3 cloves crushed garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Pour 16 ounces of organic diced tomatoes into the sauce pan along with the fresh basil, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. All the sauce to simmer for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. After 25 minutes, blend the mixture until your desired consistency is reached.
In a medium pan, over medium-low heat pour 1 tbsp Olive Oil and add remaining chopped onions. Saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add 2 cloves crushed garlic and saute for an additional minute. Add chopped mushrooms and saute for 5-8 minutes, until soft. Then add the spinach, remaining Italian seasoning, red crushed peppers, salt and pepper and saute until spinach has wilted, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the heat from the pan and set aside for later.
Use the instructions above to make the vegan tofu ricotta.
Turn the oven to 350°. In a 9 x 13” baking dish, spoon 1 cup of the tomato sauce into an even layer. Lay 3 to 4 eggplant slices on top, followed by the butternut squash puree and the vegan ricotta, spread the layers evenly. Then, add the spinach and mushroom. Repeat the layers by adding another layer of eggplant, followed by the marinara sauce, butternut squash puree, vegan ricotta, and mushroom and spinach mixture. Finish the lasagna with 1 cup of Vegan shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the lasagna is hot and bubbling.
Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Vegan cheese often does not get golden brown. I like to broil my lasagna on low for an additional 3 minutes to get a golden brown top layer.
Refrigerate the leftovers. To rewarm, placing the lasagna in the oven at 350° for 8-10 minutes is best. However, you can also microwave the lasagna for 1-2 minutes and enjoy it.
Prepping the ingredients prior is best to save time. The Vegan ricotta and marinara sauce can be made 2-3 days in advance. I would recommend making the butternut squash puree, mushrooms and spinach, and eggplant no more than 1 day in advance. Make sure all ingredients stay refrigerated.
When you are ready to prepare your lasagna, remove the ingredients from the fridge and allow the ingredients to come to room temperature before assembling and baking, about 1-hour minimum.

Nutrition