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My mom used to make lasagna a lot when I was a kid. She’s wasn’t a big cook, but she’d make lasagna––one with ricotta, and another without (for me). I don’t remember what else she put in it, other than your typical noodles, mozzarella, tomato sauce, ground turkey (we didn’t eat red meat), and maybe some veggies. Mommy, if you’re reading this, do you remember what was in there? For now I’ll make this butternut squash lasagna!
I discovered something very special about this classic dish recently. Lasagna doesn’t have to have meat, or cheese, or even noodles to be amazingly delicious! Well, I knew about the meat and cheese, but the absence of noodles in lasagna is fairly new to me. Why use noodles when you can use thin roasted slices of butternut squash? The beauty of eating lasagna without all of the typical American fixin’s in that once you’ve enjoyed a yummy plate of it you don’t feel like you need to take a nap. The veggies, mushrooms, and homemade tofu cheese are light yet nourishing, and seriously satisfying.
In this hearty vegan and gluten-free butternut squash lasagna I used a mixture of shiitake and white button mushrooms, fresh rosemary and tarragon, swiss chard, homemade sauce (so easy!!!), tofu “cheese”, and squash. The flavor and texture are excellent, everything you’d want from a meal on a cold winter day.
I’m looking forward to having a daughter who I can make this lasagna for some day. Maybe it will be one of her favorite dishes, just like my mom’s was mine. You know how there some some dishes that bring back sweet memories? Lasagna will always be that for me.
Butternut Squash & Swiss Chard Lasagna
This lasagna, like most, is done in parts. You've got your roasted squash, sauce, veggies, and tofu "cheese". If you like to cook, this meal with bring you lots of joy in the kitchen. If you don't think of yourself as a cook, give it a try anyway. Each step is easy as pie, and the result is well worth the minimal effort and time. Can't get your hands on swiss chard–or any other chard? Use spinach, kale, or collards. If you're not a fan of butternut squash, you're crazy. Just kidding!! You're just odd. Use zucchini instead : )
Equipment
- food processor
- Shallow baking dish about 8x8
Ingredients
- olive oil
- sea salt
- 1 large butternut squash, peeled, halved and thinly sliced in half-moon shapes (about 1/4 inch thick)
- or 2 small butternuts, about 5 cups worth
- 1 14- oz can of plain tomato sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp Italian herb dried spice
- 1 tsp fresh black pepper
- 4 cups of your favorite mushrooms, I used shiitake and white button, sliced
- 4 cups of swiss chard, rib removed, washed, & chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh tarragon, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
- 1 tsp red chili flakes, if you like heat
- 1 block of firm organic tofu
- 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss your sliced butternut squash with a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and spread the squash onto the baking sheet. If it doesn't all fit use a second baking sheet, or layer it. Roast for 30 minutes, until tender, but not too mushy. RESIST TEMPTATION: DO NOT EAT IT ALL BEFORE YOU FINISH THE OTHER PARTS OF THE LASAGNA ; )
- While the squash is roasting you can complete the other parts...
SAUCE
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add the minced garlic, and cook until golden (be careful not to burn it). Reduce the heat, and carefully pour the tomato sauce into the pan. It might start to pop, so keep the lid nearby. Stir the garlic and sauce, then add the nutritional yeast, herbs and black pepper. Cover, and allow the sauce to cook while you work on the next part.
SWISS CHARD & MUSHROOMS
- Heat a tablespoon, or two, of olive oil in a skillet on medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and a generous pinch of sea salt, and stir. The cooking will draw the moisture out of the mushrooms, so don't worry if the pan seems too dry. Once they've begun to sweat (moisten), add the swiss chard, tarragon, and rosemary. Stir well, and remove from heat.
TOFU "CHEESE"
- Break the tofu up and place it in a food processor. Process until smooth, then add the nutritional yeast, vinegar and salt. Process again to incorporate it all, and taste to see if you need to add any more salt.
ASSEMBLE THE LASAGNA
- Now that you've got all the parts complete you can assemble the lasagna.
- To do this you will place a layer of squash on the bottom of the baking dish. Follow that with some of the "cheese", follow that with some of the mushroom mix (squeeze excess liquid from the mushrooms and greens before layering), then the sauce, then the squash again. Continue to layer the ingredients until you've used them all. Use about 1/2 cup of "cheese", sauce and mushrooms on each layer. I like my top layer to have all the ingredients visible.
- Place the lasagna back in the oven and bake for 40 minutes (or 30 if you just can't wait).
- Enjoy with a glass of vegan wine. I've been drinking a lot of Yellow Tail Cabernet Sauvignon lately. Cheap & Vegan!
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!
Hey Bette!! Oh great 🙂 Instead of rosemary you can use basil. That works well too. If you still want a little bit of rosemary cut it back from the recipe, and make sure to use fresh not dried. Big hugs 🙂 xo
Fabulous! Sounds so good with the cashew cheese. Sadly I’m allergic to them 🙁 Thanks for sharing your experience with the recipe. I hope others try it with your cheese as well!! Have a great rest of your week!
Jenne, I LOVE your website and your recipes, but I’d also love to print them! On some of the pages you have a print option, (ex: the crab cakes, sushi) but on others like this one, you don’t! I’d love to print them out in a neat and uniform way like your other recipes to keep them handy while I’m cooking!
Hi Alexis! Thank you so much 🙂
I would love to make it easier for you to print the recipes. I’ll look into that now, and make it happen.
xo
Hi Jennie,
I made this for my family tonight and they loved it….including my 12 year old son