Layers of tender noodles, grilled veggies like zucchini and mushrooms, cashew ricotta cheese and a hearty, walnut meat Bolognese sauce that is to die for!
Wilt your spinach in a skillet with a few drops of water to get it going. Once wilted, lay the spinach on a clean dish towel, and press down with paper towels to squeeze the liquids out. You want to strain as much liquid as possible from the spinach.
Add the cashews to your food processor along with all remaining ingredients, EXCEPT the spinach. Process until smooth. This will take about 1-2 minutes, scraping down the sides every 30 seconds or so. Then add the spinach and pulse once or twice to get it incorporated. Do NOT over process the spinach. You do not want to puree the spinach or turn the cheese green. Instead you should see pieces of spinach throughout. See process pics above.
Transfer your ricotta into a small bowl and refrigerate until needed. It will thicken up a little more in the fridge.
Mushroom Walnut Bolognese Sauce Instructions
Add the mushrooms to your food processor and process until finely chopped. Then add the oil and the mushrooms to a large sauce pan or pot. Cook the mushrooms for approx. 3 minutes, until slightly reduced.
Meanwhile, process the walnuts and sundried tomatoes in your food processor until a crumbly texture is achieved. Then add to the pot with the mushrooms. Give it a stir and then add your tomato sauce and seasonings and mix well.
Simmer your sauce for 20 minutes and then set aside until ready to use.
Grilled Veggie Instructions
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and set your oven to broil on high.
Arrange your sliced veggies in a single layer and drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil for 4 minutes until lightly golden and reduced, watching carefully not to burn.
Remove from the oven and set aside.
Lasagna Noodles Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and fill a large bowl with cold water. Place the bowl of cold water on your counter as close as possible to your boiling pot of water.
Add about half the package of lasagna sheets to your boiling pot of water. Do not overcrowd the pot. Cook for 2-3 minutes until softened, or according to package directions. Using tongs, carefully transfer your softened lasagna sheets into your water bath.
Repeat with remaining sheets.
Assembly & Bake Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. I used a glass tray that measures 11"x15" and assembled my lasagna in the following order:Sauce | Noodles | Sauce | Ricotta Cheese | Zucchini | Sauce | Noodles | Sauce | Ricotta Cheese | Mushrooms | Noodles | Sauce | Parmesan Cheese (optional)
Scoop a thin layer of sauce onto your glass baking dish. Then add a layer of lasagna sheets over top in a single layer. Add more sauce over the lasagna sheets and spread using a silicone brush.
Now add half of the ricotta cheese mixture on top of the sauce, using a fork to help spread it evenly across. Then top your cheese with the zucchini slices and add another thin layer of sauce over the zucchini.
Now add your second layer of lasagna sheets, followed by another thin layer of sauce. Then spread the remaining ricotta cheese on top.
Next, add the mushrooms in a single layer, followed by your third layer of noodles. Scoop more sauce over your noodles, making sure to get it in all the corners to prevent sticking while baking.
Optional: Generously sprinkle vegan parmesan cheese on top, if using. (Recommended!)
Cover your tray with parchment paper and then aluminum foil and bake in your preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven, uncover and let sit for 10-15 minutes before slicing into 12 slices and serving. Garnish each slice of lasagna with more parmesan cheese or hot peppers.
Video
Notes
Prepare ALL your layers in the order listed, saving the lasagna sheets for LAST. Do not cook your lasagna sheets until you're ready to assemble. You don't want them to stick together or get too soggy and break. (Ignore, if using oven ready sheets.)If you don't have a powerful food processor, presoak your cashews in hot water for 30-60 minutes to soften them and help them blend smooth. Then drain and make the cashew ricotta as directed.Squeeze as much moisture as possible from your spinach to prevent a watery cashew ricotta.Do not puree the spinach. You don't want green ricotta, just pulse to gently chop and distribute.Make sure not to over process the mushrooms, walnuts or sun dried tomatoes. You want nice, hearty texture for the best vegan lasagna.For the lasagna noodles, do not overcrowd them in your pot of boiling water when precooking. Also make sure to transfer the sheets to a water bath, immediately once tender. Or, use ready to bake sheets.Cut your lasagna sheets, as needed, to fit nicely into your baking dish.Alternate the direction of your three lasagna sheet layers, to make slicing easier once baked.To keep this recipe vegan, check the lasagna package label to ensure there are no eggs as some dried lasagna sheets may contain egg.Leftovers keep refrigerated for up to 4 days.