Simple Lentil Lasanga & Asparagus
Lentil Lasagna is a simple dairy-free recipe made with cashew ricotta, protein-rich brown or puy lentils, and fresh asparagus. It’s an easy, comforting vegan meal the whole family will love!
If you love a good lasagna, you’ll love this simple vegan lentil lasagna! To add a healthy veggie, we’ll bake fresh asparagus right on top. It’s super simple and so delicious!
It reminds me of the lasagna I grew up with, not with the asparagus (that’s a new twist). The cashew ricotta cheese is just as amazing and has the same texture and taste as traditional ricotta!
I just love a good find, especially when it’s one of those comfort foods I love so much every now and then. This is an outstanding replication that also passed the picky eater test – my daughter has approved it!
This is another super easy meal to put together, nothing complicated here. Feel free to add whatever veggies you like to this. And I love the addition of lentils or beans, adding a good dose of protein!
This will be a family favorite for sure!
Ingredient Notes
Here you’ll find everything you need, including variations and substitutions.
- Noodles: I used whole-grain lasagna noodles; use your favorite. Boil or no-boil noodles both work. To make this gluten-free, use GF lasagna noodles.
- Protein: This time around, I used prepared, cooked lentils; the ones from Trader Joe’s are flavorful and delicious!
- Cheese: This homemade vegan Cashew ‘Ricotta’ Cheese is absolutely delicious. If allergic to nuts, this Tofu Ricotta is fabulous as well!
- Sauce: Make your own homemade Marinara Sauce, or use your favorite sauce.
- Asparagus: When in season, asparagus is inexpensive and at its peak flavor! No subs here, and no canned asparagus allowed! :)
How To Make Lentil Lasagna
- Cook pasta. Cook the pasta according to package instructions, and set aside.
- Make cashew ricotta. While the water heats up, make the cashew ricotta cheese. The quick soak method for the cashews will only take about 8 minutes.
- Layer. Add 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce to the bottom of an 8 x 11 baking dish. spread around the bottom. Lay 3 lasagna noodles length wise over top the sauce, add 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, add half of the lentils, top with 3 lasagna noodles, and repeat until you’ve topped the last 3 noodles with sauce.
- Add asparagus. Add the asparagus spears width wise in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Bake. Place the lasagna, uncovered, in a preheated oven set to 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Lentil lasagna is great served with a sprinkle of Almond Parmesan.
- Serve with a chunk of homemade Artisan Bread or bread sticks for swiping up the sauce.
- And if you like a salad on the side, this Vegan Caesar Salad or Heirloom Tomato & Endive Salad would be delicious!
- Serve with Vegan Minestrone Soup.
Make Ahead & Freeze
Lentil lasagna is a great freezer meal! You can freeze it either before OR after baking. I typically freeze the lasagna after it’s assembled (but without the asparagus), but before baking (just my preference, because then it’s only baked once). When ready, add the asparagus and bake the lasagne from frozen as per the instructions above.
More Comfort Food Recipes!
- The Ultimate Vegan Vegetable Lasagna
- Spinach and Ricotta Vegan Stuffed Shells
- Eggplant Puttanesca
- See all vegan Italian recipes
- Or maybe you’d like these other asparagus recipes
If you try this simple lasagna recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below. I love to hear what you think, or any changes you make.
PrintLENTIL LASAGNA & ASPARAGUS
A simple lentil lasagna featuring creamy cashew ricotta and asparagus for a hearty and delicious vegan meal that’s well balanced and ready in 1 hour!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: Serves 8
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 jar (28 oz) pasta sauce (or make Marinara Sauce)
- 1 – 1/2 cups cooked lentils or 1 can (15 oz) lentils, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups vegan ricotta (Cashew Ricotta Cheese or Tofu Ricotta)
- 1 lb. asparagus, ends trimmed
- 12 whole-grain lasagna noodles
Instructions
Cashew Ricotta: Make your cashew cheese ahead of time and keep in the fridge. If you’re in a pinch you could just as easily prepare it while the noodles are cooking.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Noodles: Cook your noodles, al dente, and set aside.
Layer: In the bottom of an 8×11 baking dish, add 1/2 cup of pasta sauce, then 3 noodles, 1/2 of the ricotta cheese, 1/2 of the lentils, and repeat with the noodles, sauce, cheese, beans, noodles, and sauce.
Top with asparagus, coating them lightly with some extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Top with a few twists of sea salt and cracked pepper.
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, until asparagus is slightly tender.
Serve with artisan bread on the side to wipe up any remaining sauce.
Store: If you manage to have any leftovers, store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 5 – 6 days.
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I’m making this for the second time today. I LOVE IT! Usually when my hubby goes away, I order takeout for myself. Not anymore!!
Hi,
I made this using 2 cups of cooked lentils added to the marinara sauce and a layer of spinach on top of the incredible cashew ricotta. Didn’t have any asparagus. Just finished a warm slice. It is so good! Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Susan
Wonderful Susan, I love your substitutions! Cheers :)
My beloved vegan next door neighbor just broke her leg and is going to be laid up for several weeks of recovery. I (not a vegan) am trying to make some freezer meals to take them so that her husband can easily cook some things while she is recovering. Do you have any idea how the cashew cheese does if you freeze the lasagna and then bake it later?
Hi Ashley, I’m so sorry for the late response. And I’m sorry to hear about your neighbor. I hope she is doing ok. I’ve never froze this before baking, or after for that matter, so I can’t say for sure. That is a great question though and I should give it try just to see if you can. I wouldn’t see why not but again I can’t say for sure. That task will definitely be on my to do list. Best of everything to you both. :)
Seriously, you are amazing. Yummmm!!! It was delicious!
Made this yesterday for part of Christmas dinner for my family. It was simple, quick and so delicious! It was better than I expected it to be.
So glad it worked out for you! Cheers :)
This was delicious! Thank you so much for all of your wonderful, helpful recipes. The cheese worked out surprisingly well. I used whole grain noodles and added some spinach, too. Turned out great!
So glad you liked! The spinach sounds like a perfect addition along with your whole grain noodles. Thank you for stopping to share your thoughts. Cheers :)
This is beautiful. What a great fast recipe idea!
Thank you Lysa!
I miss lasagne now that I see this beautiful recipe. I can't believe it only requires 5 ingredients! A definite contender for my go-to comfort foods.
Simplicity at it's finest…I just know you'll love it and be amazed like I was. This is something for all ages to enjoy. Cheers to good clean foods :)
Looks so good! I've tried the tofu ricotta from Veganomicon & love it. I'll be veganizing a butternut squash lasagna this week using the new "better than ricotta" from tofutti. I love the idea of using something less processed, so I'll have to try the cashew ricotta next!
You will love this! I can't believe how much it has the same texture and taste when all put together. I agree the less processed stuff is always preferable. I think the cost comes out to be about the same too. This is so fresh, easy and tasty as any ricotta out there, even the dairy kind. It will work with your butternut squash too. Do try it soon, I think this may be your new favorite, thanks to Hipster Food for the recipe. :)