8-Ingredient Zucchini Lasagna (GF)
8-ingredient, vegan and gluten-free lasagna made with zucchini noodles, marinara, and macadamia nut ricotta "cheese"! Hearty, wholesome, and so delicious.
Servings 9 (squares)
Ingredients
VEGAN RICOTTA
- 3 cups raw macadamia nuts or soaked blanched almonds* (or 1 16-ounce block extra firm tofu*, drained and pressed dry for 10 minutes // amount of tofu is as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size)
- 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup fresh basil (finely chopped)
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 medium lemon, juiced (~2 Tbsp or 30 ml as original recipe is written)
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (optional // for flavor + richness)
- 1 tsp sea salt + pinch black pepper
- 1/2 cup water (plus more as needed // reduce if using tofu as it requires less)
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese (optional // plus more for topping)
THE REST
- 1 (28-ounce) jar favorite marinara sauce (I like Trader Joe's organic tomato basil)
- 3 medium zucchini squash thinly sliced with a mandolin (or sub eggplant with this recipe as a guide)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (176 C).
- Add macadamia nuts to a food processor or blender and mix to combine, scraping down sides as needed. You’re looking for a fine meal.
- Add remaining ingredients: Nutritional yeast, fresh basil, oregano, lemon juice, olive oil (optional), salt, pepper, water, and vegan parmesan cheese (optional). You are looking for a well-puréed mixture/paste.
- Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper for flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, and lemon juice for brightness.
- Pour about 1 cup (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size) marinara sauce into a 9x13-inch (or similar size) baking dish and line with thinly sliced zucchini.
- Scoop small spoonful amounts of ricotta mixture over the zucchini and gently spread into a thin layer. Spread on a layer of marinara sauce and then top with more zucchini slices. Continue until all filling and zucchini are used up. The top two layers should be zucchini and then sauce. Sprinkle on vegan parmesan cheese (optional), and then cover with foil.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes, then remove foil and bake for 15 minutes more. The zucchini should be very easily pierced when cut with a knife. Let cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Serve immediately with additional vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Leftovers keep for 2-3 days in the refrigerator, or in the freezer up to 1 month.
Notes
*If subbing blanched almonds, soak in cold water overnight (or 6 hours), or in very hot water 1 hour. Then drain thoroughly and proceed with recipe as written.
*If subbing tofu, make sure it's firm (not silken). Adjust seasonings as needed as the tofu requires a little bit more nutritional yeast, salt, and basil.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without vegan parmesan cheese or olive oil.
*If subbing tofu, make sure it's firm (not silken). Adjust seasonings as needed as the tofu requires a little bit more nutritional yeast, salt, and basil.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without vegan parmesan cheese or olive oil.
Nutrition (1 of 9 servings)
Serving: 1 slice Calories: 395 Carbohydrates: 19 g Protein: 6.8 g Fat: 35.9 g Saturated Fat: 5.7 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.73 g Monounsaturated Fat: 26.7 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 585 mg Potassium: 692 mg Fiber: 6.7 g Sugar: 10.6 g Vitamin A: 908 IU Vitamin C: 24.97 mg Calcium: 78.4 mg Iron: 3.02 mg