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Vegetarian Lasagne with Lentil Ragu and Homemade Basil Ricotta

Writer's picture: Pinch of MintPinch of Mint

Updated: May 10, 2022



Lasagne is a household favourite. It’s filling, comforting and is the essence of traditional home cooking for the family. I’ve given this Italian classic a vegetarian twist by swapping out the meat for a delicious green lentil ragu and exchanging bèchamel Sauce for a light, creamy homemade ricotta with basil. This recipe is hearty and healthy! If you need an alternative vegetarian take on this classic recipe keep reading to try out my Vegetarian Lasagne with Lentil Ragu and Homemade Basil Ricotta.


Ingredient to Cook the Lentils


200g x Dried Green Lentils

1 x Vegetable Stock Cube

1 litre x Water

2 x Cloves of Garlic

1 x Sprig of Rosemary

1 x Small Onion

Salt


Ingredients for the Ragu


500g x Tomato Passata

800ml x Water

1x Carrot

1 x Celery

2 x Clove of Garlic

1 x Onion

1 Tbsp x Olive Oil

Sea Salt and Black pepper


Ingredients for the Ricotta


800ml x Whole Milk

1 x Lemon

1 x Bunch of Basil

Pinch of Sea Salt


Ingredients to Assemble


10 x Lasagne Sheets

60g x Grated Cheddar


Method

You can use tinned pre-cooked lentils to make this recipe. If you are using tinned skip points 1 and 2.


1. Start by bringing 1 litre of water to the boil in a saucepan. Once boiling turn it down to a simmer and add in one vegetable stock cube, a large pinch of salt, two whole cloves of garlic, 1 small onion halved and one sprig of rosemary.


2. Next, add the dried lentils to the pan and cook until they are tender. This will usually take around 20 minutes. Once cooked, drain the lentils and remove garlic, onion, rosemary and discard. Leave cooked lentils to one side.


3. To make the ragu start by dicing the onion, carrot, celery and garlic.


4. Place a large sauté pan over medium heat and add in 1 Tbsp of olive oil followed by the diced onion, carrot, celery and garlic. Add a pinch of salt and cook for around 5 minutes.


5. Next add to the pan the tomato passata, water and cooked lentils. Season with salt and pepper, place a lid on the pan and cook over a low heat for 30 minutes stirring every so often. If it begins to look a little dry just add a splash of water. After 30 minutes check the seasoning and remove from the heat.

6. To make the ricotta start by bringing 800ml of whole milk to the boil in a saucepan and immediately turn down the heat.

7. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the milk and stir. You will notice the curds begin to separate from the whey almost immediately. Continue stirring over a low heat for 5 minutes.


8. Remove from the heat and pass through some muslin cloth catching the whey in a bowl or jug. Place the curds into a mixing bowl and set the whey to one side.


9. Remove basil leaves from the stalks and chop the leaves. Mix them into your ricotta with a pinch of sea salt. This is your basil ricotta complete. You can adjust the consistency of the ricotta to your liking by adding a splash of the whey to loosen it up. I usually add around a dessert spoon or so.


10. I used a 20cm x 15cm pyrex baking tray to make my lasagne. To assemble start with a layer of lentils ragu followed by a few small dollops of ricotta and then the pasta sheets. repeat this until you use up all the ingredients. For the top layer sprinkle with the greater cheddar cheese and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 35 – 45 minutes or until golden on top.


Enjoy!

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