Lasagna! (with cashew "ricotta")

Layers of veggies and "cheesy" goodness?

Yes, please!

I made this one past cold night, it really hit the spot, and fed me for days!

You do have to soak the cashews an hour in advance, so keep that in mind.

Other than that, this is a very simple comforting dinner for many.

Lasagna with cashew "ricotta"

   cashew ricotta

• 1 1/3 cup raw cashew nuts (soaked, one hour in advance in two cups water, then drained)
• 1/2 of a lemon's juice
• 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary and oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 tablespoons tahini (sesame seed butter)
• 6 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• 1/4-3/4 cup water (depending on desired consistency)

Once cashews have been soaked and drained, add them to a food processor, until chopped fine

add lemon juice, herbs, salt, tahini, nut yeast, process until mixed well

add water, 1/4 cup at a time, until you reach the consistency of cream cheese (keep in mind, you don't want your "cheese" too dry, as it will lose moisture after being baked)

try a bite, add salt, and pepper to taste.
refrigerate until ready to use.

 other lasagna ingredients 

• 1 box of gluten free lasagna noodles 
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large garlic cloves, chopped
• one medium onion, chopped
• 1 teaspoon oregano, rosemary
• 1 red or orange bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• about 2 cups broccoli, cut to bite sized pieces 
• 2 small zucchini, sliced
• 5-6 baby bella mushrooms, sliced
• 2 of your favorite veggie burger patties (i used sunshine garden veggie burgers)
• 1 1/2 cups of your favorite tomato sauce (i used my simple recipe from pizza!)

 cook your gluten free noodles according to the manufacturer (each brand is different), and set aside

in a medium sized frying pan, add the oil on medium heat

add the garlic and onion, stirring until tender (about 3-5 minutes)

add the herbs, pepper, broccoli, zucchini, and mushrooms

cover and cook on medium heat for about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally

add the veggie burgers whole, once thawed break into chunks with spoon

add tomato sauce, reduce heat, cover and simmer for another 20 minutes

stir and taste, add salt and pepper as needed.

PREHEAT oven to 375 F

slightly grease a casserole dish

once all the ingredients have been prepared, begin layering them in your casserole dish

i start with a layer of noodles first, then a layer of the tomato vegetables, another layer of noodles, a ricotta layer, and continue those once more. i usually end with a veggie layer on the top, and sprinkle some nutritional yeast on top of that for good measure.

bake on the center rack for 30 minutes

let sit for 10 minutes before serving, then enjoy!