Written by April AshcroftThis Lasagna is delicious and perfect for your special valentine and will be healthy for the heart as well. It takes some time to make but well worth the effort!
Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna
10 whole wheat lasagna noodles
1 eggplant
1/2 cup dry millet cooked in 1 cup water
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T tamari soy sauce
1 small onion chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
1 pound mushrooms sliced
1 pound of fresh spinach chopped
1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp salt
1 T nutritional yeast
Juice of 1/2 a lime
1 jar fat free vegan marinara/pasta sauce
Sliced olives for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Thinly slice eggplant and lay on cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. In a small sauce pan boil 1 cup of water, add the millet, and cook until tender, about 20 minutes. Add balsamic vinegar, tamari, onion, and garlic to a large stock pot. Cook on medium-high for 2–3 minutes. Add sliced mushrooms and cook until soft. Add spinach and cook until wilted.
Drain the broth from the spinach mixture into a measuring cup. Add water to make 1 cup if needed. Pour liquid into a blender and add the cooked millet, sunflower seeds, seasonings and lime juice. Blend until smooth. Add this cream sauce to the spinach and mushrooms and mix well.
Ladle 1/3 of the marinara on the bottom of a 13×9 casserole dish. Layer noodles to cover bottom. Spread 1/2 the spinach mixture over noodles. Top with 1 layer of eggplant, 1/3 sauce, rest of spinach, layer of noodles, and remaining sauce. Sprinkle nutritional yeast or Sesame Parmesan (Page 72) on top and add sliced olives. Bake for 20 minutes.
April Ashcroft is the co-founder of the Vegetarian Society of Utah. She adopted the vegan lifestyle in 1991, holds a certificate in plant-based nutrition from Cornell University, and teaches regular cooking classes at The Kitchen Corner in St. George.
