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Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts

Sharon Palmer

Looking for a delicious plant-based, gluten-free lasagna packed with flavor, and just a tad bit lighter? Here you go! After all, who says that enjoying lasagna has to be an event mired down with gooey cheese, rich meat sauce, and layers of pasta? This easy recipe for Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts is proof! Offering a modern reinvention of lasagna, this dish is based on lasagna noodles made of out of strips of zucchini noodles (no pasta!) and a rich tomato sauce filled with the goodness of ground walnuts in place of ground beef. That’s right! Finely ground walnuts can take on a “meaty” texture in recipes like pasta sauce, reminding you that you won’t even miss the meat in classic recipes like lasagna. Plus, layering in strips of fresh zucchini (which also serve as gluten free lasagna noodles) gives you a chance to both reduce the carbs in a meal, plus amp up the servings of veggies. Now, that’s a vegan lasagna recipe you can enjoy for flavor and health benefits!

Eating more nuts, such as walnuts, is a great way to boost your health. Research shows that you can reduce your risk of cancer, including colorectal cancer, by including more nuts like walnuts in your diet. Rich in healthy fats (even omega-3s), protein, fiber, and, magnesium, walnuts are a great addition to your diet for heart and brain health, too. That’s why nutrition experts recommend munching on a handful of nuts, including walnuts, every single day. Plus, eating a more plant-based diet, featuring plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and pulses, and less animal protein, is a good strategy to cut your risk of cancer. You don’t need to exclude animal foods completely from your diet if you don’t want to—just start feasting on more meals featuring whole plants, and reap the health rewards. Starting with this super delicious, gorgeous, and easy recipe for Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts, which I partnered with AICR and California Walnuts to develop.

Follow along with this step-by-step guide for making this recipe below.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Slice zucchini into thin strips and drain on paper towels.
Cook onion, garlic, celery, mushrooms, tomato sauce, seasonings, and walnuts in a large pot to make the sauce.
Create a layer of zucchini “noodles”.
Top with walnut tomato sauce and plant-based cheese. Repeat to make three layers.
Bake uncovered until golden brown.

Watch me make this recipe on Plant Power Live here.

Check out the video for this delicious, plant-based recipe here.

 
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Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (12 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)
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  • Author: The Plant-Powered Dietitian
  • Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

Walnuts provide a “meaty” texture in this flavorful, completely plant-based recipe for Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts, which features layers of zucchini “noodles”, a rich tomato-walnut sauce, and plant-based cheese.


Ingredients

Scale

Zucchini Noodles:

  • 4 small zucchini squash

Walnut Tomato Sauce:

Fillings:

  • 1 cup shredded plant-based cheese

Garnish:

  • 2 tablespoons chopped Italian parsley

Instructions

  1. Slice zucchini horizontally into long, thin slices (about 5 horizontal slices per squash). Place on paper towels and set aside (to soak up extra moisture).
  2. Place a Dutch oven or large saucepan on medium heat and add olive oil, bringing it to a heat.
  3. Add onion, garlic, and celery, and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
  4. Add mushrooms and sauté for an additional 2 minutes.
  5. Add marinara sauce, tomato paste, soy sauce, red wine, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and salt (optional). Stir well and cover. Simmer over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and vegetables are tender.
  6. Measure out 1 ¼ cups ground walnuts* (may grind in a food processor or high-powered blender for just 1-2 seconds; should resemble consistency of course grains of sand, but should not be overly processed to a walnut butter texture), reserving remaining ¼ cup ground walnuts for topping. Add the 1 ¼ cups ground walnuts to the sauce, and heat for 2 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  8. Spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place one-third (6-7 slices) of the zucchini slices on the bottom of the dish. Layer with one-third of the walnut tomato sauce. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup of the shredded plant-based cheese. Repeat layers two more times, for a total of three layers of zucchini “noodles”, walnut tomato sauce, and plant-based cheese.
  9. Place baking dish in the oven uncovered for 40 minutes.
  10. Sprinkle remaining ¼ cup ground walnuts over top of lasagna and set oven to broiler setting. Broil for 2 minutes, until golden brown.
  11. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh chopped parsley, slice into squares, and serve immediately.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Category: Entree
  • Cuisine: American, Italian

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 282
  • Sugar: 12 g
  • Sodium: 231 mg
  • Fat: 17 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4 g
  • Carbohydrates: 26 g
  • Fiber: 5 g
  • Protein: 5 g

For other plant-based lasagna recipes, check out:

Cauliflower Spinach Lasagna
Baked Mediterranean Lasagna
Swiss Chard Basil Lasagna

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4 thoughts on “Vegan Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles and Walnuts

  1. This vegan lasagna with zucchini noodles and walnuts sounds like a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional lasagna. The use of zucchini noodles instead of pasta adds a unique texture and extra nutrients, and the inclusion of walnuts adds a nice crunch and added flavor. I’m sure this dish would be a hit with both vegans and non-vegans alike!

  2. Oh no! I was trying to figure out how to leave a rating and I did it wrong! I gave it something other than a 5 – I want to give it a 5. This recipe is so tasty! Thank you for creating it and I hope to make it again soon. The depth of flavor in the sauce is amazing….my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

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