No Boil Veggie Lasagna

I make this all the time at home, but it passed the test this weekend of being “Girls’ Weekend” food. Even the group member who almost disowned me as friend when I told her she just ate tofu had to admit she liked it. I will tell you I was skeptical of the no-cook noodles when I first tried this but I’m now converted. I mean,  no real Italian will approve but since I’m not cooking for real Italians most of the time it works out just fine.

Ingredients:

8×8 Square Baking Pan

28 Oz of diced tomatoes

1 package of Tofu (I’ve used soft silken and extra firm and both work)

6-8 No Boil Lasagna noodles

1/4 cup pesto (I use ready made Barilla original)

About 4 cups baby spinach

1/2 Zuccini

10-12 button mushrooms

1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella and 1/2 cup shredded parm (Or 1 Cup of “Italian mix” cheese)

 

Procedures:

Heat Tomatoes in Saucepan until warm

 

Place tofu in strainer and break into pieces until it looks like ricotta (get it?)

 

Thinly slice Zuccini and Mushrooms

 

Gather Rest of Ingredients: Cheese

 

Pesto

 

Noodles

 

• Cover bottom of pan with small amount of tomatoes
• Lay two noodles on top of tomatoes
• Spread pesto on each noodle
• Spread tofu on top of pesto
• Spread Mushrooms and Zuccini slices on top of tofu

• Sprinkle spinach leaves on top
• Sprinkle both types of cheese on spinach
• Cover with tomatoes
• Start again with two more noodles and repeat layers until you reach top of pan (three or four layers)

• Cover last noodles with remaining tomato sauce but reserve cheese for later
• Cover pan with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes
• Remove pan from oven. Remove foil and push noodle corners down into sauce
• Then sprinkle cheese on top and bake for another 20 minutes until cheese is slightly browned

• Remove from oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes before cutting

Enjoy!

 

*This recipe was inspired by the Vegetarian Lasagna with Tofu Recipe found in the Flat Belly Diet Family Cookbook. That recipe has less veggies so I can’t claim mine is “flat belly” at all!!

P.S. Looking for more parenting guidance and tips for self-care? Check out From Chaos to Calm a guided training to help you feel better in this tough season.