We had our fabulous neighbours over for dinner, wine and a game of scrabble on Friday night. No, it’s OK, I already know, I am now officially middle aged. So, what to make the vegetarians on a cool autumn night sitting by the fire guzzling wine? LASAGNE of course! Tasty, comfort food. Sounded nice and easy in theory except that I had never actually made it before. But that’s never stopped me before right? Right.
Bev’s Vegetarian (aka TOTAL pain in the arse but tasty) Lasagne
2 eggplants
2 zucchinis
2 red capsicums
1 sweet potato
1 bunch spinach
Pesto
Bechamel sauce
2 cans whole tomatoes
1 brown onion
Pasta sheets
Mozzarella for topping
Plenty of seasoning (garlic, salt & pepper to compensate for the non meatness)
First I got stuck into the raw vegies, peeling, chopping, cutting, roasting with plenty of oil, garlic salt & pepper .
I was given this enormous bunch of basil from said neighbours so made up a fresh batch of pesto by chucking in torn leaves, 3 whole garlic cloves, packet of pine nuts salt & pepps and then slowly drizzled in the oil.
The spinach I fried up with some butter and garlic and also threw in the zucchini that I had sliced with my peeler.
The tomato sauce was a simple chopped onion, garlic and dried oregano fried off before throwing in the 2 cans of tomatoes and simmering for 15 mins or so.
So then I finally had all ‘the bits’ that were needed for construction – roasted sweet potato & zucchini, roasted red capsicums, spinach, pesto and eggplants. Um, how gorgeous does it all look. Just call me Donna Hay.
Then, just when I thought this couldn’t get any fiddlier, any more pain in the arseish when I realised I had to make the bechamel! I chuck in about a quarter of a stick of butter, throw in some plain flour to cook off then add milk slowly, slowly bit by bit whisking all the time until combined and thick. Easy!
I then layered starting with tomato at the bottom and then a bit of this, and that, some bechamel and dollops of pesto & pasta sheets (I used dried). This bit was fun and totally satisfying.
And then? Voila! The masterpiece was ready to go into the oven at a later time. I then had 48 different pans and pots to wash up.
The result? A triumph! Delicious, and enjoyed by all (because I kept going on and on and on about what an effort it was). Served up with a fresh salad and some bread and you have the perfect vego dinner.
YUM! That looks divine! I am totally stealing that recipe,.. joan xx
Oh yum, totally makes me want a vego meal – that vego meal. Yay Bev.
Yum I’m coming for dinner. You need yourself a Thermomix though – makes bechamel sauce in 7 mins – throw it all in and no stirring.
Oh I bet that tasted even better the next day (if there were leftovers that is!). Yummo.
Styling You – shut up about the Thermomix. WANT ONE BADLY.
And DUDE – respect. I NEVER make vego lasagne for exactly the reasons you detail. So much fucking hard work and farnarkling around. Even if the result is divine.
The pesto would have totally made it.
Delish! I want some. Now. But I can’t be bothered with all that effort! 100 housepoints to you for making that!! π
Bev indeed! I’m impressed, to say the least.
I’m not a vegetarian, but am a fan of the vegie lasagne! Great for kids too. (Okay that sounded middle aged!).
I’ve always loved wine and scrabble, it’s actually very young and hip you know.
I’ve lots of scan pan ‘pans’. Do you recommend the scanpan ovenware too? I need a deeper cooking dish as with lasagne it’s got so many layers.
i’m so hungry now. i am so making this, love the idea of pesto in there π
Ahh YUMMO! That looks delish lady and I am a big fan of the vego lasagne. I love the way you talk us through the method part of the recipe, awesome! Pics are great too!
Bev, so impressed you attempted a vego dinner. Being vegetarian, I can agree wholeheartedly about the time it takes to prepare stuff from scratch, but I think you’ve outdone yourself!
(I’m with Stylin’ You, the TM is AMAZING!)
Looks amazing! xx
I have it down to a fine art now… but even though YOU’RE busy and tired and stressed, I’m coming for dinner. Get that oven on xoxo
Here I am. Making this AGAIN. This pain in the ass lasagne just rocks. xx