Tempeh Ragu Lasagna

Aya Brackett

PUBLISHED July 20, 2022

The star here is the vegan ragu, which can show up in many forms, and rightfully so: it’s so easy to substitute for meat that shows up in classic ragu because so many different foods can do the trick. And none does it better than tempeh, with its superb chewiness, strong umami flavor, and superior nutritional (and of course ethical) profile. The tempeh helps create a sauce that is in many ways as good as or better than the original.

 

The following may contain affiliate links for which we earn a small commission. Thank you for supporting us in this way!
Print

Tempeh Ragu Lasagna

Prevent your screen from going dark

Makes 4 servings 1x

Time 1 1/2 hours

Units Scale

Ingredients

  • 8 tablespoons olive oil
  • 8 ounces tempeh
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 1 carrot, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon red chile flakes, or to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano, or 2 teaspoons dried
  • One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, with their liquid
  • One 28-ounce can pureed tomatoes
  • 10 ounces baby spinach
  • 1 pound whole wheat lasagna noodles
  • 2 ripe tomatoes, sliced

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400°F. Put 3 tablespoons oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When it’s hot, crumble the tempeh into the pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently and scraping up any browned bits, until the tempeh is browned and crisp, 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Lower the heat to medium and add the onion, celery, and carrot to the pot and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and starting to turn golden, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic, red chile flakes, and oregano and stir until fragrant, less than a minute. Add the diced and pureed tomatoes and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat so the mixture bubbles gently and cook, stirring occasionally until thickened and the flavors come together, 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in the spinach a handful at a time until all has been incorporated. Remove from the heat, taste, and adjust the seasoning. (You can make the ragu up to 3 days ahead.)
  3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Add the pasta to the boiling water, and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes, then start tasting. When the pasta is halfway done, drain into a colander and toss with 1 tablespoon oil; you can drape the noodles over the sides to keep them separate.
  4. Grease the bottom of a 9 by 13–inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then spread with about one-fourth of the ragu. Put in a layer of noodles, touching but not overlapping, and trim any overhanging edges. Spread the noodles with one-fourth of the ragu (there should be enough salt, but if you think it’s underseasoned, add a little salt to each layer). Make three more layers, ending with lasagna noodles. Top with the sliced tomatoes, drizzle with the remaining 3 tablespoons olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  5. Put the pan on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until the pasta is tender, browned on the edges, and a knife inserted into the center comes out hot, 20 to 30 minutes. Let the lasagna set for at least 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

— Recipe from Dinner for Everyone

Log in, or become a member today.

Join in: enjoy 7 days free, plus 40% off your first year with access to 1,000+ highly vetted recipes from the How To Cook Everything series and beyond, essays from Mark, and original pieces from our contributors.

GetBetterFasterHealthierSmarterTastier

in the Kitchen

Through our (more than a thousand, and growing) highly vetted recipes from the How to Cook Everything series, original food essays and reporting, thoughtful podcast conversations and introductions to new and responsible food products, we aim to showcase what’s possible, from farm to fork, and power a growing movement that encourages people to think about food not as a commodity, but as central to our health and happiness.

We hope you join us on this journey. We’d love to have you as a part of the Bittman community. As a member, you'll have access to:

  • New recipes every week
  • 1000s of recipes from How to Cook Everything and beyond
  • First access to in-person events with Mark and Kate
  • Exclusive discounts from our favorite brands
  • Q&As with Mark and the team

 

Subscribe to our free newsletter

Join over 105,000 passionate individuals who receive our weekly emails. It’s 100% free and you can unsubscribe anytime. Plus, we’ll email you a sampling of what premium members receive on a weekly basis.