These eggplant lasagna roll ups make a simple and easy vegan meal that’s perfect for the cold winter that’s arrived. I want to eat comforting warm food all the time, but especially once I’m in hibernation mode up here in Canada!
I actually made this up as a once when I made dinner for some friends. They loved this eggplant lasagna so much, so I thought it was worth working out so I could share it with all of you, too. You can check out the video below to see how this whole dish comes together or keep scrolling for the recipe.
A couple of hot tips, you can make the tofu ricotta in advance so it gets really flavorful. Ensure you buy an eggplant that will fit the width of your mandolin. My mandolin is over 4-inches wide so my eggplant was 4-inches wide at it’s widest base.
eggplant lasagna roll ups
This is a warm, comforting, and entirely plant based lasagna roll up recipe with eggplant as the noodles! It’s also stuffed with so much flavor from a homemade tofu ricotta, pesto, and a hearty lentil mushroom filling.
Print
Pin
Rate
Servings: to 6
Ingredients
eggplant roll ups
- 1 large eggplant
- sea salt (for eggplant)
- 2 C marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅓ C pre-made vegan pesto
- 2 C tofu ricotta (recipe below)
- 2 C vegan mozzarella style shreds
- ¼ C bread crumbs
- ground black pepper, to taste
- ½ C fresh basil leaves, as garnish
tofu ricotta (makes about 2 cups)
- 1 x 450 g package firm tofu (drained)
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon white pepper
- 2 garlic cloves
- 3 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
lentil mushroom filling
- 2 C cooked or canned green or brown lentils
- ¾ C finely diced onion
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ to 1 C peeled and diced eggplant offcuts
- 2 C finely diced cremini mushrooms (about 6 to 7 oz whole mushrooms)
- sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Leave the peel on the eggplant and slice it on the thinest setting lengthwise on a mandolin. You need 14 to 18 slices of eggplant. If some slices don’t get cut evenly as one piece, you can layer a couple of pieces to make one roll up.
- You will have part of the eggplant left once you get enough slices. Peel this leftover portion and dice it up finely. You will mix it in with the lentil and mushroom filling.
- Sprinkle approximately 1 teaspoon of sea salt total, divided amongst each slice of eggplant, on both sides and lay overlapping on a baking sheet covered with paper towels. Let this sit for 20 minutes or so to release the moisture from the eggplant. Use clean paper towel to gently press and extract more moisture from the slices and pat dry.
- While the eggplant is sweating, you can make the tofu ricotta. Start by squeezing out the excess water from the block of firm tofu by using a nut milk bag or clean dish towel and wring out as much water as possible. You could also squeeze the firm tofu into a fine mesh sieve to remove excess moisture.
- Place the tofu in a food processor and add lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, onion powder, granulated garlic powder, white pepper, and garlic cloves. Process until it’s very smooth. Add the tofu ricotta mixture into a mixing bowl and fold in fresh basil, oregano, and parsley.
- You can use canned lentils, drained, or cook from scratch. If cooking from scratch, boil 1 cup of uncooked lentils with 2 cups water, 1 bay leaf, 1 teaspoon of olive oil and ¼ teaspoon of sea salt in a sauce pan. Cook at a low simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through. Drain excess water if necessary and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook diced onions for 3 to 5 minutes until soft. Add minced garlic, granulated garlic, onion powder, dried oregano, diced eggplant, and mushrooms and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes until all the liquid has evaporated and the mixture is lightly browned. Add cooked lentils and add sea salt to taste.
- In an oven safe 9 x 13-inch or 10 x 14-inch baking dish, spoon 1 cup of marinara sauce and 1 tablespoon of olive on the bottom of the baking dish. Spread it around evenly so it covers the bottom of the dish.
- To assemble the eggplant roll ups, spoon 1 teaspoon of vegan pesto one side of the eggplant slice and spread it around evenly. It’s just a thin layer. Then spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of tofu ricotta along the whole eggplant slice. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of lentil filling on top of the ricotta. Roll it up and place seam side down in the baking dish on top of the marinara. Repeat and arrange remaining eggplant roll ups in baking dish. I was able to arrange 3 rows of 6 rolls in a 10-inch x 14-inch baking dish.
- Spoon remaining tomato sauce on top of the eggplant roll ups. If there is any leftover ricotta or lentil mixture, you can add that on top of the assembled rolls as well. Top with vegan mozzarella shreds, bread crumbs, and ground pepper.
- Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until bubbling and top is golden brown. Top with fresh basil just before serving.
Stacy Davis
Hi there! I love your blog and I have your cookbook and have been enjoying trying your recipes. I made this tonight and I have to say it is amazing. It wayyy up there on my favorite meals I have made in a while. As a newer vegan ( less than two years) it seems I can get in a rut of making "bowls" and not main courses. You are very creative and I thank you for inspiring me to try new things!
Lauren Toyota
awww thanks so much Stacy!!! xo
Jessica Kim
I'm hosting a ladies' night this weekend at my place and decided to make this as the main course. Can't wait to share photos!
Melissa Dempsey
Is there an easy way to print this recipe? Looks yummy!
Lauren Toyota
there is a print button
Jaimie
Jenna wasnt lying when she said you are above the law because your tofu ricotta tastes better than real ricotta:)
Lauren Toyota
so happy you love it 😀
Kelly
Made these last night..sooo good. Ate way too much!!
Madeleine
Hi Lauren,
I made this recipe and just loved it, especially the tofu cream cheese - it's the
best recipe of cream cheese that I have tried. Thank you for sharing.
Madeleine
Lauren Toyota
thank you so much! I think the same thing about the cream cheese hahah 😀