Jamie Oliver is one of the most popular celebrity chefs in the world. He is known for his simple, fresh, and flavorful recipes that anyone can make at home. One of his signature dishes is a delicious vegetarian lasagne that is packed with veggies and cheese.
Why Make Vegetarian Lasagne?
There are many reasons why vegetarian lasagne is a great meal choice:
- It’s customizable – you can pack it with your favorite veggies like spinach, mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, etc.
- It’s comforting – the layers of pasta, sauce, and gooey cheese can’t be beat!
- It’s easy – lasagne comes together quickly and bakes unattended.
- It’s family-friendly – both kids and adults love lasagne!
- It makes great leftovers – lasagne keeps well for a few days in the fridge.
A vegetarian lasagne is a hearty and satisfying dish that can please both meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. The key is loading it up with lots of delicious veggies and cheese!
Jamie Oliver’s Vegetarian Lasagne Recipe
Here is Jamie Oliver’s recipe for a classic vegetarian lasagne:
Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 carrots, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 8 oz mushroom, finely chopped
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp chili flakes (optional)
- 2 x 14 oz cans chopped tomatoes
- 1 cup red wine
- 12 oz spinach, chopped
- 9 lasagna noodles
- 16 oz ricotta cheese
- 1 egg
- 1⁄4 cup parmesan, grated
- 16 oz mozzarella, sliced or grated
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions, carrots, celery and cook for 5 minutes until softened.
- Add mushrooms and continue cooking for 5 more minutes.
- Stir in oregano, chili flakes, canned tomatoes, wine and spinach. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes until thickened.
- Meanwhile, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together ricotta, egg and parmesan. Set aside.
- Assemble the lasagne: Spread a spoonful of vegetable sauce on the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles, followed by ricotta mixture, mozzarella slices, and more vegetable sauce. Repeat layers 3 more times, ending with sauce and mozzarella on top.
- Cover tightly with foil and bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 10 more minutes until hot and bubbly.
- Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
Tips for Making the Best Vegetarian Lasagne
Here are Jamie’s top tips for vegetarian lasagne success:
- Don’t skimp on the sauce – make sure to simmer it long enough to thicken.
- Get creative with vegetables – try spinach, kale, broccoli, zucchini, etc.
- Be generous with cheese – lots of gooey mozzarella ensures a decadent dish.
- Undercook the noodles slightly – they will continue cooking in the oven.
- Let it rest before serving – this helps set the cheeses and makes slicing easier.
- Adding wine to the sauce provides depth of flavor.
- Mixing egg with the ricotta helps bind it and prevent wateriness.
- Covering with foil prevents over-browning and keeps everything tender.
What Makes Jamie Oliver’s Lasagne Special?
There are a few key things that set Jamie Oliver’s vegetarian lasagne apart:
- The vegetable sauce: He loads the sauce up with tomatoes, spinach, wine and lots of aromatics like onion, celery, carrot, and mushroom. This gives tons of rich flavor.
- Béchamel-free: Many lasagne recipes call for béchamel sauce, but Jamie keeps things easy by using a ricotta-egg mixture instead. This gives a creamy contrast to the tomato sauce.
- Resting time: Letting the assembled lasagne sit before baking allows the flavors to meld together. The resting time after baking also improves the texture.
- Pasta tips: Jamie’s instructions to slightly undercook the noodles and generously sauce each layer result in tender pasta that soaks up maximum flavor.
In the end, it’s the fresh veggies, cheese, herbs, and love that make Jamie Oliver’s vegetarian lasagne special!
Different Vegetables to Use
One of the great things about veggie lasagne is experimenting with different vegetables. Here are some of Jamie Oliver’s suggestions:
Quick-Cooking Veggies:
- Spinach
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Zucchini
- Peas
- Brussels sprouts
Quick veggies like spinach and zucchini can be added raw right before assembling the lasagne. Sturdier veggies like broccoli and Brussels sprouts can be quickly blanched or roasted to soften them up before adding to the sauce.
Long-Cooking Veggies:
- Carrots
- Eggplant
- Squash
- Mushrooms
- Peppers
- Artichokes
Veggies that take longer to cook, like carrots, eggplant and bell peppers, are perfect to simmer into the sauce. This breaks them down and infuses the sauce with their moisture and flavors.
Cheese Options:
While Jamie uses a ricotta base and mozzarella for melting, other tasty cheese choices include:
- Cream cheese
- Goat cheese
- Gruyère
- Cheddar
- Smoked gouda
- Blue cheese
- Parmesan
Play around with different cheese combinations and flavors to make each lasagne unique!
How to Make Ahead and Freeze
One bonus of Jamie Oliver’s vegetable lasagne recipe is that it lends itself perfectly to making ahead. Here are some tips:
- Prep the sauce and veggies 1-2 days ahead. Let cool completely before assembling lasagne.
- Assemble the entire lasagne, cover tightly and refrigerate overnight before baking.
- Bake as directed, then let cool completely and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating in a 350°F oven.
- You can also divide into smaller portions and freeze, which helps with quick weeknight meals.
Freezing is great for saving time on busy days. Simply thaw the veggie lasagne overnight and bake until hot and bubbly.
How to Make Vegetarian Lasagne in the Instant Pot
For an even faster vegetarian lasagne, Jamie Oliver has adapted his recipe for the pressure cooker. Here’s how:
- Follow same recipe for sauce, but reduce wine to 1/2 cup and spinach to 5oz.
- Assemble in a 7-inch round baking pan – layer of sauce, noodles broken to fit, ricotta, mozzarella, and repeat.
- Cover pan tightly with foil.
- Pour 1 cup water into Instant Pot and add trivet. Lower pan onto trivet.
- Pressure cook on high for 18 minutes, followed by natural release.
- Remove pan, uncover, and let rest 10 minutes before serving.
The Instant Pot steams the lasagne perfectly in under 30 minutes for a fast weeknight meal! You can also use this method to quickly reheat chilled leftovers.
Nutrition Facts for Jamie Oliver’s Vegetarian Lasagne
Jamie Oliver’s recipes emphasize fresh, wholesome ingredients for healthy home cooking. Here is the nutrition breakdown for one serving (1/8th of the 9×13 pan) of his veggie lasagne:
| Nutrients | Per Serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 345 |
| Fat | 13g |
| Saturated Fat | 6g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 45mg |
| Sodium | 550mg |
| Carbohydrates | 39g |
| Fiber | 4g |
| Sugar | 7g |
| Protein | 19g |
As you can see, Jamie’s veggie lasagne is packed with protein and fiber from the cheese, pasta, spinach and other vegetables. While not low in calories, it provides a balance of carbs, fat and protein along with substantial vitamins and minerals. This makes it a healthy and nourishing vegetarian main dish for the entire family.
Top Variations and Add-Ins
Here are some fun ways to put a new spin on Jamie Oliver’s classic vegetarian lasagne:
- Add roasted vegetables: Roasting veggies like red peppers, onions, zucchini and eggplant caramelizes their flavor. Mix these into or layer them on top of the sauce.
- Swap in different pasta: Get creative with lasagne noodles by trying spinach, tomato, whole wheat or chickpea pasta varieties.
- Go Greek: Use a combo of feta, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes for a Mediterranean flair.
- Add plant-based meat: For heartier texture, sauté veggie ground beef, chorizo or Italian sausage with the aromatics.
- Make it spicy: Mix hot sauce or red pepper flakes into the sauce for some heat.
- Stuff it: Spread ricotta on each noodle layer before topping with sauce and cheese for extra creaminess.
There are so many possibilities when it comes to vegetarian lasagne combinations! Play around to create your own family favorites.
Tips for the Best Lasagne from Other Celebrity Chefs
Jamie Oliver isn’t the only celebrity chef with killer lasagne tips. Here is vegetarian lasagne advice from other famous food experts:
- Ina Garten – Use high quality pasta sheets like Barilla for perfect texture.
- Ree Drummond – Mix cottage cheese into the ricotta for extra creaminess and tang.
- Rachel Ray – Squeeze some tomato paste into the sauce for increased richness.
- Guy Fieri – Sprinkle each layer with Italian breadcrumbs for crunch.
- Giada De Laurentiis – Stuff the pasta layers with baby spinach leaves for color.
- Bobby Flay – Add sautéed shallots, leeks or ramps to the sauce for aromatic flavor.
The beauty of vegetarian lasagne is that it’s very adaptable to different creative spins!
Conclusion
Jamie Oliver’s vegetarian lasagne recipe is a classic for good reason. It’s packed with fresh veggies, creamy cheese, and savory Mediterranean flavors. The method is easy enough for weeknight cooking but special enough to serve guests. While the basic recipe is perfect as-is, there are endless possibilities for variations by using different vegetables, cheeses, spices and add-ins. Lasagne also reheats wonderfully and can be prepared ahead for busy days. For a hearty, comforting dish the whole family will love, Jamie Oliver’s veggie lasagne is a winner!