'Big Veg Lasagne': nutritious and delicious

1 onion, finely diced

1 eggplant, finely diced

1 courgette, finely diced

1 capsicum, finely diced

1 loosely packed cup grated pumpkin or carrot

150g button mushrooms, stems removed, diced

3 cloves garlic, finely chopped

½ teaspoon dried

mixed herbs

½ teaspoon paprika

¼ cup tomato paste

400g can crushed tomatoes

400g can brown lentils, rinsed and drained

¾ cup vegetable stock or water

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

3 handfuls of chopped spinach or baby spinach

400g dried or fresh lasagne pasta sheets

50g butter

2 tablespoons plain flour

2 cups full-cream milk

1 cup grated cheese + ½ cup extra for sprinkling

2–3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease a large lasagne or baking dish (about 20 x 30cm) with olive oil.

Heat a good drizzle of olive oil in a large fry pan on medium-high heat.

Cook onion, eggplant, courgette, capsicum, pumpkin or carrot, mushrooms, garlic, dried herbs and paprika for 8–10 minutes or until soft and most of the liquid has evaporated.

Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, lentils, stock, balsamic vinegar and sugar.

Bring to a simmer and cook for five minutes or so until it has thickened. Stir through spinach until wilted and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.

To make the white sauce, heat butter in a pot on medium heat. Stir in flour with a wooden spoon and cook for about one minute until golden and frothy.

Whisk in ½ cup milk, then remaining milk (about ½ cup at a time) until smooth and there are no lumps. Continue whisking sauce frequently while it is cooking to avoid any lumps forming. Cook for about five minutes or until sauce has thickened. Stir in cheese and parsley, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To assemble lasagne, spread a few tablespoons of the vegetable sauce over the base of your baking dish and top with a single layer of lasagne sheets (you may need to cut or break lasagne sheets so that they fit).

Spoon over half of the remaining sauce and top with another layer of lasagne sheets. Repeat with remaining sauce and one more layer of lasagne sheets.

Pour over cheese sauce and sprinkle with extra grated cheese. Bake for about 30 minutes until bubbling and golden brown. Leave to rest for about 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

To make a dairy-free white sauce, use a dairy-free spread in place of butter, dairy-free milk (eg soy or oat milk) and two teaspoons nutritional yeast in place of the cheese (for a cheesy flavour).

•