This dreamy, creamy lasagna for two has a smooth pumpkin bechamel sauce and a creamy spinach filling. You will long for leftovers!
A full size, classic vegan lasagna with the meaty sauce and vegan cheeses is perfect for batch cooking and gatherings. But if you want something smaller and different, try this Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna for Two. It is the perfect meal if you love creamy pastas that melt in your mouth and seem way more indulgent than they actually are.
I made this lasagna for two on a weeknight and it was nowhere near as time-consuming as you might imagine. I used those no-boil noodles that cut down on the prep time quite a bit and the 7-inch noodles also fit perfectly in my little baking dish. (If you are looking for a full-size version, try this recipe).
There are two kinds of fillings that you need to make for this pumpkin and spinach vegan lasagna, but they come together easily. One is a pumpkin bechamel sauce that is smooth and velvety and fragrant with nutmeg. I used almond milk for the bechamel but you can use any nondairy milk. The spinach filling is rather like my vegan creamed spinach recipe. I used cashew cream in place of the dairy cream and it was just perfect.
To top the lasagna I used grated potatoes because I love potatoes and I love the crunch they add to the creamy lasagna. You could go with breadcrumbs mixed with a little oil and herbs instead.
This pumpkin and spinach lasagna is an extraordinarily healthy indulgence, as you can see from the nutrition label at the end of the post. A single serving packs nearly 11 grams of protein, more than 8 grams of dietary fiber, and more than 400 percent of your daily requirement for Vitamin A. Although I called this a lasagna for two it could easily feed four people. Or you could brown bag leftovers to lunch, like we did. The only problem is, once you've licked off the last of the crumbs you might be left wishing you had made more.
Recipe card
Vegan Pumpkin and Spinach Lasagna for Two
Ingredients
- 6 no-boil lasagna noodles
- 1 potato (zapped in the microwave for a minute, then peeled and grated and mixed with 1 teaspoon olive oil)
For the pumpkin bechamel
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
- A generous pinch of nutmeg
- 2 cups nondairy milk like almond or soy
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
For the creamed spinach
- 2 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ medium onion (finely chopped)
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- ½ cup raw cashews (blended with ½ cup of water until very smooth and creamy
- 8 ounces spinach (frozen is fine, thaw before using)
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Make Pumpkin Bechamel
- Heat the oil in a saucepan. Over medium heat add the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the flour glistens, about two minutes.
- Add the nondairy milk, stirring constantly with a whisk to prevent lumps from forming. Add the pumpkin puree and continue to whisk. Cook the sauce for 10 minutes. You want it to be thick but fluid, about the consistency of pancake batter. If the sauce gets too thick, add some more nondairy milk.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and the nutmeg. Stir well.
Make Creamed Spinach
- Heat the oil in a saucepan and add the onion and garlic.
- Saute over medium heat until the onions turn translucent. Add the flour.
- Cook, stirring, about two minutes until the flour glistens. Add the cashew cream and stir well.
- Add the thawed spinach and continue cooking about two minutes. If the mixture is too thick, add some water. Add salt and ground pepper and, if desired, a dash of nutmeg.
- Turn off the heat.
Assemble the lasagna
- Spread a ladleful of the pumpkin bechamel on the bottom of a 8 X 5-inch baking dish with sides that are at least 3 inches deep.
- Arrange two no-boil noodles on top of the sauce, then pour half of the pumpkin sauce on the noodles and spread evenly.
- Place two more lasagna noodles on the pumpkin mixture, pour the the spinach mixture on top and spread evenly.
- Place two more lasagna noodles on top of the spinach and spread the remaining pumpkin sauce over the noodles.
- Top with the grated potato or breadcrumbs. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 375-degree oven for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes remove the tinfoil and continue to bake for 15 more minutes. Then turn on the broiler and broil until the potatoes turn golden-brown and crunchy, about 5-10 minutes. Keep a close eye on the lasagna at this stage because you don't want the top to burn.
- Remove from the oven. Serve the lasagna hot or at room temperature- it's perfect either way.
Nutrition Information
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Ratna says
Hello Vaishali,
You recipes are, I tell you, amazing! They never fail me. I tried this - it truly, truly was a melt-in-the-mouth! Thanks so much!
Molly says
Best Lasagna I have ever had. @_@
Vaishali Honawar says
Wonderful!
JCB says
I would love to make this but oil free. For the bechamel, could I proceed as if making no oil gravy, that is by toasting the flour and maybe some nutritional yeast in hot pan, then whisking in liquid? For the creamed spinach, I think I could sauté onion in broth.
Would like your opinion if you think this might work. It sounds delicious. Thanks
Vaishali Honawar says
Hi JCB, I haven't made this fatfree before so can't say for sure but no harm in trying. I have made a fatfree roux before for my gumbo and it worked out well. If you do try let me know how it works out.
Tanya says
Yes, JCB, I would love to know how the oil free version works, too. I made an oil free mushroom gravy that I thought turned out great so this might be possible, too! Good luck!
natalie says
I don't have a non-stick pot so the boiling the liquids down thick part didn't really work for me. In the end I had so much sauce I ended up using the entire box of lasagna and a cake sized pan. It was really delicious. I will definitely make it again.
Vaishali Honawar says
Hi Natalie, glad you tried it. Thanks for letting me know!
Tanya says
How much oil do you use to make the bechamel? I think that is missing from the recipe.
Vaishali Honawar says
Hi Tanya, I will check, but you can use no more than 1 tsp.
Tanya says
I used 2tsp but it came out so lumpy. I thought I would need more to incorporate 1/4c of flour.
Andy says
Can I use dairy milk instead of non-dairy milk? I am not vegan (or even vegetarian) but I like your recipes.
Vaishali Honawar says
Hi Andy, yes, you can. Glad you've liked the recipes. 🙂
Maria Mentha says
Made your lasagne yesterday and it is nearly all gone. Absolutely delicious.
Vaishali Honawar says
Maria, how lovely that you tried it-- and liked it. 🙂 Thanks for letting me know.
Natalie says
Wow! This turned out very well and tasted even better.
Vaishali Honawar says
Thanks, Natalie, glad you tried it!
Yosef Silver (@ysilver) says
What would you know... This recipe has ALSO been nominated to win my Inspired Recipe of the Year Award and the prize is quite a treat! The shortlist will be announced on 12/30/2013.
jodye@wholepurerecipes says
I haven't made a proper lasagna since becoming vegan, but this looks like such a great rendition, especially with all that lovely pumpkin! I'll have to give it a try!
vaishalihonawar@gmail.com says
Thanks, Jodye, and hope you try it!
melissa.malteselover says
Making this now and it smells delicious! After cooking covered with tinfoil for 30 minutes, how long to cook before broiling? Based on the no bake noodle instructions, I'm going to do about 25 minutes...
vaishalihonawar@gmail.com says
Melissa, glad you tried it. You need to bake 15 minutes after removing the tinfoil and before broiling.
Manasi says
Somehow, I have never liked the lasagna made with marinara / pasta sauce.
THIS, however, makes such a refreshing change.
I made jumbo stuffed shells today and my little one is now in to pastas and the lot. I am looking forward to trying this version.
vaishalihonawar@gmail.com says
Hi Manasi, I can't stand the very strong tomato sauces in pasta either. Give me creamy any day. 🙂
Vaishali Honawar says
DM, use six cups of packed spinach leaves if using fresh and no need to thaw of course.
DM says
Hi there, could you use fresh spinach instead of frozen? If so, how much would you recommend. Thanks
Priya Suresh says
Prefect lasagna for the fall season.. Spinach and pumpkin makes a prefect pair in lasagna na..Delicious.
Vaishali Honawar says
Thanks, Priya!