Lasagne with Seitan Ragù

Lasagne with seitan ragù are an excellent vegetarian alternative to traditional meat ragù lasagne. Seitan is a very versatile and protein-rich meat substitute that lends itself well to being cooked like a ragù. Now I will provide you with the Italian recipe to prepare delicious lasagne with seitan ragù.

Ingredients

• 250 g seitan
• 1 litre tomato passata
• 2 carrots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• Extra virgin olive oil to taste
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• A pinch of nutmeg
• 500 ml béchamel
• 250 g egg lasagne (or egg-free lasagne if you prefer a vegan option)
• 200 g grated cheese (for a vegetarian version) or grated vegan cheese (for a vegan version)

Preparation

1. First, prepare the seitan ragù. Start by finely chopping the onion, garlic, carrot and celery.
2. In a large pan, heat a drizzle of oil and add the chopped vegetable soffritto. Let it cook over medium-low heat until soft and translucent.
3. Crumble the seitan to the texture of minced meat and add it to the sautéed vegetables. Brown the seitan well for a few minutes.
4. Add the tomato passata to the seitan and vegetables. Season with salt, pepper and a grating of nutmeg. Let the ragù simmer gently for about 30-40 minutes, until reduced and flavoursome. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
5. Meanwhile, prepare the béchamel in a saucepan by heating the milk and adding flour and butter according to your preferred recipe, stirring continuously until you obtain a thick, lump-free cream. Season with salt and add a pinch of nutmeg.
6. Prepare a baking dish, lightly greasing it with oil or butter.
7. Assemble the lasagne by alternating layers of pasta, seitan ragù and béchamel. Start with a layer of pasta, then ragù, béchamel and sprinkle with grated cheese.
8. Repeat until all ingredients are used up, finishing with a final layer of béchamel and a generous dusting of cheese.
9. Bake in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 30 minutes, until the cheese on top is golden and crisp.
10. Let the lasagne rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Trivia

Seitan is a term derived from Japanese meaning “wheat protein”; it is obtained by washing the starch from wheat flour to yield gluten, an excellent source of plant-based protein. Lasagne with seitan ragù are loved not only by those following a vegetarian or vegan diet, but also by anyone who wants to reduce meat consumption without sacrificing the flavour and substance of traditional dishes like lasagne.