Pesto lasagne with sweet potato

2 hours 20 mins cooking time
Delight in the homemade charm of our pesto lasagne with sweet potato. It combines the timeless appeal of lasagne with the sweet and colourful touch of sweet potatoes and homemade basil pesto. With layers of velvety white sauce, rich pesto, tender lasagne sheets, and the rich flavours of Parmesan and creamy ricotta, this recipe is the epitome of desirable food.
Pesto lasagne with sweet potato Pesto lasagne with sweet potato

Pesto lasagne with sweet potato

  • 2 hours 20 mins cooking time
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Delight in the homemade charm of our pesto lasagne with sweet potato. It combines the timeless appeal of lasagne with the sweet and colourful touch of sweet potatoes and homemade basil pesto. With layers of velvety white sauce, rich pesto, tender lasagne sheets, and the rich flavours of Parmesan and creamy ricotta, this recipe is the epitome of desirable food.
Delight in the homemade charm of our pesto lasagne with sweet potato. It combines the timeless appeal of lasagne with the sweet and colourful touch of sweet potatoes and homemade basil pesto. With layers of velvety white sauce, rich pesto, tender lasagne sheets, and the rich flavours of Parmesan and creamy ricotta, this recipe is the epitome of desirable food.

Method

White sauce
1
Melt Lurpak® Plant Based in a saucepan, add shallots and bay leaves, and cook for 10 minutes until softened.
TIP
Control the heat, cooking the sauce over medium to low heat to avoid burning the milk and thickening the sauce too quickly. Ensure the flour is fully cooked in the Lurpak® Plant Based before adding milk for the best flavour. The roux should be slightly golden, not browned. Adding warm or room-temperature milk to the roux helps it blend more smoothly, as cold milk can cause the mixture to seize up and form lumps. Most importantly, take your time and do not rush the process.
Control the heat, cooking the sauce over medium to low heat to avoid burning the milk and thickening the sauce too quickly. Ensure the flour is fully cooked in the Lurpak® Plant Based before adding milk for the best flavour. The roux should be slightly golden, not browned. Adding warm or room-temperature milk to the roux helps it blend more smoothly, as cold milk can cause the mixture to seize up and form lumps. Most importantly, take your time and do not rush the process.
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2
Stir in flour and cook for 30 seconds. Remove the saucepan from the heat and gradually whisk in milk. Return it to the heat and whisk in stock, stirring continuously.
3
Simmer for 5 minutes over a gentle heat, stirring occasionally. Remove the bay leaves. Add nutmeg and season to taste.
Pesto
1
Add Lurpak® Plant Based, basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, and garlic to a food processor. Whizz to make a thick puree.
Lasagne
1
Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas mark 6.
2
Grease a 2-litre ovenproof dish and start with a layer of lasagne sheets, then a thin layer of white sauce and pesto, then sweet potatoes and Parmesan cheese, reserving a handful for the top and season with freshly ground black pepper. Repeat the layers until the sweet potato is used, and finish with the white sauce.
TIP
To cook the sweet potatoes evenly, slice them uniformly to about ½ cm thick slices. Use a sharp knife or a mandolin for consistency. Lay them out in one layer with slight overlaps in the dish. If your slices are thicker, bake the lasagne longer to soften the sweet potatoes. You can test the softness with a sharp knife or a meat skewer towards the end of baking.
3
Dot ricotta over the top and scatter with the reserved Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 1 hour and 30 minutes until golden and bubbling. Cover with foil if it is browning too much. Serve with a green salad.

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Indulge in a tasty pesto lasagne with sweet potato

Dive into the delicious layers of our pesto lasagne with sweet potato slices. It blends Italian tradition with a touch of sweetness as well as beautiful colours throughout the layers. Imagine tender lasagne sheets cradling slices of soft, sweet potatoes interspersed with vibrant homemade basil pesto. In each layer, Parmesan cheese adds a delicate saltiness and a cheesy touch, and luscious ricotta dotted on top before baking elevates the dish to new heights. Each bite is full of irresistible flavours, with the simple white sauce enveloping the layers in a velvety embrace.

Serve it as the centrepiece for a memorable meal when hosting a cosy family dinner or a gathering with friends. It is sure to be a favourite for Italian cuisine enthusiasts of all ages.

Homemade basil pesto and soft sweet potatoes

The heart of this lasagne lies in its homemade basil pesto and tender sweet potatoes. Fresh basil leaves, pine nuts, and Parmesan come together to create a pesto that bursts with herby goodness. Blend the pesto into a thick, smooth puree to add a vibrant green layer to the lasagne and complement the natural sweetness of the potatoes.

The thinly sliced sweet potatoes soften as they bake and meld effortlessly with the pesto. Mixed with the herby green pesto, they take the lasagne from simple to glorious, ensuring a delightful contrast of flavours and a pleasing texture.

Delicious layers of creamy white sauce and ricotta cheese

Made with Lurpak® Plant Based, finely chopped shallots, and a hint of nutmeg, the creamy white sauce is smooth and velvety, creating a luxurious, melt-in-the-mouth experience with every bite of lasagne. The ricotta dotted on top blends seamlessly into the layers beneath and adds to the creaminess of the white sauce, making each layer of the lasagne irresistible.

Serve with salads and your favourite sides

Pair the lasagne with various sides to create a memorable meal. Serve it with a crisp, lightly dressed green salad for a refreshing touch, or opt for roasted vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts. Grilled asparagus adds a delightful crunch, while a simple Caprese salad with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil drizzled with balsamic glaze offers a classic Italian touch. You can also pair the rich lasagne with sautéed green beans with garlic and a splash of lemon juice for a bright, zesty touch.

Transform one of our other tasty recipes into the perfect side dish. Bake up a savoury garlic bread plait, which might be one of the most popular side dishes for lasagne, perfect for soaking up its sauces. You can also turn our recipes for roasted cauliflower steak or baked aubergine with feta into a perfect side dish-sized treat.

Personalise the recipe

Give your pesto lasagne some innovative, flavourful twists. Experiment with the layering, adding fresh spinach between the lasagne sheets to give the lasagne a vibrant green touch that goes with the pesto. Elevate the basil pesto by blending in tangy sun-dried tomatoes, a hint of grated lemon zest for a fresh, citrusy kick, or other nuts. For example, incorporate crushed walnuts into the pesto, offering a more profound, nutty flavour.

If you like an extra cheesy lasagne, use slices of fresh mozzarella cheese between the layers, or add grated mozzarella to the white sauce to turn it into a cheesy mornay sauce. You can also enhance the white sauce with aromatic flavours of fresh thyme and rosemary or add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to give it a subtle tang that balances the richness of the sauce.

Crown the lasagne with something special, topping it with a mixture of breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, and a touch of melted Lurpak® Plant Based. This creates a crispy, golden-brown finish that makes a nice contrast to the soft, creamy layers beneath.

COOK, BAKE AND SPREAD WITH

Lurpak® Plant Based

Plant Based

Lurpak® Plant based offers all the great taste and quality that you expect from Lurpak® but in a plant based product. Whether you’re cooking, baking or spreading… whatever you think about plants, think again! Crush expectations with new Lurpak® Plant Based.

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