What to make for dinner. Isn’t that the struggle?
Well struggle no more, friends, because 10-ingredient Vegan Lasagna Eggplant Roll-Ups are here (and they’re crazy delicious)!
This recipe is inspired by my all-time favorite Italian dish – Lasagna!
Have you ever contemplated what your “last meal” would be if you had to choose? It’s a tough call for me, being that I love all food. But forced to decide, I think lasagna would rise to the top of the list. It’s classy soul food stuffed with fresh herbs and robust flavor.
Origins of Lasagna
Perhaps like many of you, we were under the impression that lasagna originated in Italy. Turns out, its origin history is more complicated!
Some say the concept originated in ancient Greece where layered dough sheets (called laganon) were cut into strips and baked. Others claim it resembles a Roman dish recorded in a cookbook in the 1st century AD. And still others place its origin in England or Italy in the 14th century, where cookbooks describe the concept of layering cheese and pasta in a dish and baking it. (source)
But it wasn’t until the 16th century that tomato-based versions were recorded that more closely resembles today’s lasagna. Those versions came from Italy. So to everyone who ever contributed to the invention of lasagna, we’re forever grateful!
This version starts with a tofu “ricotta” filling that’s comprised of simple ingredients, such as:
Tofu
Lemon Juice
Nutritional Yeast
Fresh Basil + Dried Oregano
Olive Oil
Salt + Pepper
Vegan Parmesan Cheese (aka fairy dust)
This creamy combo comes together quick (5 minutes!) and adds some serious staying power to these rolls – 6 grams protein per serving!
Look at that goodness. I want to put it on everything, STAT.
Instead of traditional lasagna noodles I opted for thinly sliced eggplant to add more veggie power and keep these babes gluten free!
To help them achieve a slightly roasted flavor and soft texture, I simply par-baked them for 15 minutes. Then all that’s left to do is add the filling for one seriously delicious and healthy meal.
All in all this dish requires 10 ingredients and roughly 1 hour start to finish! That’s my kind of dinner.
I think you’re going to love these rolls. They’re:
Incredibly filling
Veggie-packed
Protein-rich
Savory
Comforting
& Simply delicious
This would make the perfect weeknight meal when you want something a little extra special. It would also be great for impressing guests, especially a vegan / gluten free crowd. Bonus? They reheat well the next day for leftovers (hello, lunch upgrade).
We hope you love this recipe! If you try it, let us know how it goes. Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram so I can come stalk your feed and leave embarrassing comments.
Cheers, friends! Thanks for following along and supporting what we do.
Eggplant Lasagna Roll Ups
Ingredients
- 2 medium eggplants (sliced into 12 1/4-inch slices lengthwise* // OR 12 lasagna noodles, boiled)
TOFU FILLING
- 2 medium lemons, juiced
- 1 12- ounce block extra-firm tofu (drained and pressed dry for 10 minutes)
- 3 Tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1/2 cup fresh basil (finely chopped)
- 1 Tbsp dried oregano
- 3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ~1/2 tsp each salt + pepper
- 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese (optional)
FOR SERVING
- Vegan parmesan cheese
- 2-3 cups favorite marinara/red sauce (here’s mine!)
- Fresh basil (optional // chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C).
- Salt eggplant slices on both sides and arrange in a colander in the sink to remove excess water/bitterness for 15 minutes. (If using lasagna noodles, boil, drain and set aside.)
- Rinse salted eggplant slices well and dry thoroughly between two clean absorbent towels. Lay a baking sheet on top and place something heavy on top to absorb excess moisture.
- Arrange slices on 1-2 baking sheets in an even layer and bake oven for 13-15 minutes. Set aside and reduce heat to 375 degrees F (190 C).
- While eggplant is baking, add all tofu filling ingredients to a food process or blender and pulse to combine, scraping down sides as needed. You are looking for a semi-pureed mixture with bits of basil still intact. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, adding more salt and pepper for flavor, nutritional yeast for cheesiness, and lemon juice for brightness.
- Pour about 1/2-1/3 of the marinara sauce into an 8×8 baking dish (or similar sized dish) and reserve rest of sauce for topping / serving. Set aside.
- Scoop generous amounts (about 3 Tbsp) of ricotta filling onto each eggplant slice or lasagna noodle and roll up. Place seam side down in the sauce-lined baking dish. Continue until all filling and noodles or eggplant strips are used up. Pour more sauce down the center of the rolls for extra flavor (see photo).
- Bake for 15-23 minutes, or until sauce is bubbly and warm and the top of the rolls are very slightly browned.
- Serve immediately with additional vegan parmesan cheese and fresh basil. Leftovers keep for a couple of days, though best when fresh.
Notes
*2 lemons make ~1/3 cup juice.
*Adapted from my vegan stuffed shells. Feel free to add sautéed veggies to the filling mixture for more fiber / nutrients. My favorite is sautéed zucchini.
*Tofu inspiration from Whole Foods.
*Eggplant inspiration from Food Network.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated with the lesser amount of oil and marinara and with 1/4 cup vegan parmesan cheese per 12 rolls.
Jane says
So good. The fresh basil in the store didn’t look great so I used Trader Joe’s vegan pesto (maybe 1/3 cup?) in the filling, and omitted the olive oil. It gave the filling great flavor! The presentation is so pretty, but it’s not a complicated or time consuming recipe. I’ll be making it again. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Nice! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Jane!
Yasi Martinez says
Made this recipe without using oil 😂. It’s a great way to have tofu… loved it. Thanks for sharing!! 😉
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Yasi! Thank you for sharing! xo
Anysa says
OMG I don’t usually leave reviews but this was SO good I just had to! When I made the ricotta, I tasted it right after blending and was a bit unsure if I liked the flavor or texture. I was so wrong though because once I baked it, it was amazing! It tastes just how I remember real ricotta tasting and the texture is spot on. My non-vegan husband loved it as well. A real winner of a recipe. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! So glad you both enjoyed this recipe, Anysa. Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Liz D says
This was like lasagna…really didn’t miss the ricotta at all!
It was a little time consuming… and I think the oregano is off because that’s all I tasted. I would do 1 tsp dried instead of the 1 TBSP dried in recipe. I would also increase salt to 1tsp in the tofu mix.
Otherwise it was a great use for eggplant! Enjoyed it
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Liz!
El says
Hello! Can you make the tofu ricotta in advance? Planning ahead for a dinner party. I made this dish before and it’s a showstopper. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Rebecca Tennenbaum says
Can’t wait to make this! I’m wondering, will the filling keep for a day if you make it ahead of time? Thank you!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes!
Emily says
I know the recipe says this dish isn’t freezer friendly but is the ricotta? I just made the ricotta to use in another dish and I dont want to throw the extra away.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Emily, We haven’t tried freezing but assume it would be OK? Let us know if you try it!
Serena says
This was so easy and delicious! I used lasagna noodles. Can I freeze a portion after baking? Thanks for the great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Serena, we haven’t tried freezing it. It might impact the texture, but let us know if you try it!
Angie D says
I still have a bunch of zucchini- could this be used in place of the eggplant? If so, should I just salt and soak it to make it more pliable or should I roast it like the eggplant? Just got your cookbook! I’ve made many of the recipes- your my go-to for delish vegan recipes!! Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work! We would recommend using this recipe as a guide: https://minimalistbaker.com/8-ingredient-zucchini-lasagna-gf/
Kay says
I made this with zucchini because I didn’t have an eggplant. Roasted the zucchini slices brushed lightly with olive oil. It was delicious!!! Haven’t made Lasagna in years because of milk allergy. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Kay!
Elaine Levitte says
I made the roll ups for dinner tonight – absolutely delicious. I can’t wait till I am able to invite friends over for dinner again so that I can make it for them. Thank you for this outstanding recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it, Elaine! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Ivana says
Your recipes NEVER disappoint. This one made it to our Easter lunch and we loved it!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, thanks so much for sharing, Ivana! We’re so glad you enjoy our recipes! xo
Ainsley Denike says
I just made this and WOW so impressed! The tofu filling tastes so much like ricotta! My husband loved it too. I used real parm instead of vegan parm and put a little fresh mozzarella on top as well. I’ll be making this again for sure.
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Great! Thanks for sharing, Ainsley!
Bridget W. says
Such a delicious meal! The tofu ricotta was so rich and flavorful; it was hard to believe it wasn’t made of dairy and eggs!
Everything was super easy to throw together. I really appreciated how simple the recipe was! I added some vegan mozzarella on top and baked for 20 minutes. It was a great dinner, thanks Minimalist!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Bridget! xo
Kristina says
We totally loved this recipe. We have been quite surprised by the tofu “ricotta”, so delicious! The eggplant turned out a little “al dente”, so next time we try to leave it a little longer in the oven or try with thinner slices. We’ll definitely make this again soon.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Kristina! xo
Sonya says
What cAn we use instead of ricotta cheese in egg plant roll ups. Pls
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sonya, not sure we understand your question? This recipe contains a tofu-based ricotta. Or you could try our macadamia nut cheese- https://minimalistbaker.com/5-minute-macadamia-cheese-vegan-crudite/
Kelli says
I tried silken tofu (no choice- everything else was sold out) and it ended up more of a sauce. I used that for another recipe, and tried again using extra-firm and it was perfect. Super yummy recipe!
Roisin says
I cannot believe how delicious this recipe is. I’ve been vegetarian for three years but don’t tolerate dairy well so I thought i’d give this a go. Usually when I find people say X tastes just as good as the real thing (ricotta) I am sceptical but this is actually the bomb, so tasty and simple. Thrilled to have found this
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review, Roisin. We are so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo
Cristina says
I cooked this last weekend and… OMG! Deliciuos! I can’t eat cheese because my intolerance and this was a game changer… I want to prepre everything with this filling paste hahahahha. Seriously, this was beyond delicious. Thanks for sharing
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Cristina! =)
TRISHA L MCPHERREN says
I only had one tofu block, so I blended a cup and a half of soaked cashews into it. So yum!
TRISHA L MCPHERREN says
This was because I was doubling the filling. Lol!
Cat says
I was really impressed with the tofu ricotta! I’m not vegan but this was great to try to reduce our dairy intake. Delicious healthy dinner!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks, Cat!
Iliana says
Hi Dana,
I live in Peru and we don’t have the same lemons. We have the round green ones I think are called limes in the US… it much more sour. Would you use them anyway? Maybe less quantity? What’s the purpose of the lemon for the ricotta?
Tks!
Iliana
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Iliana, we haven’t tried that, but it should still work. Yes, we would start with less. The lemon helps give it a tang that resembles ricotta.
Michaluna says
Hi. These look so yummy but somewhat ambitious.! How did you slice the eggplant so thinly and uniformly? …How does the tofu get a good flavor, with so little added? In other words, Do you think this could fool (non-tofu) eaters might be expecting ricotta? ??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Michaluna, a sharp chef’s knife or a mandolin work for slicing the eggplant. And yes, we think this recipe could fool them! Or use one of these nut-based recipe, if preferred: https://minimalistbaker.com/whipped-almond-ricotta-5-ingredients/ or https://minimalistbaker.com/5-minute-macadamia-cheese-vegan-crudite/. Hope that helps!
Victoria Harvey says
I skipped the salt soaking at the beginning, my husband has Meinere disease and is on very low sodium lifestyle. Instead I sliced drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled Italian seasoning on them before baking. Cooked about 10 minutes then proceed with rest of recipe leaving salt out of the tofu mixture also but added about 1 teaspoon of Lemon Mrs. Dash instead of salt. Used premade no salt pasta sauce from Aldis. Or guests loved it and was seasoned so well they didn’t miss the salt. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great modifications, Victoria! Thanks so much for sharing!
Marita says
Absolutely the bomb! According to my partner, “one of the best dinners I’ve ever made”. I agree!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you both enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing!
Ty says
We halved the recipe and used one small eggplant. We followed the recipe except for one small detail. Prior to placing the filling on the eggplant, we layed a couple spinach leaves down. What an amazing recipe!! It’s not only easy and beautiful, it tastes wonderful! Thank you for this!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Ty!
randa says
This was so excellent! This was my first tofu recipe I’ve ever tried and I’m so happy on how well it turned out!
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Randa!
Valerie says
Made the tofu ricotta to use in another recipe (cauliflower steaks with cherry tomato and basil sauce) and it was UNREAL!! I think better than dairy ricotta ? Have some extra leftover – do you think it could freeze ok?
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thanks for sharing! We haven’t tried freezing but assume it would be OK? Let us know if you try it!
Diane says
Use the left-overs in place of cream cheese on a toasted bagel! Delish!!
Tina Kandah says
Can a different cheese substitute be used for this? Like the almond ricotta or the macadamia cheese?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Tina, yes! Either of those would be great! Let us know how it goes!
Amy P says
I just made this and it was a hit! The only issues I had was the slicing of the eggplant and then getting them off the cookie sheet. I will need to look for eggplants that are more straight and I will use parchment paper when I bake them. I don’t think I’ll go back to lasagna noodles ever again!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your experience, Amy. We are so glad you enjoyed these! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo
Aunt Ria says
Having never made or eaten any tofu ricotta, i was a little skeptical of this recipe, but I tried it anyway and was very pleasantly surprised! Its very tasty and I am 100% Italian! I only had super firm tofu from Trader Joe’s and the ricotta was a little crumbly, and I did use less lemon juice, but I could tell that with the right tofu this would be excellent. I did add a sprinkle of italian breadcrumbs on top before baking. My only criticism would be that my eggplant was not fully cooked. I had no problem rolling the slices, but they didn’t finish cooking in the last baking, like I thought they would. I will definitely make this again..
Dana @ Minimalist Baker says
Wow, thanks for sharing!!
Hopkintonrunner says
I made this last night. It was really tasty. The vegan ricotta has a lot of lemon juice, but it tastes good. I will definitely make it again!
joe says
I do not boil the noodles beforehand but make the sauce slightly more watery and bake covered. They cook marvelously!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Joe!
Michelle Burca says
Hi Dana,
First just wanted to say I am a very fond supporter of your work, talent and all that you’ve generously shared with us thus far and look forward to the future :)
Can’t wait to make this! Could I prep the rolls the night before and refrigerate. Also wondered if I could substitute the eggplant slices in your easy Lasagna recipe??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the kind note, Michelle! We think it would work well to prep the night before! And yes, we think eggplant noodles would work well in our Easy Vegan Lasagna- you may want to refer to this recipe for additional guidance. Hope that helps!
Katie says
This was AMAZING! I used half the amount of lemon juice for the vegan ricotta and it was so delicious. My boyfriend was super impressed and wants to have it more often! We love your recipes!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! Thanks for sharing, Katie!
Abigail says
I followed this recipe exactly….and it was AMAZING! Fulfillled my lasagna craving completely, and the best part was that my meat-loving husband and picky 6 year old loved it too! I’m making another batch tomorrow! Thanks so much for this super yummy goodness ❤️❤️❤️
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! So glad to hear this! Thanks for the lovely review xo
Laura says
I made this recipe tonight and it was delish! My boyfriend who is a meat eater really enjoyed it as well and it was easy to make!
Thanks again!
Laura
Diane says
I’ve made this with the eggplant and it was wonderful! Instead of using oil and basil, I substitute vegan pesto. Works really well. However, I want to try making it using zucchini and/or yellow squash. I have two questions:
1. Do you need to do the salt and rinse steps if using zucchini?
2. I’m assuming you still want to par-bake it when using zucchini, correct?
Susan K says
Hi, I want to make this like you wouldn’t believe! But I do no have an eggplant. I am kind of stuck at home for a while, due to the weather, so I can’t just go get one. BUT I DO have an extra-large zucchini!! When I read your comment, I got all excited! I don’t see a reply from Minimalist Baker, though, so I don’t know if zucchini will work the same. Did you make this recipe using zucchini yet? If so, how did it turn out? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Susan, we would recommend using this recipe as a guide if wanting to use zucchini: https://minimalistbaker.com/8-ingredient-zucchini-lasagna-gf/
Lucy S. says
I made this for Christmas and made the tofu filling just now. Loved it! The tofu filling tastes exactly like ricotta. Having grown up in an Italian house and making lasagna, never would I thought I could find an equivalent to ricotta, but I’ve found it! It’s amazing! Thank you, again!
Brittny says
Is there something other than a tomatoe-based sauce that this would go well with? I absolutely love all your recipes and just had some blood work done and it came back saying allergic to the following: oats, strawberries,carrots,tomatoes,apple,&corn (aka very yummy things).
Thanks for all you do & looking forward to your thoughts!
-Brit
Olivia says
Would soft tofu work in place of extra firm?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm we haven’t tried using it, but if you experiment with it, report back!
Steph says
Hello! This looks amazing! Would silken tofu be alright in place of the extra firm tofu? Thanks :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Steph! Generally, I wouldn’t recommend substituting silken for firm or extra-firm tofu, but if you experiment with it, report back on how it goes!
Will says
The tofu ricotta was insane. I served this with lentils and spinach, also in a healthy amount of tomato sauce. For me the eggplants didn’t add too much (I might have prepared them incorrectly), so next time (tonight) I’m going to stick with lentils and spinach in tomato sauce then serve with the ricotta and vegan parm. Excited to try those with other dishes as well!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We are glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Will!
Edith-Nicole says
These are delicious. I added a shallot and the zest of one lemon into the food processor with tofu filling and topped with red pepper flakes. Perfect. And we are a no-nut family so used my version of the vegan parm, which basically subs hemp seeds and sunflower seeds for cashews. Can’t wait to bring the leftovers to work this week. A word of caution for mandolin users: err on the side of thicker-than-you-think-it-should-be eggplant. I wasted a bunch of thin, crispy slices today. Thanks for developing great recipes for us!
Maureen D says
In a word…DELICIOUS! Savored every mouthful. My eggplant was too short for roll ups so I layered it with the ricotta. My tofu-hating husband liked it too. Will definitely be making this again. It’s a keeper!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Glad to hear it, Maureen!
Jacki says
I have now made this recipe probably five or six times and it gets easier and faster every time. Someone commented that you can’t make this a weeknight dinner if you’ve got kids and a job. Well, it’s Wednesday night and I have twin toddlers and a full-time job, and kids, hubs and I are all fed and there’s leftovers for lunches tomorrow. This recipe works really well exactly AS IS and I find that it helps to do it in steps. And the recent gift of a mandoline creates perfect eggplant “noodles.” My husband is not vegan but does love eggplant and never stops raving about this dish whenever I make it. The littles loved the filling but are still getting used to the eggplant texture. I give it another few months before they’re in love with it too. Thanks for such hearty, flavorful vegan recipes!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We are so glad you and your family enjoyed this recipe, Jacki!
Sheila says
The tofu ricotta alone is something I want to have on hand all the time, would be great as a veggie dip or a sandwich spread. The only thing I changed was sautéing up some yellow squash and throwing that into the ricotta for extra fiber and creaminess. I definitely made too much and froze half of the baked rolls. I’ll let you know how it turns out, although I’m sure that thawed and microwaves, it will taste delicious with all the flavors.
This also took me about 2 hours from start to finish (including all the dishes) so it’s not super week night friendly but I like having a cooking project if I get home from work early and I can save it for the next couple lunches.
Sheila says
Just an update, froze this after I baked this and it warmed it great in a microwave. It doesn’t look ‘presentable’ but it tastes great.
Diane says
I generally make the “cheese” on day 1. Then use it on day 2 to make, cook, and eat the roll-ups.
Laana says
Perfect! Couldn’t get enough of it! Time consuming, but worth it. A real feast for your taste buds! Will make again, especially when I want to impress someone!
Mariah Kadera says
Oh my goodness!!! These are amazing!!!!! You’ve done it yet again! You are always my go to for new recipes!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for the kind words, Mariah! We’re so glad you enjoyed it :D
Jenny A says
I loved this recipe. Having never really used eggplant before… and with limited knowledge on how to make tofu taste good… this was a really easy recipe to make. It is SO tasty… I was shocked by how similar the texture and taste of the tofu was to ricotta. Will definitely be making this again!
Jennifer Baker says
I made this tonight. Ok my variation of it and it was pretty dope. Veggie lasagna with tofu ricotta. Eggplant zucchini bell pepper onion carrot and spinach. I also had some nut based pesto dip and spagetti sauce added. Delicious. Not bad for my first lasagna ever. Made and 8×8 dish and a 8inch round baking dish. Way more food then the bf and I could eat. So I shared a pan with my sister and her family. And also gave a serving to a girlfriend. And I still have leftovers. Btw that tofu ricotta is bomb! The bf doesn’t know it was tofu! Added fresh basil and fresh oregano and Italian seasoning. Definetly a recipe to make again! I love your recipes! Even though I never quite follow them exactly, they are great even with substitutes and variations. Thanks for the great vegetarian/vegan recipes. I just purchased your book and can’t wait to make more yummy food.
Annissa Slusher says
It looks so yummilicious!! Keep sharing and caring!!
Becca says
I made this last night and it was so delicious!!! I had to start over on the eggplant noodles because mine burnt in the oven during the first part of the process. I also used your Moroccan lentils recipe for the sauce! My husband ate it too and he’s normally a complainer with my vegan food. But he liked it!
Dina says
I made this eggplant dish for a family Christmas dish and got so many compliments! Love all of your recipes! Thank you!
Grace says
I absolutely love this dish! I’m making it again for more people and one of them is allergic to tomatoes. Is there another vegan sauce that would go well with this?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Grace! You could try a cream based sauce. I would go off of this one for inspiration!
Jane says
So delicious but um, “weeknight dinner?” Not if you’ve got kids or a job sister!
Jessica says
I am a non-vegan cheese lover, and I found this recipe when a few co-workers suggested we do a vegan detox for a few days around the holidays. THIS RECIPE IS SO GOOD and SO filling! I struggled with cutting the eggplant, so I ended up just layering it like a lasagna/casserole and then baking it. My boyfriend had no idea he was eating tofu and raved about how “it’s so good and cheesy.” Thank you for the recipe!!