Baked Ziti with Lentils & Tofu Béchamel

Thank you to Vegan Richa for this ridiculously easy and delicious pan of comfort! Plus, it's just 385 calories per serving.

Ingredients

12 oz. ziti (or similar pasta of choice)

1 24-oz. jar of your favorite pasta sauce

1/4 c. red lentils 

1/4 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped

2 c. water

To "doctor" your jarred sauce: 

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar or red wine

1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning, like basil, oregano, thyme

2 cloves garlic, minced

Tofu béchamel: 

7 oz. of silken tofu

1 tbsp. olive oil

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/2 tsp. miso or nutritional yeast (for an umami punch)

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. onion powder

1 tsp. lemon juice

1/2 c. water

2 tsp. flour

Directions

In 9x13-inch pan, add the uncooked pasta and distribute evenly. Add the pasta sauce with "doctored" add-ins, lentils, walnuts, and water. Mix well. Taste; if the pasta sauce does not have enough salt, add some salt and mix really well and even it out with a spatula. Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

For the tofu béchamel, blend all the ingredients until smooth, taste and adjust salt and flavor and set aside.

Remove the pan from the oven and carefully remove the foil. Now pour the tofu béchamel over the pasta and put it back into the oven and broil it for 5 to 8 minutes, until browning. Add a drizzle of olive oil, red pepper flakes, and fresh basil to serve.

NOTE: The first time I made this, I prepped the pasta-sauce mixture and tofu béchamel early in the day and refrigerated separately until about an hour before dinner. This worked beautifully.

Serves 4-6.

Creamy Corn & Chorizo Enchiladas

Ingredients

1 onion

3 garlic cloves

2 vegan sausages (Field Roast Chorizo is great here!)

1 ear of corn

1 lime

14.5 oz. diced tomatoes

1 dried ancho chile

1 tsp. ground cumin

1 tsp. chipotle morita powder

¼ c. vegan sour cream

4 corn tortillas

¼ oz. fresh cilantro

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Salt

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Peel and dice the onion. Peel and slice the garlic. Remove sausages from packaging and slice into bite-size pieces. Cut corn kernels off the cob. Halve and juice the lime.

Heat 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add just half the diced onion, just half the sliced garlic, and a pinch of salt, and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add just 1 cup tomatoes, dried ancho chile, cumin, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ cup water. Bring smoky ancho sauce to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.

Heat 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and crispy in places, 3 to 5 minutes. Add remaining diced onion and remaining sliced garlic and cook until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add corn kernels, chipotle morita powder, and sour cream, and stir well to combine.

Transfer the smoky ancho sauce to a blender. Add lime juice and blend on low until smooth. Taste, and add salt as necessary. Add ¼ cup smoky ancho sauce to an 8 x 8 baking dish.

Top each of the corn tortillas with creamy corn and chorizo filling. Roll each tortilla and place seam side down in the baking dish. Top enchiladas with remaining smoky ancho sauce and cover baking dish with foil. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

Roughly chop the cilantro leaves and stems. Divide the creamy corn and chorizo enchiladas between plates. Top with chopped cilantro.

Serves 2.

Everything Mix

Ingredients

2 tbsp. poppy seeds

1 tbsp. white sesame seeds

1 tbsp. black sesame seeds

2 tbsp. dried garlic flakes

2 tbsp. dried onion flakes

2 tsp. kosher salt

Directions

Add to half-pint mason jar and shake.