Creamy Lentil And Vegetable Bake Vegan Gluten Free

So now it’s time for Thanksgiving main dish ideas! Hence this vegan, gluten-free Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake! This recipe is hearty, indulgent, and so flavorful, so you definitely won’t feel like you’re missing out at Thanksgiving! And be sure to check out my brand new Cheesy Baked Butternut Squash for another vegan main dish idea this holiday season! For the recipe video and visual instructions, be sure to check out the Youtube video!

Why you’ll love this recipe

As you can tell from these photos, this dish looks like it’s COVERED in cheese. Except it’s not! Not even any vegan cheese. Crazy, right? It’s just cashew cream! More on that below. The reason I love this Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake so much is that it’s basically a layered mixture of all my favorite wholesome ingredients mixed together in a really indulgent way. The first layer consists of roasted vegetables. They’re baked in the oven until tender, sweet and caramelized. Then they’re topped with a layer of the creamiest, most flavorful lentils. The lentils are simmered with onions, garlic, thyme, and vegetable broth, and then finished with a trio of winning ingredients—miso paste, tahini, and balsamic vinegar. Finally, we pour some cashew cream on top of everything. When the cashew cream gets baked, it forms this thick, cheesy crust on top that is incredibly irresistible. You would never know that this cheesy, bubbly crust is basically just cashews and water!

Ingredient Rundown

Now let’s talk about the ingredients and layers in this Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake!

Layer 1: Roasted Vegetables

I use cauliflower, carrots, and sweet potatoes, but this layer is easily customizable and you can use any vegetables that roast well. Some other good options would be rutabaga, any winter squash (such as kabocha squash, red kuri squash, or butternut squash), celery root, turnips, or parsnips (personally, I do not like parsnips, but they are an option). For most vegetables, cut them into roughly even size so they bake evenly. However, carrots take a bit longer to cook, so I cut them a bit smaller than the sweet potatoes and cauliflower. Toss the cut vegetables with a bit of oil (I prefer avocado oil or olive oil) and generously season with salt and pepper. I say generously because the salt not only helps draw out the moisture from the vegetables, making them less watery, but also intensifies the flavor and makes their natural sweetness shine. Spread the vegetables out on two large baking trays in an even layer. Take care to not overcrowd the pan or your vegetables will steam rather than roast. Bake at 400°F/205°C for 25-30 minutes until the veggies are soft, tender, and browned in some spots. I recommend tossing the veggies around at the halfway mark to ensure even cooking and browning.

Layer 2: Creamy Lentils

When you think of lentils, you probably don’t think indulgent. But these lentils really do taste indulgent! They are so creamy and packed with flavor that you’re going to want to make them all the time! I use French green lentils, also known as Puy lentils. I like them because they hold their shape pretty well in cooking so it’s not just one mushy mass of a casserole. If you can’t find French green lentils, the next best substitute would be Black Beluga lentils. Regular green lentils (or brown lentils) get softer when cooked than either of these varieties. You can use them if you prefer a softer texture and/or if you can’t find either of these varieties. To flavor the lentils, I start by sautéing a sweet onion in olive oil. I like to use a sweet onion in this particular recipe because it highlights the sweetness of the balsamic vinegar that gets added later on. Of course, a regular yellow onion will work just fine if that’s what you have. Once the onion is softened, I add some garlic because, well, garlic makes everything more flavorful! Then I add some vegetable broth to deglaze the pan and pick up any browned bits, which is where a lot of the flavor lives. You can use water but vegetable broth brings in a bit more flavor. Add the lentils and some fresh thyme sprigs and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the lentils are cooked but still al dente. When the lentils are done cooking, they get finished with an explosion of flavor. First, tahini, which brings a rich creaminess and nutty flavor. Next, balsamic vinegar, which adds a slightly sweet flavor and helps binds the lentils together with its viscous stickiness. And finally miso paste, which brings a savoriness and saltiness to the lentils without using any salt. Regarding the balsamic vinegar, I do recommend using a high-quality aged balsamic vinegar. While you don’t need a super high-end bottle, I would avoid the $2-3 bottles, as they taste mostly like alcohol and don’t have the rich sticky, viscous texture and deep sweetness as traditionally aged balsamic vinegar.

Layer 3: Cashew Cream

If you’re familiar with my recipes, you know that I absolutely LOVE cashew cream. So much so that I even made a whole video about how to make the best cashew cream, how to make flavor variations (hello, sriracha ginger cashew cream), and how to incorporate it into your recipes and meal prep. Cashew cream is great on its own, but when you bake it in the oven, as we do in this recipe, it gets next level. It forms a thick, cheese-like crust on top. So, it tastes like you’re eating a decadent cheesy casserole but it’s just made with cashews, water, garlic, lemon juice, salt, and nutritional yeast. Pretty crazy! You do need a high-powered blender or food processor to make cashew cream. Otherwise, the cashews won’t break down fully and it’ll be difficult to fully liquefy the sauce.

Tips for making this Creamy Lentil Winter Bake

Once you have all the main components ready—roasted vegetables, creamy lentils, cashew cream—it’s time to layer them into a baking dish (in that order). This is an easy dish to make ahead, since all of the components can sit in the fridge for at least a day or two in advance. The cashew cream can even be prepared up to 3 or 4 days in advance. If you do prepare the lentils in advance and refrigerate them, they might be more solidified and less creamy than when you first cooked them. To remedy that, heat them up on the stove to loosen them up. And if needed, add a bit of water or plant-based milk to soften them up. This recipe is designed to be made in a 13×9-inch baking pan or 3-liter casserole, but if you don’t have one, you could easily make it in two smaller baking pans. Since all of the layers are already cooked, using a smaller baking pan won’t affect the cook time. I like to bake this for 20 minutes or until it’s warmed through and the cashew cream has sort of encrusted. And to take it over the top, turn on your oven broiler and place the pan under the broiler for just a minute or two until the cashew cream is browned in some spots. It can burn easily so keep an eye on it.

Looking for more vegan holiday dishes?

Mashed Potatoes: fluffy yet creamy mashed potatoes just like you love, but made vegan Scalloped Potatoes: Outrageously cheesy, creamy potato pillows that melt in your mouth Crispy Baked Mac and Cheese: cheesy, creamy, and crispy (and more nourishing than you’d expect!) Wild Mushroom Stuffing: an umami-rich spin on the classic stuffing Pumpkin Stuffed Shells: cheesy, chewy, garlicky, and creamy! Vegan Cornbread: crispy-crusted and buttery and practically melts in your mouth!

I hope you give this recipe a try at Thanksgiving (or another holiday) this year! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment below with your feedback and tag me on Instagram with your recreations!