Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

With Thanksgiving less than a week away, it’s time to crank my recipe delivery into full gear. In this last week, I’ve already shared the secrets to the best vegan mashed potatoes, a fun and unique stuffing that can double as your holiday table centerpiece, and an elegant spin on pumpkin pie. Oh, and also a roundup of 30 vegan recipes you can make for Thanksgiving.

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!

VEGAN HOLIDAY MAIN DISHES your whole family will want to eat

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!

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Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Nisha Vora

5 from 53 votes

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This vegan, gluten-free Creamy Lentil and Vegetable Bake is the ultimate comfort food. Sweet, caramelized roasted vegetables and creamy lentils are baked in a rich cashew cream and make for an excellent vegan main dish for any holiday gathering!

Prep Time: 35 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Diet Vegan

Serving size: 8

Ingredients

Cashew Cream

• ▢ 1 cup (112g) raw cashews, soaked for 1 hour in boiling water
• ▢ 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons (~150 mL) water
• ▢ 2 garlic cloves
• ▢ 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
• ▢ 1½ tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon sea salt + more to taste
• ▢ Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Roasted Vegetables

• ▢ 1 large head of cauliflower, cut into florets
• ▢ 1 large sweet potato, peeled
• ▢ 6 medium carrots, peeled
• ▢ 2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
• ▢ Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Creamy Lentils

• ▢ 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
• ▢ 1 large sweet onion, diced
• ▢ 6 garlic cloves, minced
• ▢ 1 ½ cups French green lentils (also known as Puy lentils*)
• ▢ 4 cups vegetable broth or water
• ▢ A handful of thyme sprigs
• ▢ 1/4 cup tahini
• ▢ 2 tablespoons white or yellow miso paste
• ▢ 2 tablespoons high-quality balsamic vinegar**

Instructions

• Cover the cashews with boiling water and allow to soak for 1 hour. When done soaking, drain well and rinse.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F/205°C. Line two large sheet pans with parchment paper (optional, but for easy cleanup).
• Prepare the vegetables. Cut the cauliflower into florets, and chop the peeled sweet potato into roughly equal size as the florets. Chop the carrots into slightly smaller pieces than the sweet potato (they take longer to cook). Toss the vegetables with the oil and generously season with salt and pepper. If the veggies seem dry, add a bit more oil as needed. Spread the veggies out in a single layer on the prepared sheet pans. Roast in the oven until they are browned in some spots and soft, tossing once during cooking, about 25 to 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F/175°C (or turn off until ready to assemble the bake).
• While the vegetables are roasting, cook the lentils. Heat a deep sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium heat and add the 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the diced sweet onion and cook until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Deglaze the pan with the vegetable broth or water, and then add the French green lentils and thyme sprigs. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a rapid simmer. Simmer until most of the liquid is absorbed and the lentils are tender but still al dente, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the thyme sprigs and add the tahini, miso paste, and balsamic vinegar. Stir well to combine and taste for seasonings, adding salt or pepper as desired.
• While the vegetables are roasting and the lentils are cooking, make the cashew cream. To a high-powered blender or food processor, add the soaked and drained cashews, water, garlic, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and black pepper to taste. Blend until smooth and creamy. If you need a bit more water to blend the cashews, add 1-2 more tablespoons. You can also prepare the cashew cream a few days in advance, if desired.
• Assemble the bake: If the oven is off, heat it 350°F/175°C. Layer the roasted vegetables on the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking pan or 3-liter casserole (or in two smaller baking pans). Top with the cooked lentils and then pour the cashew cream on top, smoothing it out over the entire surface. Bake for 20 minutes, until warmed through. If desired, turn on the oven broiler and broil for a minute or two until the cashew cream is browned in some spots.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Notes

* Depending on the brand you use, the equivalent of 1 1/2 cups French green lentils in grams might be anywhere from 210 grams to 315 grams. See notes in the blog post for substituting French green lentils.

** You don’t need to use a super fancy bottle of balsamic vinegar, but 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 vinegars.

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Nutrition Info

Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 312mg | Potassium: 1104mg | Fiber: 17g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 13696IU | Vitamin C: 44mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 5mg