spinach rosemary and tofu lasagna

November 1, 2011

Rule Number 23091 in marriage:

October 31, 2011 013 
Do not feel required to tell your husband what is in his lasagna.

There’s a reason for this. You see, as I was thinking about a new dish I wanted to make for us, I thought about how I wanted some good old comfort food. Some ooey gooey casserole that could feed us for days – basically meaning I didn’t have to wash a new dish for at least three days. That’s winning in my book. I went through all the basics and realized I make them or have made them in the recent past, which led me to my jaw dropping realization.

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I have been gluten free for two years now, and I had yet to make a lasagna. I know, I know – pick those jaws up off the ground. I was a little scared for myself too. I made myself a promise that a lasagna would be made, and boy did it deliver. Although, as I was making the lasagna, I was cursing myself and remembering that the reason why I haven’t ever made a lasagna since becoming gluten free wasn’t because I didn’t want to have lasagna for dinner. It was because making lasagna is kind of a pain in the butt.

I spent my afternoon on Saturday making spaghetti sauce. I spent my afternoon on Sunday assembling this lasagna. I baked it on Monday. That’s a three day long project, folks. This was quite an achievement as knowing what I want to eat three days in advance is quite a feat.

 

October 31, 2011 002 
I don’t mean to scare you away from making lasagna – in fact, you should make it. You should really really make it. And then you should drizzle it with this hummus and nutritional yeast sauce I whipped up since I was wallowing in the fact that I couldn’t have hot toasty bubbling cheese on top of my lasagna. And then you should put a few sprigs of rosemary on top of it. And then continue to add more rosemary once you eat what you have on your plate. Because let’s be honest with ourselves, the rosemary makes this lasagna.

And you could totally make this in one day too. Especially if you have the sauce already made. But don’t use jarred sauce – please for the love of God don’t do that. Make your own. Freeze it. Pull it out when a recipe calls for jarred marinara. You’ll thank me later when you’re not attempting to eat enough after dinner chocolate to get the marinara jar taste out of your mouth. No? Just me? I swear I can taste the jar.

October 31, 2011 013
Anyways, back to why you shouldn’t feel the need to tell your husband what’s in his lasagna. He may think he ate ricotta, but in reality, he ate tofu. Don’t tell him he ate tofu. Just let him think whatever he wants and if he doesn’t say anything about how you are eating a lasagna made with ricotta when his wife doesn’t eat cheese, just go with the flow. Don’t ruin it for yourself. Smile as he gobbles up his plate and calls down the hall that dinner was “great” and he “loved the lasagna”. Yeah, I bet you loved that tofu lasagna, honey.

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In the end, we both got our comfort food. I wore stretchy pants. I may have used my finger to clean my plate. I “mmm’ed” along with the Husband as we talked about our days. One thing we didn’t talk about? Tofu. And that is the secret to our happy marriage.

Haven’t had quite enough comfort food? Feel free to visit Kelly Confidential to vote for your favorite food and/or share your own. Just so you know, Electrolux will donate $1 to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund as part of its $1 million commitment to thecause1.

{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }

Julie H. of Spinach and Sprinkles November 1, 2011 at 6:08 am

Aww- marriage rules. I know them well. That first year of marriage I should have read the book, you live- you learn. ;) You totally rocked a GF lasagna! Tofu and all!

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:25 am

I could have WRITTEN a book about the first year of marriage.

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Khushboo November 1, 2011 at 6:11 am

Agreed- jarred marinara sauce is just tragic! This looks delicious! As an alternative, you should try lasagne made with salsa instead of marinara sauce…adds a yum Mexican kick ):)

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Katie @ Raisins&Apples November 1, 2011 at 6:14 am

I LOVE lasagna—and this looks like a good one :)

my family has lasagna or spaghetti every Christmas Eve, maybe this will be it this year!

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Averie @ Love Veggies and Yoga November 1, 2011 at 6:33 am

I love the looks of that…wow. Three days, eh? Reminds me of the time I made raw vegan girl scout “samoas” cookies in my dehydrator. Holy.Project. Worth it? Kind of. I would rather have spent 3 days making that lasagna of yours!

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:26 am

It was totally worth it… as I am sitting here eating leftovers. :)

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Jess @ Jess Go Bananas November 1, 2011 at 6:33 am

“hahaha I remember one time I made a vegan lasagna and people were all “I thought you didn’t eat cheese….” mmmhmmm ;)

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Aine @ Something to Chew Over November 1, 2011 at 6:40 am

I adore spinach in lasagna! There’s something about the combination of cheese, tomato and spinach that’s so tasty :)

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Bethany @Bethany's Befuddled Brain November 1, 2011 at 6:46 am

Oh my that is so going on the menu for next week! It will be perfect to use up some of all the jarred and frozen tomatoes from my grandma’s garden.

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kathleen @ the daily crumb November 1, 2011 at 6:52 am

this looks delicious! but i’m right there with you… i could NOT put out there that the hubby ate tofu. aren’t men ridiculous?!

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Emma (Sweet Tooth Runner) November 1, 2011 at 7:01 am

You are a GENIUS Chelsey!! I am dying I want this so bad!! I am making this SOON! :D

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Katie @ Peace Love and Oats November 1, 2011 at 7:05 am

I’m glad you finally got your lasagna! Did he ever ask what was in there?? Haha I wonder what he was thinking, or if it even crossed his mind! Maybe it will randomly hit him today that you don’t eat cheese so that couldn’t have been ricotta… or maybe he just doesn’t want to know. That’s usually best.

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:26 am

He did not. The only thing I said after he said he liked it was “good, because eyou’re eating it for dinner again tomorrow.” :)

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Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine November 1, 2011 at 7:07 am

Oh I forgot how much I LOVE humnut!! Need to make some again soon…although apparently nutritional yeast is bad for you. Because it’s made in a lab. According to the founder of my school. But she just likes to ruin all our fun all the time, so I’m gonna ignore that…

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 8:01 am

la la la Im not listening! You need to tell your professor that I don’t even care. hahaha!

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Amanda- The Nutritionist Reviews November 1, 2011 at 7:09 am

I love that the drizzle is on top! I bet that that was extra flavorful.

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Lori Lynn November 1, 2011 at 7:22 am

That looks sooo good. I’m not usually a tofu person, but it looks like something I’d like!

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:27 am

You would have no idea that there is tofu in there!

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Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin November 1, 2011 at 7:30 am

I’ve never made my own lasagna for the same reason as you – it seems like SUCH a hassle! But seeing these pictures has reminded me that it’s totally worth every bit of effort. Homemade lasagna is the best! :D

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Tiff @ Love Sweat and Beers November 1, 2011 at 7:37 am

Ha, too funny. My mom made lasagna with veg crumbles for my husband once. He was eating it, loving it, and going for seconds. On the last bite she told him it wasn’t real meat. He said it didn’t taste as good after hearing that. :D Silly boys. Now he asks for me to make it because it’s so good.

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:27 am

Oh geez – silly boys is right!

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chelcie @ Chelcie's Food Files November 1, 2011 at 7:58 am

I LOVE lasanga, its time consuming to make, but in the end its so worth it!

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Ashley @ My Food 'N' Fitness Diaries November 1, 2011 at 8:06 am

You never fail to make me laugh as I read your posts. This lasagna looks so good! I did the same thing when I made a veggie lasagna for my husband and me awhile back. He’s all about the meat, so I didn’t want him to learn there was no meat in the lasagna as he was saying how delicious it was with every bite. I just told him the ingredients were a secret. ;)

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:27 am

haha! I don’t even bring up anything about ingredients unless asked!

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Lauren @ What Lauren Likes November 1, 2011 at 8:07 am

This looks fantastic! Great pics :)

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Mila @ loftyappetite November 1, 2011 at 8:14 am

Last night I made healthy alfredo sauce and it was sooo good, and my boyfriend loved it and then he asked me what was in it and I said cauliflower, and he wouldn’t finish it!! I was shocked and so frustrated because it tasted just like regular and he had already eaten 75% of his plate! Too bad you didn’t post this yesterday and warn me earlier ;)

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:28 am

That sounds great! I have always wanted to make a cream sauce with cauliflower – don’t know why I never have!

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Anna @ On Anna's Plate November 1, 2011 at 8:23 am

Oooooh, I love the humnut drizzle!! I go through periods where I am seriously obsessed with humnut sauce!

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Emily November 1, 2011 at 8:32 am

My manfriend is totally anti-tofu. I can’t wait to get a little sneaky in the kitchen with this one:)

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Gina @ Running to the Kitchen November 1, 2011 at 9:09 am

haha, loved this. I like to tell him after he’s eaten it (and loved it of course) just to see the reaction on his face. ;)

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:28 am

That’s always fun!

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Lisa@HealthyDiaries November 1, 2011 at 9:48 am

YUM! I love lasagna! My mom makes her authentic Italian lasagna every Christmas and I always look forward to it! It’s seriously the best! No heavy cheese filled lasagna here! It’s all about the noddles and the sauce!

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Lindsay @ Lindsay's List November 1, 2011 at 9:57 am

Whoever came up with the name Humnut deserves a naughty word medal. Just sounds sexual to me.

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:29 am

haha! After this entire post about my delicious lasagna, THAT is what you come up with? I love you.

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Heather @ Get Healthy with Heather November 1, 2011 at 10:27 am

Oh that’s one marriage rule i sure have learned over time.

This sounds delicious girl! Rosemary is one of my favorites, and hummus + nutritional yeast… How did I ever live without it?

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Sami November 1, 2011 at 10:39 am

this.recipe.looks.awesome.

my boyfriend would LOVE it.

i have to set some time aside to make it for him this weekend!

(:

xo.

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Sami November 1, 2011 at 10:39 am

ps-
do you think it would work with canned drained spinach?!

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:29 am

I don’t see why not!

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Anna @ The Guiltless Life November 1, 2011 at 10:43 am

Yum! If you can’t taste the tofu and can’t tell there is tofu in it then it’s probably a win so it looks like you did a great job! Have you already posted the marinara sauce recipe or is that to come? :)

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cleaneatingchelsey November 1, 2011 at 11:29 am

That’s already there – I forgot to link it up! Sorry!

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Lauren November 1, 2011 at 11:17 am

Bahaha, props to you for pulling the deceit off. Lasagna is kind of labor intensive, isn’t it? Lucky for me, that’s Joey’s mom’s specialty so I don’t ever make it. No need to compete, right? :)

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Whitney @ cornfed in the cornhusker state November 1, 2011 at 11:27 am

haha I LOVE this post!! I have done this SO many times! In fact, little does my husband know, but his favorite meatballs are “meatless!” However I have also had this backfire. I told my husband last week that I was making enchiladas, but I left out the fact that they were butternut squash enchiladas. Needless to say, when he took a bite and he didn’t experience the chicken, sauce and cheese that he was expecting….well…i am still hearing about it! :-) Maybe I’ll add your lasagna recipe to my “shhh don’t tell the husband” list!!!

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Faith @ For the Health of It November 1, 2011 at 12:08 pm

I definitely just wrote this in to my meal plan for next week. Tuesday isnt too early to start scheming about next weeks food, right?….

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Caitlin November 1, 2011 at 12:30 pm

This looks AWESOME and is totally something my mom would make my dad without telling him what was really in it! :-P

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AmandaRunsNY November 1, 2011 at 1:05 pm

Hahaha, good job disguising tofu as ricotta. This is my main goal in lifely…to trick people into eating healthy!

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Brittany @ GOtheXtraMile November 1, 2011 at 1:46 pm

HAha that is awesome! Some things are just meant to be left unsaid :D

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shea November 1, 2011 at 1:53 pm

when I shop I always have a list. I’m always making lists for everything. lol. But sometimes if i’m just getting something to make that night or just to pick up a few items I know I need i’ll just grab it.

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christina November 1, 2011 at 3:05 pm

this looks great! nice move with the hummus drizzle!

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Ari@ThE DiVa DiSh November 1, 2011 at 3:05 pm

holy yum!!
I never tell my husband what is in his food. :-) I learned the hard way of him not even wanting to TRY what I made…now I just tell him, “yes, I put meat in that chili, duh?”…Meat/tempeh…same thing right?
Great job! I’m definitely liking the tofu used as ricotta idea!

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Alexa @ Simple Eats November 1, 2011 at 5:24 pm

YES ! Someone else who agrees with me to only make homemade sauce. I always wind up adding extra spices to jarred if I ever buy it. This looks amazing!

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phyllis November 1, 2011 at 6:34 pm

You are an absolute freaken genius…never thought of hummus or nutritional yeast on lazaknee …as I sit here in noreast power outage drooling on the sheer thought of a warm yummy pasta delectable…lack of food OMG I’m dileriousness and such.

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Emily November 1, 2011 at 7:29 pm

This recipe is genius! Spinach in lasagna is one of my favorite combinations!
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

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Kaitlyn@TheTieDyeFiles November 1, 2011 at 8:08 pm

Considering I change into my stretchy pants the minute I get home from school every day, I’m so ready for this lasagna. I haven’t made one in forever! Lucky for me the boyfriend actually likes tofu. He even made it on his OWN the other day and served it to his roommate, who also liked it. Who am I even dating?

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cleaneatingchelsey November 2, 2011 at 5:54 am

I change into my comfy clothes the second I get home too!

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katie @KatieDid November 1, 2011 at 9:00 pm

I’m sort of ‘anti fu’. I wonder if I could trick myself ;)

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Molly November 1, 2011 at 11:18 pm

this looks so good!

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Allison (Allison's Delicious Life) November 2, 2011 at 12:11 am

OH MY GOSH- i had no idea brown rice lasagna noodles existed. I have been so sad to miss out on lasagna!

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Caitlin November 2, 2011 at 9:46 am

It sounds like I may be the only one who just can’t seem to enjoy the taste of nutritional yeast. I can detect it in anything and can’t stomach it. Is there a good sub?

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cleaneatingchelsey November 2, 2011 at 11:00 am

real cheese? or you could use some sort of vegan cheese substitute. You just wouldn’t have a drizzle…

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Sarah November 2, 2011 at 10:24 pm

oh my word this looks amazing!

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