Vegan Plantain Lasagna (Pastelón)

Have you guys ever heard of Pastelón? If not, you are missing out on a real treat!

⭐️ Why You Should Try It

• Nutritious. Instead of the traditional meat filling, this vegan plantain lasagna relies on wholesome ingredients such as mushrooms, red lentils, and walnuts, making it a healthy and hearty dish that will leave you energized. Plus, no tofu or vegan meat is required!
• Warming and delectable. The savory and meaty filling balances with the tender, sweet bananas, creating an explosion of flavor in every bite! We love to indulge in this comforting dish during the colder months.
• Crowd-pleaser. The natural sweetness of the bananas in this dish makes it a hit with kids, while grownups will appreciate the slightly spicy and meaty filling.

📘 What is Pastelón

Pastelón is a Caribbean casserole similar to lasagna, except it uses sweet fried plantains instead of pasta sheets. It’s delicious because it’s sweet, salty, and cheesy at the same time!

The original version includes ground meat, cheese, and butter. I replaced the meat with a simple bolognese made with red lentils, mushrooms, and walnuts. The cheesiness comes from a quick and easy vegan cheese sauce.

🍌 Ingredient Notes

Here are the ingredients you will need for the filling:

• Plantains – When it comes to the plantains, make sure to use ripe ones, not green ones. They must have black spots. The plantains should also be tender but not completely soft. Otherwise, you will have trouble frying them without breaking them.
• Red lentils – They add texture and protein to the filling. You can use red lentils or green lentils. Be aware that the latter will give the filling an earthier flavor.
• Mushrooms – Crimini, white button, or oyster mushrooms.
• Onion and garlic
• Walnuts – To give the bolognese more texture and a subtle crunchiness. Use raw walnuts.
• Bell peppers – I went with green bell peppers, but orange or red will work too.
• Diced tomatoes – Use one 14-oz can of diced tomatoes with their juice.
• Spices – Oregano, cumin, and chili. Use chili seasoning, not chili powder.

Then, for the cheesy sauce topping, you will need the following:

• Almond milk – Use unsweetened almond milk or your favorite plant-based milk.
• Cornstarch – To thicken the sauce.
• Nutritional yeast – For a cheesy aroma.
• White miso – For umami, saltiness, and a hint of fruitiness. I recommend using sweet white miso.
• Vinegar – To give the sauce a subtle sourness. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• Onion and garlic powder – For extra flavor.

🥣 How to Make It

This layered casserole consists of 3 layers: lentil bolognese, fried sweet plantains, and a cheesy sauce.

Prepare the filling

1. Cook the lentils. Rinse the lentils and place them in a saucepan. Add the water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let simmer for about 15 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain excess water if needed.
2. Set aside. Set the cooked lentils aside while you sauté the aromatics.

2. Sauté the aromatics. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the diced onion and garlic and sauté for 3-5 minutes.
3. Cook the vegetables. Next, add the mushrooms and bell pepper, and cook for another 5-7 minutes or until the bell peppers are tender.

4. Add the remaining ingredients. Add the cooked red lentils, slightly crushed walnuts, oregano, cumin, chili powder, diced tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Stir to combine everything.
5. Cook for a few minutes. Cook the filling for another 5-6 minutes over medium heat, stirring regularly. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.
6. Set aside. Remove from heat and set aside while you prepare the bananas.

Fry the plantains

1. Peel and slice the plantains. To prepare the plantains, start by carefully peeling them. Then, using a sharp knife, slice them lengthwise into strips. You don’t want the slices to be too thin, or they will break during frying. Depending on the size of your bananas, you want to get 4-5 slices out of each plantain.

Make the sauce

To make the cheesy sauce that will go on top of the dish:

1. Combine all of the ingredients. Add the almond milk, cornstarch, nutritional yeast, miso, vinegar, onion powder, and garlic to a saucepan. Whisk well until the cornstarch is dissolved.
2. Heat over medium heat. Heat the mixture over medium heat, whisking regularly until it thickens. Once the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat and set it aside.

Assemble

The final step consists of layering all of the different preparations in a baking dish. To do so:

1. Arrange the bananas. Arrange a layer of plantain slices in a rectangular baking dish. Depending on the size of your baking dish, you should be able to place 5-6 slices.
2. Top with the bolognese. Top the bananas with half of the lentil bolognese.

3. Add another layer of bananas. Top the bolognese with another layer of plantains.
4. Top with the remaining bolognese. Add the remaining bolognese on top of the plantains.

5. Pour the cheese sauce. Pour the cheesy sauce on top of the lentil bolognese and spread it into an even layer.
6. Top with the remaining banana slices. Finally, top the cheese sauce with one last layer of plantains.
7. Bake. Bake the pastelón uncovered for 25-30 minutes in a 350°F (175°C) preheated oven.

🧀 Variations

• Make it nut-free. Replace the walnuts with scrambled tofu or tempeh.
• Add smokiness. Give the lasagna a hint of smokiness by adding 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke to the filling. It will create an even more warming aroma!
• Use store-bought vegan cheese. If you want to save time, use your favorite store-bought vegan cheese sauce or grated vegan cheese instead of making the cheesy sauce.

🥗 What to Serve It

You can enjoy this pastelón with sliced avocado or a refreshing green salad on the side.

💬 FAQ

If you like sweet and salty dishes, don’t miss this recipe! It’s a nice twist on Italian lasagna. The combination of salty bolognese, cheesy sauce, and sweet plantains is simply delicious!

🥧 More Casserole Recipes

Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole

Vegan Baked Gnocchi

Vegan Stuffed Shells With Ricotta

Easy Vegan Moussaka

⭐️ Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below, and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Note: This recipe was first released in May 2018 and was updated in October 2023 with new photos and process shots.