Healthy vegan pasta bake

• rapeseed oil↗2 tsp tsp
• onions↗2

  finely chopped

• garlic cloves↗3

  finely grated

• dried lentilles vertes↗140g g
• tomato passata↗500g g
• wholemeal penne↗200g g
• courgettes↗2

  (about 375g), quartered lengthways and sliced

• basil↗15g g

  chopped

• vegetable bouillon powder↗2 tsp tsp
• cashews↗125g g

  (not roasted)

• nutritional yeast3 tbsp tbsp
• vegetable bouillon powder↗¼ tsp ¼ tsp
• cherry tomatoes on the vine150g g

  halved

• rocket↗4 handfuls of

  4 handfuls of

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan over a medium heat and fry the onions for 10 mins, stirring occasionally until starting to colour. Stir in the garlic and lentils. Pour in 500ml water, then bring to the boil, cover and cook for 10 mins over a high heat.

2. 2

   Stir in the passata, cover again, reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 mins more.

3. 3

   Stir in the penne, courgettes, three-quarters of the basil and the bouillon powder. Bring back to the boil, then cover and cook for 15 mins until the pasta is tender. Keep an eye on it, as you might need to add a little extra water if the pan becomes too dry.

4. 4

   Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. While the pasta is cooking, tip the cashews into a heatproof bowl and pour over 200ml boiling water. Add the nutritional yeast and bouillon powder, and blitz with a hand blender until loose and smooth – similar in texture to a white sauce. Remove the pasta mixture from the heat and level the surface using the back of a spoon or spatula. Pour the cashew sauce over the top, then scatter over the cherry tomatoes. Bake for 15 mins until starting to bubble at the edge, then scatter over the remaining basil. Serve half straightaway with half the rocket. Leave the rest to cool completely, then chill for another day. Will keep chilled for up to four days. Reheat on plates in the microwave until piping hot and serve with the remaining rocket.