I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t like lasagne. As a vegan though, unless you go to some super cool vegan Italian restaurant or have the time and patience to make one for yourself, lasagne can be a bit thin on the ground. There are recipes out there, some good ones too, but the list of ingredients tends to be long and the time required to prepare also tends to be, well, long. There are some lovely vegan cheese sauces that can be used or you can make your own. Most traditional lasagne recipes can be easily veganised, using soy mince as a substitute for beef, or perhaps lentils or maybe even veggies. But again we come down to the time element. It’s all very well if you have ages to lovingly assemble a homemade Italian classic, but if you don’t, Sainsbury’s have come up with the answer.

My Mum is always asking what she can have in the fridge or freezer that’s just ready to go if I come over and decide to stay for dinner. Sainsbury’s new vegan lasagne has been added to the list of possibilities that includes vegan sausages, pasta and dairy free pesto amongst other things. The lasagne is in the fridge section of the supermarket and it looks just like a normal ready meal-style lasagne, except of course, it’s cruelty free.

I must admit to being quite thrilled when I saw it in my local Sainsbury’s. It just seems to be one of the many little signs I’ve noticed recently that veganism is becoming more mainstream. I normally have it with a few vegetables on the side and it makes for a satisfying meal.

Each pack is one portion and it only takes 35 minutes to cook in the oven and you can also do it in the microwave. Priced at £3 it’s much the same as any other ready meal and it tastes really nice. It’s a vegetable lasagne, so no mince or anything, but the pasta’s good, the flavour’s good and it’s super easy to make. You have to peel the film off part way though cooking and it comes off easily, like a dream! There’s many a ready meal where the film is so stubborn  I’ve been hacking away at it with a knife and still end up with some in my dinner. No such problems here. It’s the little things that please me you know…