I have been wanting to create a saucy dish that was not only healthy but super delicious and bursting with flavor. Being vegan it can sometimes be a challenge to replicate dishes that require a lot of cheese however I have found some great brands of vegan cheese that melt just about the same.
Here’s my take on Vegan Baked Eggplant Parmesan.
Ingredients
1 medium eggplant (as narrow as possible)*
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour (or other flour of choice – GF for gluten-free eaters)
1 cup panko bread crumbs (GF for gluten-free eaters)
1 Tbsp nutritional (plus more for serving or 2 Tbsp vegan parmesan)
1 tsp dried oregano (or sub 2 tsp fresh per 1 tsp dried)
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup unsweetened plain almond milk (or other neutral milk)
1 tsp cornstarch
PASTA + SAUCE
8 ounces pasta (such as , but any kind will do, including veggie noodles or gluten-free)
2 cups marinara sauce
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While eggplant is browning in the oven, prepare marinara. I prefer adding my tomato sauce and spices to a serving bowl and microwaving to warm, but you could also heat it on the stove. Set aside.
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Once done cooking, drain pasta and cover with a towel to keep warm. Set aside.
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To serve: Plate pasta and eggplant slices and marinara in a dish as a dipping sauce. Additional nutritional yeast or vegan parmesan cheese makes an excellent topper.
Layer the eggplant parmesan. Start with a layer of sauce on the bottom of a casserole dish. Then add pasta, cheese, sauce, eggplant.. repeat until you fill your casserole dish. Depending on the size of your eggplants and casserole dish, you may have two or three layers. After the last layer or eggplant, top with the last of your sauce.
Top with breadcrumbs. This is where that great texture is coming from. Stir the breadcrumbs with some olive oil to moisten, and season with salt, pepper, and fresh oregano.
Notes
– Buy a narrow eggplant – the really big wide ones don’t get as crisp!
– Don’t skip the salt / drain step – it really helps draw out the bitterness.
– Once coated, make sure you get the eggplant in the oven as quickly as possible so it doesn’t sit there absorbing any excess moisture.
– Really press down on the eggplant after rinsing to ensure you get all of the water out you can.
– Although it’s an extra step, browning the eggplant in the skillet in addition to baking yields the crispiest result!
Inspo Recipe: Yummy Mummy Kitchen + Minimalist Baker
