Hello Roger & Friends,
Roger, I'm so glad that you can use some of this information. As I've said, I'm happiest, whenever my Friends are happy.
Also, as I've previously mentioned over at our Friend Donna's Let's Share Recipes Forum, a great place to visit by the way, and I hope you all will, I have a very good Friend who not only has been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, but she also has no tolerance for dairy products. As I've said, I do love my Eggplant Parmesan, however, I had always felt too guilty to enjoy it with my friend Brenda around. It's always difficult having both an intolerance to gluten, as well as dairy, especially when it comes to enjoying Italian food, so therefore many folks can't enjoy Eggplant Parmesan, and still remain gluten-free. That's why I was so glad when I finally found a gluten-free, dairy free, Eggplant Parmesan that everyone can actually eat! As I also mentioned, this Recipe is a little more time consuming to prepare, but definitely well worth it, if you're al all concerned about the good Health of those who you care about.
The following recipe is not only gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, meat-free, and sugar-free, but it also has the option to be nut-free. However, it is not soy-free, as I personally don't tend to have problems with soy, especially if it is organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free, Tofu, which is sometimes quite hard to find, but definitely very worth the effort.
Also, I know you're wondering, if it's that healthy, can it still taste good. While I may be a little bit biased, I think you'll find that it's delicious.
Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients:
-
1 large eggplant, sliced 1/4 inch thick
-
2 pieces of gluten-free bread, toasted and made into breadcrumbs
-
2-3 tablespoons soy Parmesan (or ground almonds)
-
fresh basil leaves, chopped or torn
-
Extra-Virgin olive oil
Tomato Sauce:
-
1 medium onion, chopped
-
3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
-
1 16-ounce can diced tomatoes
-
1 teaspoon oregano
-
½ teaspoon basil
-
½ cup vegetable broth
-
2 tablespoons tomato paste
-
salt and pepper to taste
Vegan Cheeze Sauce:
-
½ cup extra-firm silken gluten-free tofu
-
½ cup unsweetened soy milk
-
½ cup vegetable broth
-
2 tablespoons cashew butter or tahini
-
1 teaspoons onion powder
-
1 ½ tablespoons nutritional yeast
-
2 teaspoon arrowroot or cornstarch
-
½ teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
-
Pinch white pepper
Directions:
-
Salt the eggplant slices and put them in a colander to drain.
-
Prepare the tomato sauce by sauteing the onion in a non-stick saucepan until it becomes translucent (you may use a little water if you like). Add the garlic and sauté for one more minute.
-
Add the remaining tomato sauce ingredients, and cook for 15-20 minutes.
-
Prepare the cheese sauce: Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until completely smooth. Blend again right before using to make sure that the ingredients haven’t separated.
-
Rinse the eggplant slices and pat them dry with paper towels. Spray or grease a baking sheet lightly with olive oil and place the slices on it (you may have to do this in two batches).
-
Spray the tops lightly with olive oil and place under the broiler. Watch carefully, and remove when the slices start to brown, about 3 minutes.
Assemble the casserole:
-
Preheat the oven to 350F.
-
Spray or wipe an 8×8-inch Pyrex baking dish with a small amount of olive oil. Place half of the eggplant slices on the bottom of the dish, edges overlapping.
-
Sprinkle with half the breadcrumbs.
-
Spoon half the tomato sauce and pour half the cheese sauce over the breadcrumbs and sprinkle lightly with soy Parmesan.
-
Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients (reserve some bread crumbs for the top, as mentioned above).
-
Bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, until slightly browned on top. Sprinkle with fresh basil just before serving.
Have A Blessed Day My Friends,
Phil