Recipe: Vegan, Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan - iEatGreen (2024)

Posted on June 28, 2013

This recipe is a keeper! Whether you’re headed to a pot-luck, having friends over for dinner, or simply want a healthy, but tasty, meal to serve your family, this Eggplant Parmesan is the answer. And because there is no dairy, meat, soy or gluten, almost anyone can eat it.? Share and enjoy!

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Vegan, Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan

Author:Bhavani Jaroff, iEat Green

Recipe type:Entree

Ingredients

  • EGGPLANT
  • 2 large eggplants (or 3 medium), cut lengthwise into ¼-inch slices
  • 1 Tbs. Flax seeds
  • 1 cup almond milk
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 cups GF Bread crumbs
  • 2 t. oregano. 3 t. Basil, 2 t. garlic powder, S & P
  • FOR MARINARA SAUCE:
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 = 8oz, pk. of mushrooms- sliced thin
  • 1 organic yellow pepper- chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and Freshly ground pepper
  • 10 organic sundried tomatoes- pureed
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 2- 32 oz Jar Organic Marinara Sauce
  • 2 Tbs. chopped parsley
  • FOR CASHEW CREAM
  • 3 cups cashews- soaked for 3 hours in water
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoons sea salt
  • 1 Tbs. Nutritional yeast
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • TOPPING
  • 1 package Rice Mozzarella

Instructions

  1. Lay the eggplant slices out on a large cookie sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 20 minutes, then, with paper towel, wipe off salt and extracted water from eggplant.
  2. In glass pie pan, make a mixture with the flax seeds and almond milk.
  3. Dip the eggplant slices into the almond milk mixture and then into gluten free bread crumbs, seasoned with oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
  4. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush with olive oil and lay out the eggplant. Spray the tops with olive oil.
  5. Bake at 400 degrees F. for about 20 minutes, turning over half way through, until golden brown on both sides.
  6. FOR MARINARA SAUCE: Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.
  7. Add the peppers, mushrooms and garlic and continue cooking for about 5 minute.
  8. Add the Marinara Sauce, Bay leaf, sundried tomatoes, and spices. Let simmer for about 30 minutes.
  9. TO MAKE CASHEW RICOTTA: Drain the cashews.
  10. In a food processor, pulse the cashews until finely chopped.
  11. Add the water, salt, garlic and nutritional yeast. Puree until very smooth.
  12. TO ASSEMBLE: Lower the oven to 375 degrees.
  13. Spray a large Pyrex casserole pan, approx. 10 x 14 x 2-inch with olive oil.
  14. Cover the bottom with Marinara Sauce.
  15. Cover the bottom of pan with the eggplant slices. Ladle marinara Sauce on top. Spread half of the Cashew mixture evenly over the eggplant. Repeat with another layer of eggplant, marinara and cashew cheese.
  16. Top with one more layer of eggplant, marinara sauce and sprinkle with the Rice Mozzarella.
  17. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  18. Remove foil and cook for 10 more minutes, uncovered.

Lay the eggplant slices out on a large cookie sheet, and sprinkle with salt. Let stand for 20 minutes, then, with paper towel, wipe off salt and extracted water from eggplant.

In glass pie pan, make a mixture with the flax seeds and almond milk.

Dip the eggplant slices into the almond milk mixture and then into gluten free bread crumbs, seasoned with oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Brush with olive oil and lay out the eggplant. Spray the tops with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees F. for about 20 minutes, turning over half way through, until golden brown on both sides.

For the sauce, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, until lightly browned, about 4 minutes. Add the peppers, mushrooms and garlic and continue cooking for about 5 minute.

Add the Marinara Sauce, Bay leaf, sundried tomatoes, and spices. Let simmer for about 30 minutes.

To make the cashew ricotta, drain the cashews. In a food processor, pulse the cashews until finely chopped. Add the water, salt, garlic and nutritional yeast. Puree until very smooth.

Lower the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a large Pyrex casserole pan, approx. 10 x 14 x 2-inch with olive oil. Cover the bottom with Marinara Sauce. Cover the bottom of pan with the eggplant slices.

Ladle marinara sauce on top. Spread half of the Cashew mixture evenly over the eggplant, Repeat with another layer of eggplant, marinara and cashew cheese.

Top with one more layer of eggplant, marinara sauce and sprinkle with the Rice Mozzarella. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 10 more minutes, uncovered.

Posted in Recipes Tagged with: #dairy free eggplant parmesan, #gluten free eggplant parmesan, #Vegan Eggplant parm, #vegan eggplant parmesan, #vegan gluten free eggplant parmesan June 28, 2013 Bhavani Jaroff

Recipe: Vegan, Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan - iEatGreen (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep eggplant parmesan from getting soggy? ›

1. Salt the Eggplant to Remove Excess Moisture. This is key to crispy results. Eggplants are 92% water.

Are you supposed to peel eggplant for eggplant parmesan? ›

The peel of an eggplant is completely edible. However, as the eggplant grows bigger and matures, the peel may become tough and bitter. People often prefer to peel larger eggplants because of this, but smaller eggplants do just fine unpeeled. It ends up being a matter of personal preference.

Do you need to sweat eggplant for eggplant parm? ›

Sweat the eggplant (optional).

Sprinkle evenly and generously with salt, then let the eggplant rounds rest for 30-60 minutes so that the sometimes-bitter liquids inside can sweat out.

What is the secret to eggplant parmesan? ›

Baked Eggplant Parmesan Recipe Tips
  1. Slice the eggplant as evenly as you can. Even slices mean even cooking, so try to cut your eggplant slices to a consistent width. ...
  2. Freshly grate the Parmesan cheese. ...
  3. Get a nice, thick panko coating on the eggplant slices. ...
  4. Don't forget the olive oil! ...
  5. Season between the layers.

How do you cook eggplant so it's not mushy? ›

A useful tip to prevent sogginess and greasiness is to salt sliced or diced eggplant and let it sit for an hour. This helps to draw out moisture. Next, rinse and drain any liquid from the sliced eggplant, then pat dry before cooking.

Why do you need to soak eggplant before frying? ›

I tend to soak the slices in a bowl of water with a couple of tablespoon of salt for about 30-45 minutes. It doesn't have to do with bitterness, but I find that in doing this, the fried eggplant turns out less greasy," Jenkins says.

Why isn't my eggplant crispy? ›

Do you salt eggplant before making eggplant parmesan. Yes, salting the eggplant before making eggplant parmesan draws out some moisture. This can help the eggplant stay crisp after cooking because it removes some moisture before it has a chance to create sogginess.

Can you eat eggplant raw? ›

Can You Eat Eggplant Raw? Luckily, the answer is yes! While the leaves and flowers can be toxic, the eggplant itself is safe to consume both raw and cooked, and the compound that some might be sensitive to, solanine, is only toxic when consumed in large quantities.

What kind of eggplant is best for eggplant Parmesan? ›

Italian Eggplant

At first glance, Italian eggplants look just like globe eggplant but slightly smaller—this ultimately means the flesh is more tender when cooked. Try them in eggplant Parmesan, saucy eggplant adobo, or grill the halves and serve with a spicy tomato sauce and peanuts.

Is eggplant OK if a little brown inside? ›

Answer. Eggplant flesh will have tan to brown colored spots around the seeds. If this is the color you are referring to, it is edible. If the flesh is more brown than white, the eggplant may be spoiling and should be discarded.

What happens if you don't salt eggplant before cooking? ›

It helps draw out moisture from the eggplant. You don't have to salt eggplant though, it depends on the texture your looking for. Salting gives it a more creamy texture when cooked and not salting helps the eggplant hold up and be a little firmer after cooked.

How do you keep eggplant firm? ›

You can store eggplant at room temperature if you plan on using it within about two days, according to Sweetwater Organic Farm. To store eggplant at room temperature, simply place it on your counter. Just don't keep your eggplant near any fruits or veggies that release ethylene gas—such as apples, bananas, etc.

Why is my fried eggplant soggy? ›

Eggplant has a high water content, so it's crucial to draw out some of that moisture before you fry it. If you skip the salting, you're setting yourself up for sad, soggy eggplant.

Can I assemble eggplant parmesan ahead of time? ›

Making Eggplant Parmesan Ahead of Time

When preparing eggplant parmesan in advance, you will definitely lose some of the crispness of the breading. With that said, you can layer and assemble the eggplant parmesan in the baking dish, cover it, and refrigerate it overnight.

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