OK, I got inspired by this post about 100 years of Meatless Monday: https://steemit.com/food/@theinsideout/celebrate-100-years-of-meatless-monday
Eggplant Pasta
One thing that I do for a vegetarian meal is simply make lasagna. I don't use meat, and I like to substitute thinly sliced eggplant for the typical lasagna noodles. It's a healthier way to make lasagna because most noodles that you buy are not very healthy and highly processed. If you'd prefer to use noodles, go ahead.
I love to add stewed tomatoes and other veggies I have on hand to give the lasagna a lot of body. If you miss the taste of meat, you can either buy vegan meat crumbles in the store or add a layer or two of mushrooms or beans for a meaty texture. Trust me, you'll like it.
Easy Eggplant Lasagna Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 Eggplant
- 8 Ounces of Vegan Cheese or Crumbled Tofu
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, and dried or fresh parsley leaves
- Garlic: You can press a fresh clove or use minced garlic from a jar
- 1 Yellow Onion
- 1 Jar of Marinara Sauce or your own favorite
Start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees F. This recipe works best in a small 9 by 9 baking pan. If you only have a larger pan, you might want to double the recipe.
Simply cut off the ends of the eggplant and the slice the rest of it into thin slices. Oil the bottom of your baking dish with olive oil. Then add a very thin layer of sauce and a layer of your eggplant disks. Top that with a layer of cheese, diced onion, and herbs. Coat that layer with a more generous helping of sauce, and then start again to form another layer. Make sure you put sauce and a sprinkle of your vegan cheese on the top.
Cover the pan and bake it for 35 minutes. You may want to reserve a few handfuls of the vegan cheese to add about five minutes before you take the dish out of the oven. Enjoy!
What About the Cheese?
For a vegan version, you can purchase some very good vegan cheese at most supermarkets these days, so it's easy to adjust the recipe to leave out animal products. Some folks also just crumble up tofu to use instead of cheese. It's not quite as creamy, but it's surprisingly good.
What are your favorite recipes for Meatless Monday or every day?