Eggplant NOT-Parmesan over Pasta

Don't let the long recipe alarm you - it's really not bad! And this goes together faster and easier than a baked Eggplant "Parmesan" casserole.

Eggplant NOT-Parmesan over Pasta

1 large eggplant, sliced about a 1/4 inch thick (or a little more)
3/4 cup Panko breadcrumb (or whatever you have is fine)
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp cornstarch
1 Tbsp. Vegenaisse
1/2 cup soy milk

1/2 cup shredded Vegan mozzerella (I used "Follow Your Heart")

1 16 oz. jar your favorite Italian sauce, heated (I added some Burger crumbles to our sauce)

Enough dry pasta for 4 people - you judge how much you'll eat.

Make eggplant:
Mix Panko, nut. yeast, cornstarch, salt, and seasonings together in a shallow bowl. (The cornstarch helps the coating stick)

Mix Vegenaisse and soymilk into a thick liquid in another bowl.

Dip eggplant slices into soymilk mixture (like "egg") and then into breadcrumb mixture.

Place in medium-low well-oiled skillet and cover. Let slices slowly cook until browned but not burned, then turn CAREFULLY and cook/brown other side with pan uncovered. Eggplant should be soft in the middle. Set aside when cooked.

Cook all eggplant slices, adding oil as needed.

Heat sauce. Cook pasta. Drain

Preheat broiler.

Set eggplant slices on cookie sheet. Place a several tsp. shredded Vegan mozzerella on each slice.

Place cookie sheet as FAR from broiler element as possible. Broil until Vegan cheese liquifys/melts. This happens VERY fast once it starts to melt, so watch it carefully!!

Top pasta with warm sauce, and then eggplant slices. (You can do this in a casserole dish or individual servings.)

Serve. Yum.

Ratatouille

Tonight's supper. Plain ol' easy comfort food.

I know, I know, people get freaked by eggplant sometimes, I think. In this recipe I 'salted' and drained the eggplant cubes (see recipe) so they aren't supposed to be as bitter.

I add garbanzos/chickpeas for a little protein and usually serve over couscous or quinoa.

Oh - and the blue bowl? I made it in a pottery class in college. It's my favorite "comfort food" bowl, wide, deep and easy to hold.

Ratatouille

1 eggplant, cubed
1 Tb. salt (for eggplant!)
1 can (or 2 cups) garbanzos
2 small onions, cut in quarters
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 red bell peppers, de-seeded and cut in bite sized pieces
4 tomatoes, cut in large pieces
1 zucchini, cut in bite sized pieces
1-3 tbs. olive oil
2-3 teaspoons herbs de Provence
(OR: whatever blend works for you - rosemary, basil, oregano, thyme etc...)
salt to taste
dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 cup stewed tomatoes

Directions:
Cube the eggplant, toss with the 1 Tbsp. salt and put in a colander for 20 min.
In a large frying pan, place the olive oil and saute the onion.
Add the bell pepper and zucchini.
When they begin to soften, add the garlic and raw tomatoes.
Rinse eggplant cubes and drain/blot well on a paper towel.
Add eggplant to frying pan.
Add the seasonings, garbanzos/chickpeas and enough stewed tomatoes so the vegetables don’t stick to the pan, but not so much that they are swimming in liquid.
Cook until vegetables are done to your preference.

Serve over couscous or rice.