How to Cook a Beefy Eggplant Casserole Without Meat

This casserole is hearty, satisfying, and delicious. It satisfies both, vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Eggplant has a beefy texture and this casserole has a lot of it! It also has a layer of meat substitute in place of ground beef.

This dish is great served with a green salad and bread rolls.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3-4 lbs eggplant
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup olive oil
• about 1 lb meat substitute such as Morningstar crumbles
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
• 1 large onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 1/2 - 2 cups tomato or pasta sauce, divided
• 1 tablespoon oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cup mozzarella cheese, grated
• 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated

1. 
    
   Slice eggplant

   Slice eggplant into 1/2 inch thick slices.
   
   You can peel it if you like. I personally leave the peel.

2. 
    
   Saute eggplant

   Saute in oil until lightly browned on both sides.

3. 
    
   Sauteed eggplant

   Lay on paper towels to dry.

4. 
    
   Chopped onion

   While eggplant sautes, coarsely chop the onion.

5. 
    
   Chopped pepper

   Coarsely chop the pepper.

6. 
    
   Onion, pepper and meat-crumble saute

   Saute onion, pepper, and parsley with 3/4 cup to 1 cup of tomato sauce (depending on taste), oregano, and salt. When the vegetables begin to soften, add the meat-like crumbles; stir to mix thoroughly and heat through.

7. 
    
   Tomato sauce, ricotta cheese and egg

   Mix together another 3/4 cup to 1 cup of tomato sauce with the ricotta cheese, and egg.

8. 
    
   Layer of eggplant

   Butter a large casserole baking dish and layer 1/2 of the eggplant slices making 1 layer.

9. 
    
   A layer of meat-like mixture

   On top of the eggplant slices, layer 1/2 of the meat-like crumbles mixture.

10. 
     
    Ricotta cheese layer

    Layer the 1/2 of the ricotta cheese mixture over the meat-like crumbles.

11. On top of the ricotta cheese mixture, layer 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, and 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese.

12. Repeat the layers with the remaining layer ingredients. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until hot and cheese is bubbly.

Tips & Warnings

• This is a very versatile dish and it could be made to suit one's individual taste by adding or decreasing the eggplant, cheeses or meat.
• Spinach can be added to meat-like crumbles mixture.
• The meat-like crumbles is a product which doesn't have to be cooked like regular meat; toss with ingredients at hand and heat thoroughly.