VEGAN EGGPLANT PARMIGIANA

(Organic ingredients suggested)

Ingredients for 8 portions:

2 medium eggplants
2 medium tomatoes—Roma or beefsteak, good for slicing
½ red onion—chopped
4 cloves of fresh garlic–copped
¾ – 1 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon dry basil
1 tablespoon dry parsley
½ teaspoon powdered coriander
¼ teaspoon sweet red paprika (optional)
pinch of Cayenne (to taste)
¼ teaspoon powdered ginger (optional)
¼ teaspoon powdered Turmeric
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
dash of salt (pink, Himalayan, sea-salt …) to taste
1 cup almond flour
1 cup bread crumbs
package of sliced non-dairy cheese (we use vegan cheddar cheese-style DAIYA slices for pleasing flavor and consistency)

Preparation—step by step:

cut eggplants into half inch thick slices—set aside
slice tomatoes thin but careful to remain in one piece—set aside
pour ¼ cup of the olive oil into large baking (casserole) dish (Pyrex preferred), coating bottom and sides well—keep the rest for the next steps
in a big bowl, combine and mix well ½ cup of the olive oil with the balsamic vinegar, basil, parsley, coriander, paprika, Cayenne, ginger, Turmeric, Worcestershire sauce and salt
mix almond flower and breadcrumbs on flat plate
sprinkle some of the chopped onion on bottom of baking dish
dip each eggplant slice in the oil-herbs-spices mix and coat well; next,
dip each slice in the almond flour-&-breadcrumb mix and coat well
layer eggplant slices in baking dish on top of chopped onions
layer tomato slices on top of eggplant
sprinkle with some of the chopped garlic
cover with layer of DAIYA slices
add another layer of breaded eggplant, tomato slices—this time, sprinkle with both some chopped onion and garlic–add another layer of the same and top with the vegan cheese slices
Sprinkle top of the entire casserole content with the rest of the olive oil and…

Bake at 380 degrees until eggplant skin is soft enough to eat

Vegan cheese slices will turn crisp and savory

Leftovers:

Cover and refrigerate. Dish is equally delicious when re-heated in microwave or oven.