Vegan Eggplant Parmesan
Crispy panko-coated eggplant, marinara sauce, and an easy homemade cashew mozzarella bake together in this irresistible Vegan Eggplant Parmesan recipe. It’s a crowd-pleasing family dinner that will turn any eggplant skeptic into a fan!
Prep Time25 minutes mins
Cook Time45 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
Keyword: eggplant parmesan, vegan eggplant parmesan
Servings: 3
- 1 large eggplant thinly sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅔ cup almond milk
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp oregano
- 24 oz. marinara sauce 3 cups
- Fresh basil for garnish
For the vegan mozzarella cheese:
- 1 cup raw cashews soaked
- ½ cup almond milk
- 5 oz. plain dairy-free yogurt
- 2 ½ tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Slice the eggplant into 1/2" slices, then salt them and place them in a strainer for 10 minutes, which will help to release some of the liquid. Transfer eggplant onto a baking sheet or large plate, then use a towel or paper towels to press down on the eggplant to release leftover moisture.
Set up two shallow bowls: in one bowl, whisk milk and flour together and in the other bowl, combine breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, Italian seasoning, and oregano. Dip the eggplant one at a time into the milk mixture, then into the breadcrumbs and place it onto a baking sheet. Repeat this process until all the eggplant slices are coated in breadcrumbs, then spritz with a little nonstick spray and bake it for 25-30 minutes until crispy.
While the eggplant is baking, make the vegan mozzarella: place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Transfer "cheese" into a small saucepan and heat over medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring continuously until the cheese thickens; remove from heat.
Assemble the eggplant parmesan: Spread 1/2 cup marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 baking dish. Then, add a layer of eggplant, top it with 1 cup marinara and then spoon ⅓ of the vegan mozzarella on top. Repeat this process one more time. For the third and final layer, there will only be ½ cup sauce left, and that’s ok. Add the eggplant, ½ cup sauce and remaining cashew cheese.
Place the dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle with fresh basil and enjoy!
*Don't forget to spritz the breaded eggplant with a little nonstick spray before baking so the slices get nice and crispy.
*The serving size is 3 if you’re eating this by itself, but if you’re serving this alongside pasta, it’s closer to 5 or 6 servings.
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.
Calories: 588kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Sodium: 2282mg | Potassium: 1278mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 1016IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 334mg | Iron: 9mg