Photo by Cara Lyons of Cara’s Cravings
This delicious & easy to make slow cooker recipe is by Kathy Hester. Don’t miss your chance to win her book, The Vegan Slow Cooker, which we’re giving away for one day only! Click here to enter, contest ends today!
Eggplant is one of those love it or hate it type of vegetables. Which side of the fence do you land on? Tell us what you think of eggplant in the comments below for a chance to win FREE Earth Balance®!
Italian Eggplant Casserole with Cashew-Tofu Ricotta
Serves: 8 -use (*) versions to make gluten-free
For the Cashew-Tofu Ricotta:
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 cup nutritional yeast (*use gluten-free)
3 cloves garlic
1 package (15 ounces) firm tofu
1/2 cup Earth Balance® Soy Milk
1/2 to 1 teaspoon salt (to taste)
Pepper, to taste
Remaining ingredients:
1 large eggplant, thinly sliced
1 jar (25 ounces) marinara sauce, store bought or homemade
Cooked pasta (*use gluten-free pasta), for serving
The night before:
To make the ricotta: In a food processor or blender, combine all the ricotta ingredients. Blend until smooth and creamy. Store the ricotta and the sliced eggplant in separate containers in the fridge.
In the morning:
Oil the crock of your slow cooker and pour in one-third of the marinara sauce. Top with half of the eggplant, half of the ricotta, and another one-third of the sauce. Repeat the layers once more, then top with the remaining sauce. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve over the pasta.
If your slow cooker does not run hot and the final product is too watery, prop up the lid on the handle of a wooden spoon and turn the slow cooker to high. In 30 minutes to 1 hour most of the water will evaporate.
Total Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Cooking Time: 6 to 8 hours
About the author:
Kathy Hester lives in Durham, NC with her two cats who would rather not live together, a cute dog with a belly rub addiction, her very own picky eater, and more slow cookers than any one person should own. So, it’s not surprising that her first cookbook is The Vegan Slow Cooker. When not cooking for the family she writes her blog Healthy Slow Cooking. She’s also on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you like eggplant or are you one of those people who can’t stand it? Let us know below and we’ll pick one of you to win today’s Everyday Giveaway for free Earth Balance®!
