Baked Eggplant With Cashews

Hearty eggplant casserole is perfect comfort food. Recipe is enough to feed 8 hungry people. Eggplant mixed with breadcrumbs and brown sugar, is layered with tomatoes, onions, celery, bell pepper, olives, and topped with cashews. Baked until golden brown and crispy.
Ingredients -
2 Large Eggplants, sliced
Salt, to taste
1 cup Dry Whole-Wheat Bread Crumbs
1/2 teaspoon Brown Sugar
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Roma (Plum) Tomato, seeded and chopped
1 Celery stalk, diced
1/2 cup Red Bell Pepper, finely chopped
5 Pimento-Stuffed Green Olives, sliced
2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 teaspoon Dried Oregano
1/2 teaspoon Powdered Saffron
1/2 cup Soy Milk
1/2 cup Heavy Cream
1/2 cup Cashews
 
Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.

2. Grease a medium size casserole dish.

3. Arrange ½ the slices of eggplant on the bottom of the casserole dish.

4. Season eggplant with salt.

5. Add breadcrumbs and brown sugar to medium mixing bowl. Stir to combine.

6. Sprinkle ¼ of brown sugar over layer of eggplant slices.

7. In large bowl, combine ½ cup breadcrumb mixture, onion, tomato, celery, red bell pepper, olives, and olive oil.

8. Season mixture with dried oregano and saffron.

9. Spoon mixture over layer of eggplant.

10. Top with remaining eggplant slices.

11. Top with remaining breadcrumb mixture.

12. Add soy milk, heavy cream and cashews to blender. Blend until smooth.

13. Pour milk mixture over eggplant.

14. Bake 30 minutes until crisp and golden brown.

 


Cooking Tip
Eggplant
A medium size eggplant will weigh in around one pound, provides 4 cups chopped eggplant, and will serve 3 people.

Cooking Tip
Whole-Wheat Breadcrumbs
You can substitute your favorite breadcrumb flavor for the whole-wheat breadcrumbs in this recipe.