Spicy Vegan Eggplant Tomato Casserole

This delicious, aromatic vegan eggplant casserole with tomatoes is full of nutritious ingredients and simple to put together. Works as a main or side dish.

This vegan eggplant casserole recipe was inspired by the fantastic summer brunch recipe ideas featured in this week’s #CookBlogShare.   Do have a look at this delicious collection if you haven’t seen it yet.  I am sure you’ll be inspired too (and if you’ve got a recipe to share join the party!).

The recipe itself was quite spontaneous. I came across 2 lovely eggplants and some Thai basil in my fridge I’d forgotten I’d bought (this happens a lot!).  I decided to make a light vegetarian dish that would be ideal as a brunch recipe.

My spicy vegan eggplant casserole with tomatoes is precisely that.  Plus it is very easy to make (I know I say that a lot but you’ll agree with me when you read the Instructions below).  It’s nutritious, full of flavour and not overloaded with too many ingredients!

Healthy vegan eggplant casserole

There is a perception that cooking eggplant has to involve using a lot of oil, which in turn can make the eggplant taste a little greasy and the dish quite calorific.  I’ve avoided this problem by using only a few tablespoons of oil to first lightly brown the eggplant, and then adding only 2 tablespoons to  the tomato sauce.  It is up to you whether you choose to drizzle the dish with a bit more oil before popping it in the oven (I promise it still won’t be greasy if you do).

What herbs to use in tomato eggplant bake

I discovered Thai basil only a few months ago.  I found its aroma intriguing though wasn’t sure what to do with it at first.  It seemed exotic and not the type of basil suitable for Italian dishes (it really isn’t).  But practice makes perfect and I am now much more confident using this lovely aromatic herb in my cooking. (See also my Thai Basil Chickpeas in Rich Tomato Sauce, which I posted a few weeks ago).

Equipment you’ll need

• Cutting board and knife
• Large pan and spatula
• Medium-sized saucepan and spoon
• Hand blender
• Large casserole dish

How to make easy vegan eggplant casserole: step-by-step

1.Preheat the oven to 200 C. In a saucepan heat up 2 tablespoons of oil, add the garlic, ginger, chili, onion and celery and cook gently for 2-3 minutes until softened.  Add the wine and cook for 1-2 more minutes.

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2. Add the tomatoes, sun dried tomatoes, tomato paste, thai basil and 1 teaspoon of salt, stir, cover, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

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3. In the meantime prepare the eggplant.  In a pan heat up 3 tablespoons of oil, add the chopped eggplant and fry over a medium heat for about 6 minutes until lightly browned, stirring often.  Season lightly with salt, garlic and onion powders, add 2 more tablespoons of oil and fry for 2 more minutes stirring often.  Transfer into your casserole dish. The eggplant will finish cooking in the casserole.

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4. After 10 minutes of cooking remove the tomato sauce from the heat and blitz very briefly to break up the larger pieces (the mixture should still be chunky).

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5. Pour the tomato sauce over the eggplant, combine, drizzle over a little oil and bake for 30 minutes.

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Top tips

• Make the tomato sauce chunky by briefly blitzing to break up the larger pieces only.
• When frying the eggplant stir often using a spatula to prevent it browning too much.
• Herbs: I used thai basil but you could swap that for tarragon or cilantro if you prefer.
• Serve this aromatic easy eggplant casserole with fresh crusty bread, rice, couscous or quinoa.  It tastes great either hot and cold!
• Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.

More eggplant recipes

You may also like this Spicy Quinoa Stuffed Eggplant and this Eggplant Tomato Casserole with Beans.  Both are vegan, gluten free and super easy to put together.  Check out also this Easy Spicy Baked Beans recipe.  A fantastic side dish, perfect to add to you Sunday brunch menu.  You may also enjoy this one pot, super easy to make Healthy Pasta Bake with Eggplant and Chickpeas. 

Check out also this collection of over 12 healthy vegetarian pasta meals.

KEEP IN TOUCH!

Have you made this tomato eggplant recipe? I’d love to know how it turned out for you. Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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Spicy Vegan Eggplant Casserole with Thai Basil

Serve this gluten free, aromatic Spicy Vegan Eggplant Casserole with Thai Basil with chunks of fresh crusty bread and enjoy with friends or family - it tastes great either hot and cold!

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main

Cuisine: Asian Fusion

Keyword: eggplant

Servings: 5 servings

Calories: 90kcal

Author: Monika Dabrowski

Ingredients

• 2 small eggplants cubed
• 3 large tomatoes chopped
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp sun-dried tomatoes in oil finely chopped
• 4 tbsp Thai basil finely chopped
• 1 medium onion finely chopped
• 1 small celery stalk chopped
• 3 garlic cloves finely chopped
• 1.5 tbsp fresh ginger finely chopped
• 1 red chilli pepper finely chopped
• 4 tbsp white wine
• 5 olive oil plus a little for drizzling (optional)
• 1 tsp coarse sea salt
• 1/3 tsp each: onion and garlic granules and fine sea salt for seasoning the eggplant

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 F/ 200 C/ gas mark 6.
• In a saucepan heat up 2 tablespoons of oil, add the garlic, ginger, chilli, onion and celery and fry for 2-3 minutes stirring often. Add the wine, stir and cook for 1-2 more minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, Thai basil and salt, cover and bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and blitz briefly so that your sauce is dotted with chunks of vegetables.
• As the sauce is bubbling away prepare the eggplant.  In a pan heat up 3 tablespoons of oil, add the chopped eggplant and fry over a medium heat for about 6 minutes until lightly browned, stirring often.  Season lightly with salt, garlic and onion powders, add 2 more tablespoons of oil and fry for 2 more minutes stirring often.  Transfer into your casserole dish. The eggplant will finish cooking in the casserole.
• Place the eggplant in your casserole dish, pour the sauce over and spread evenly, drizzle with a bit of oil (optional but highly recommended) and bake for 30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Notes

• Make the tomato sauce chunky by briefly blitzing to break up the larger pieces only.
• When frying the eggplant stir often using a spatula to prevent it browning too much.
• Herbs: I used thai basil but you could swap that for tarragon or cilantro if you prefer.
• Serve this aromatic easy eggplant casserole with fresh crusty bread, rice, couscous or quinoa.  It tastes great either hot and cold!
• Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 540mg | Potassium: 625mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1007IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 1mg

RECIPE LINK PARTIES

I am bringing this recipe to #CookBlogShare which I have the pleasure of hosting this week. Also sharing with Meat Free Mondays, and Recipe of the Week.