Meatloaf doesn't only have to be for meat eaters! This delicious vegetarian variety is made with Japanese eggplant, walnuts, tofu, mushrooms and plenty of herbs, topped off in a mouth-watering mushroom gravy.
Directions for: Meatless Meatloaf with Mushroom Gravy
Ingredients
Loaf1 lb(s) Japanese eggplant (about 3)
cup walnuts
1 lb(s) firm tofu
8 oz shiitake or button mushrooms, stemmed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup old-fashioned oats
cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 Tbsp chopped fresh sage leaves
1 large egg, plus 1 egg white
1 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 Tbsp kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
tsp red chile flakes
Mushroom Gravy2 Tbsp unsalted butter
6 oz shiitake, cremini or button mushrooms
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp Marsala or sherry
1 cup vegetable broth, homemade or low-sodium canned
2 sprigs fresh thyme + 1 tsp leaves
cup heavy cream
Directions
Loaf1. Over a gas burner or under an electric broiler, char the eggplants until the skin is black, turning as needed to cook all sides evenly. Wrap in foil and set aside to steam for 20 minutes. Remove from the foil and gently brush the skin off or rinse under warm water.
2. Preheat oven to 400F.
3. Pulse the walnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a large bowl. Pulse the eggplant, tofu, and mushrooms into small pieces. Add mixture to the walnuts along with the remaining loaf ingredients. Mix together until evenly combined. Transfer the mixture into a 1 1/2-quart loaf pan or casserole dish and bake for 1 hour.
Mushroom Gravy1. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Season mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste. Scatter the flour over the mushrooms and stir until lightly browned, about 1 minute. Add the marsala and broth and bring to a boil, cooking until thickened, about 2 minutes. Add the cream and fresh thyme leaves and season with salt and pepper.
2. Unmold the meatless loaf, slice, and serve with the mushroom gravy.
Source and Credits
Copyright 2004 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.
Courtesy of Food Network Kitchen
See more: Bake, Comfort Food, Eggs/Dairy, Herbs, Main, Mushrooms, Nuts, Tofu/Soy, Vegetables, Vegetarian