With the turn of the year, comes the turning of a new leaf.
I’m going vegan. Without cheating.
I’ve been 90% vegan since July with the OCCASIONAL slip. I’m a weak, worthless wimp, I know it. But THIS IS IT. My last hoorah was New Year’s Eve.
I started out the day on a positive note, scraping some decadent-looking pecorino from my brunch. Then I arrived at Century Link Field to watch my baby Seahawks get they butts whooped and my emotions and hunger pangs were running rampant. My husband could see my dismay. Toward the end of 2nd quarter, up to the nosebleed section my knight walks with a piping hot Papa John’s. This is why I married him. Once I stuff my face, I have the energy to talk smack to the opposing team’s fan sitting next to me. I needed to cool off so I took a bathroom break. Then, I spy the Papa’s with my very own eyes. Mini Rachel angel and mini Rachel devil appear on my shoulder. Whose advice do you think I took?
After my second personal pan pizza in 1 hour, I have decided I’m a sick, sick person.
Time: 1 1/2 hours (prep + cooking) | Serves: 4 sammies
Ingredients:
- 1 eggplant, peeled + sliced thin
- 3 roma tomatoes, washed + sliced 1/2 inch thick
- 1 small onion, sliced thin
- 1 cup of basil leaves
- 1 tbsp. of nutritional yeast
- 1 tbsp. of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup of walnuts
- 1 cup of oats, finely ground
- 2 tbsp. of flax meal
- 1 cup of olive oil
- Toasted ciabatta rolls, for serving
- 1/2 cup of your favie marinara sauce
- 1 tsp. of crushed red pepper
- S+P, to taste
How to:
- Preheat oven to 375
- Arrange eggplant slices in a colander + sprinkle with salt + let drain for 30 minutes
- Meanwhile, combine oats + flax + crushed red pepper + S+P in a bowl
- Pat dry eggplant slices, dredge in oat mix + arrange on lined baking sheet, repeat (I needed to use three cookie sheets) + drizzle eat sheet with 1 tbsp. of olive oil
- Bake for 15 minutes, flip + bake another 15 minutes
- Meanwhile, arrange tomatoes + S+P on a lined baking sheet + drizzle with 1 tbsp. of olive oil + bake for 20 minutes
- In a skillet over low-medium heat, add a tbsp. of olive oil
- Add onion + S+P, let caramelize for 8-10 minutes, stirring often
- Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine basil + nutritional yeast + walnuts + garlic + S+P, while processing drizzle in remaining olive oil
- To serve, spread some marinara on one bun + some pesto on another + add eggplant slices + tomatoes + onion + make a sammie, repeat
- Find machine to shrink self + arrange body in between buns to become one with sammie
As a fellow vegan and neighbor (Kenmore), let me just say, yay!!! So excited for you!
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Howdy, neighbor!!! π Thanks for welcoming me to the club!
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Its not so bad though, all the best, stick to your resolution! Recipes on my blog can helpπ https://khanekebahane.wordpress.com
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Ahhh thank you! I need all of the support I can get. Appreciate you!
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Good on you!! This looks delicious and your photos are beautiful! xx
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Thank you so much!!!
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That Papa Joe is a son of satan, do we think?
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That he is, my friend. That he most definitely is.
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Looks delicious. Great pics. Congrats of going vegan. I consider myself semi-vegetarian because I didn’t give up fish and eggs. Perhaps one day.:)
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Thank you! Yup, that’s how I started at first. Then slowly but surely……!
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Good luck on your venture… This looks heavenly!
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Thanks, boo boo!!!
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Where did I go wrong……..?
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Sometime in the early 90s.
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I read this and alI thought was, your farts must smell delicious.
I was vegan for a year and my shit smelled like sandlewood – no joke
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If only I could bottle up the scent and share a whiff with you. I’m pretty pleased with it. Sandlewood, though? That’s some next level smelly good stuff.
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HAHAHAH!!!
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Wow, have to try these, they look pretty tasty and flavorful!
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You must! Soooooo good.
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Great post and recipe! Good luck on your journey into veganism π±π
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Thank you so very much!
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well done Rachel I been a vegan for 4 years now and still going strong May the Vegan Force Be with you
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I make vegan breaded eggplant with pasta and sauce-I love it! I will have to try your recipe.
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Girl, this is my fave blogpost from reading time today! I am trying this ASAP! Thanks!
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This looks lovely xx
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oh these look so good! seriously considering making them this weekend!
I LOVE that you use oats + flax as the breading for the eggplant – great idea!
– Emily
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These look absolutely incredible!
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These look so delicious!
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These look amazing. Great post!
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oh my gosh your photos are AMAZINGGGG! everything looks so yummy! can’t wait to try some of this myself. Thanks for sharing π sending lots of love & light your way.
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Yum! This looks insanely delicious.
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Congrats on going vegan! Great blog you got here. I write about food and veganism too. You might want to check out my blog. Here is the link:
https://theveganartist2017.wordpress.com/
Be blessed!
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Four months later and how are you getting on with your new lifestyle? Have you managed to keep it up? Food looks delicious by the way.
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